tone mapping/hdr

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jewbs

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paul
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Is tone mapping the same as hdr ? if not whats the difference and which is the best software to use
 
Tone mapping is part of the HDR process. I use photomatix or photoshop cs5
 
jewbs said:
Is tone mapping the same as hdr ? if not whats the difference and which is the best software to use
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Apologies in advance if you know this stuff already :)

HDR is just that . "High Dynamic Range". Raw output from cameras are HDR images. They have values that go way above the values of a normal jpg or other similar image format.

Tone mapping is a method to transform those HDR values into a more preferred range. eg. bringing the blown out values of window in a picture down so that we can see what's outside or bringing up the shadows so we can see a bit more detail. Whenever you colour correct an image by increasing brightness, dodging/burning or whatever you are tonemapping.

I think in photography HDR images are also used to refer to images that are created from multiple images (RAW or otherwise) of varying exposure that brought together and the result tonemapped to the desired output. I believe applications/plugins exist to do that but it depends on the images you have and what needs to happen. It can be as simple as using a layer mask to paint in one image over another or as complicated as 10 exposures and using a plugin or app of some sort (this can be a less visual approach than simple method)

here's a tonemapping plugin I've used in the past (OSX)

http://www.hdrsoft.com/download/pluginmac.html

others with the experience might be able to offer more programs
 
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