Photomatix Pro
Developed in France, Photomatix Pro enables you to create images with a high dynamic range using a combination of auto-bracketing at different exposures and merging. It is a stand-alone program for both Mac and Windows. Its features include: automatic blending, unlimited stacking, easy comparison of results, and batch processing.
Photomatix can merge any number of bracketed photos, a process that also eliminates noise in the final image, adding further to image quality. The vendor also recommends it for creating panoramas, which are nearly always composed of high contrast scenes owing to the extra-wide angle of view, towards and away from the sun.
To reduce the extreme tonal range so that you can use conventional output such as prints, there is a tone mapping tool which is also available separately as a Photoshop plugin.
Comment
Visit the vendor's website to see images created by Photomatix Pro -- they are both beautiful and surreal. Although the interface could be made more user-friendly, the package is low-cost, effective and a very good introduction to HDR imaging.
Plugins for both Apple's Aperture and Adobe Lightroom have helped to keep it up-to-date with developments in photo software.
This product is available from Amazon (see the right-hand panel).
Tech info
- OS: Windows 98 onward; Mac OS 10.3.9 or higher
- Price level: Approx. $100 (Tone Mapping plugin for CS2 onwards: $80) (Bundle: $120)
HDRsoft
HDRsoft released the first version of its Photomatix Pro software in February 2003 and won a national contest in that year organized by ANVAR (National Agency for the Valuation of Research). The company is owned by its two founders, one of whom is a photographer with 25 years experience.
From the same vendor:
- HDR Tone Mapping plugins
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