Help with software

Tony_photoplus · 06-05-2008

I have just found this interesting software that works on the same principle as HRD and have downloaded it. But, I have looked for an exe file and found none. Can anyone assess it and help and tell me how to load it? I usually have no problem, but just can't seem to get this one going?

Tony

*synthetic* · 06-05-2008

name of the software? called Helicon by chance? where did you d/l it from?

you might have to give us more info on this one

agentxi · 06-05-2008

are you going to give us a link and or name?

*unleash* · 06-05-2008

name would be really handy

Without one, we can only guess what you mean.

Tony_photoplus · 06-05-2008

Stupid me, sorry for not giving the link. Its a MAC software, but it is not stating that on the web site I got it from

Donationware Jasper's DRIMaker

So here you are MAC users something you don't get that often, a freebie..

Tony

Culann · 06-05-2008

Mac programs don't usually have .exe files. A mac application will be a ".app" file. Is there one of those?

*synthetic* · 06-05-2008

actually... if he's on a mac and has extension turned off... won't see .app either

there should have been a .zip, .sit, .sitx, .dmg, .rar or something compressed that was downloaded... I would search computer for name of the app

Tony_photoplus · 06-05-2008

Looking through the zip file there is an .app extention. So let me know what happens MAC users

*synthetic* · 06-06-2008

Ok... correction my last post... I just seen the .app file... my mistake... had it confused with a similar deal I had on my desktop

looks like you just run it... double click the .app file or drop into applications folder to be organized and then run it. Looks simple... just drop your photos onto it, align the images and pick your output options

*synthetic* · 06-06-2008

I tried the sample images (download the sequence file on same page below software) and I guess it works. I haven't actually done HDR but the results I got from the samples didn't impress me... perhaps I need to play with settings more and maybe its better with more than 3 images but didn't seem to do a lot with sample images IMHO.

I would be interested to see a comparison between it and HDR done with PS though... I have heard some say PS HDR is sub par and prefer other HDR methods.

I am hoping to get a nice tripod soon to use with my new camera and will experiment more with HDR probably. My D40 on a cheap tripod (that's not real sturdy) was kinda PITA to do HDR so never bothered. Also most of my pics are sans tripod with VR because I travel mostly on 2 wheels ;-)

**Tamlin** · 06-06-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by synthetic

I would be interested to see a comparison between it and HDR done with PS though... I have heard some say PS HDR is sub par and prefer other HDR methods.

I'm one of those people. Actually, let me qualify that: Photoshop's 32-bit image creation function (that merges 2 or more different images into a HDR image) is excellent - I can't fault it. Where it falls down is when it comes to tone-mapping the resulting 32-bit image to a 16-bit or 8-bit image - which usually needs to be done if you want to do further work with the image in Photoshop. Photoshop offers four built-in tone-mapping options; Exposure & Gamma, Local Adaptation, Highlight Compression and Equalize Histogram. The latter three all seem clunky and a bit hit-or-miss in use, whereas Exposure & Gamma only offers two sliders. So for tone-mapping I use the Photomatix plug-in. There are other 3rd party HRD processing apps out there - Artizen and FDRTools, for example - but this workflow works for me.

Tony_photoplus · 06-06-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by synthetic

I am hoping to get a nice tripod soon to use with my new camera and will experiment more with HDR probably. My D40 on a cheap tripod (that's not real sturdy) was kinda PITA to do HDR so never bothered. Also most of my pics are sans tripod with VR because I travel mostly on 2 wheels ;-)

I have mostly not used a tripod and the results I get are not bad, just knowing how to use what is around you. A cheap tripod is fine and will get you your results, if hand held just remeber to set your EV values to plus and minus 1, set to bracket mode and when taking the pic, keep your finger on the button until after the picture has been taken. Don't breath for those seconds! My examples.. Flickr: Search Tony_photoplus' photostream .
Ok not brilliant images, but not bad for hand held. And if you have two wheels use it as a tripod. Don't get snobby about better, being inventive is better for the mind.

Tony

*synthetic* · 06-06-2008

good to know tamlin... will keep that in mind

Tony... it appears there are a few different approaches to HDR. I had read article describing an HDR process that involved using shutter priority and 9 seperate images with 4 shots over and under exposed using shutter speed for exposure control. On my D40... to do this would require too much handling of the camera for my rickety tripod. That is what I was referring to. Just couldn't imaging getting 9 shots to line up very well without a good tripod to keep from shaking and moving.

So most of your HDR's are hand held? How many shots do you normally take for each HDR pic. Your pics do look pretty good.

**Tamlin** · 06-06-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by synthetic

I had read article describing an HDR process that involved using shutter priority and 9 seperate images with 4 shots over and under exposed using shutter speed for exposure control.

I have an Auto Exposure Bracketing setting on my Canon EOS 400D, which (when used in conjunction with the self-timer) automatically fires off one average exposure, one overexposure and one underexposure, one after the other. I have never found a situation that called for more than 3 exposures with AEB set to 2 stops.
I always use a sturdy tripod, whether I need it or not. I have a bit of an obsession about sharpness and I just don't trust my hands!

*synthetic* · 06-06-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by tamlin

I have an Auto Exposure Bracketing setting on my Canon EOS 400D, which (when used in conjunction with the self-timer) automatically fires off one average exposure, one overexposure and one underexposure, one after the other. I have never found a situation that called for more than 3 exposures with AEB set to 2 stops.
I always use a sturdy tripod, whether I need it or not. I have a bit of an obsession about sharpness and I just don't trust my hands!

that's sounds really handy (auto exposure bracketing). I need to figure out the D200 when I get Monday... it may be easier for this than the D40.

Even with my VR lens... many times I thought the shot could have been sharper when not using tripod. So... I am on hunt for that extra level of sharpness too. I just got a new Lowepro backpack with ability to to strap tripod on it so I can easily carry tripod with me on 2 wheeled getaways.