Fake HDR Plug-in for PE

[Sepiana]

Hi,

I came across this website that advertises a plug-in for an HDR-like effect from a single image. It costs $16 and is compatible with PE (all versions).

http://www.mediachance.com/plugins/redynamix.html

I downloaded the free evaluation demo. However, I don't have the expertise to judge if it's worth purchasing it.

Do you have any experience with this plug-in? Would be willing to evaluate it?

Thanks in advance for your help!

EDIT: I'm very leery of dowloads. Anyone familiar with this site? Is this a reputable site?

[TonyW]

Haven't tried it but doing HDR (or exposure blending) from a single image is only pseudo HDR - and will be very dependent on the particular image. If the tone range on the image is too great then it just won't work and is less likely to work with jpegs than RAW images - you really need multiple exposures taken over a range of EV's and preferably RAW images for most situations.

Tony

[Sepiana]

you really need multiple exposures taken over a range of EV's and preferably RAW images for most situations.


Tony, thanks for your prompt response. I love the HDR effect and, to be honest with you, I'd love to be able to do the real thing - multiple exposures, RAW, Photomatix, all the works. However, I don't have the skills. (at least not at this time!):)

EDIT: I'm trying to learn as much and as fast as I can. I've set up goals for myself and am slowly achieving them. Do you want to know the next goal in my list? (Don't laugh!) To shoot in RAW!!!

[TonyW]

I'm not laughing - I went through the same thing. I put it off for a long time, was quite sceptical about the benefits, then moved to RAW+jpeg and finally realized it was so much better and really quite easy (there's no difference in the taking just a little different in the post processing) that I now just shoot RAW. Funnily enough I've been shooting with my brother-in-law this week and he went through exactly the same stages and now is another RAW only convert and would never go back to jpeg.

A good place to start is to try doing a pseudo HDR effect on a RAW file using this method in Adobe Camera Raw

http://www.elementsvillage.com/forums/showthread.php?t=39497

You can do most of what's described in the Elements version of ACR - and things you can't do can be done after opening in the Elements editor.

Give it a try and see if you like it - you'll find it much better than trying to do pseudo HDR on a jpeg file using the shadows/highlights method.

Tony

[Sepiana]

Tony, thanks for being so helpful and supportive! I'll definitely try this technique.

[lisabee]

Sepiana,

I was nervous about shooting in RAW too and put off trying, however I am now a total convert to RAW. My advice would be don't delay, don't be nervous, you'll love it :).

Lisa

[Juergen D]

Sepiana,
Going back to your original question, I downloaded the Redynamix plug-in some time ago (don't know if it was from the same site) and it does a fairly nice job.
It does introduce some noise, though. In this example I ran the finished product through NeatImage.

Juergen

http://www.pixentral.com/hosted/1nk9uyZUCd6Jfa7GfPB2rnRxzkn4o_thumb.jpg (http://www.pixentral.com/show.php?picture=1nk9uyZUCd6Jfa7GfPB2rnRxzkn4o)

[Shelton]

I have it and I use it mostly on scenes. As far as the noise, it has a setting named smooth surface and it usually removes most of the noise. I tried their full version for HDR and it is really great. It is more affordable than other softwares.

[Jeff Perry]

Sepiana (http://www.elementsvillage.com/forums/member.php?u=19387), first, I have the other plug-ins called DCE-Tools and the company Media Chance is a reputable firm that puts out some very useful plug-ins.

I had not tried this pseudo-HDR plug-in (was not aware of its existance until reading your post) but after downloading it and playing with it, and comparing the results to some of my recent true-HDR (Photomatix) images (both indoor and outdoor images) I must say I am intrigued by the tools and flexibility. While not perfect (and clearly does not add tonal range), it does a lot to eek out every bit of tonal range in a single image.

I tried it on two separate images on either end of a 4-image HDR "set" (one exposed for shadows and one for highlights) and I was very impressed with the results.

I would say it is good as my success with double-processing a single RAW or JPG file to create a near-HDR image. In fact, it would not surprise me to learn that that is exactly what the plug-in is doing behind the scene.

While I suspect that one could duplicate the results with the standard PSE6 tools at hand, I would suspect that in a race, the plug-in would win out easily in speed. A lot going on here.

Bottom line, they will probably get my $16, simply because the program works in PSE.

Jeff

[bnk1953]

Sadly - only for Windoze
~bruce.

[Sepiana]

Lisa, Juergen, Shelton, Jeff,

Thanks for your responses!

Based on what you all told me, I'll purchase this plug-in. At least I can play around with it until I learn how to shoot in RAW and eventually graduate to the true HDR. I do have NoiseWare and NeatImage (the freebies) and that should help.

Lisa, you're right; I need to just do it. At least, I've already practiced setting the camera to shoot in RAW. (First things first!):)

Hope I didn't sound silly with my concerns about the reputation of the site. But do you know that I had never downloaded anything into PE until I joined the Village? And even now, I stick with recommendations from the members.

Once again, thanks you all!

[Sepiana]

Sadly - only for Windoze
~bruce.

Bruce, I noticed that too. Isn't that the pits? Who knows, maybe the Mac plug-in isn't too far away.

[NYBOB1]

Here (http://www.topazlabs.com/topazlabs/03products/topaz_adjust/) is another plug-in that offers the HDR effect.A version for Win & Mac.Flash video tutorial & examples on the page.Free demo version.

Bob B.

[Sepiana]

Here (http://www.topazlabs.com/topazlabs/03products/topaz_adjust/) is another plug-in that offers the HDR effect.A version for Win & Mac.Flash video tutorial & examples on the page.Free demo version.

Bob B.

Hi Bob, thanks for the link. I've just checked it out. The only problem I noticed is that this plug-in is for Photoshop 7 and above. Do you know if it works with PE?

[bnk1953]

It says it works w/ elements - but for macs - you have to have an intel processor. Since I'm still using my 2001 Mac tower - won't be using it.
~bruce.