Paint Shop Pro X2

[dwest57]

I am very interested in giving HDR processing a try and currently I have PSP 8 and Photo Elements 3. I see that everyone uses Photomatrix (it seems) but see also that PSP X2 has a HDR functions well, does anyone have any experience with it? I want to get a program to do this and if PSP X2 is comparable it would be a better buy plus provides more editing options as well.

Dan

[jfrancho]

Well Photoshop also has Merge to HDR, and I prefer Photomatix. My advice is to try the eval version, and make that decision yourself.

[Rense]

The new paintshop version X2 has an automatic function to merge HDRS. But photomatix is much better.

[Lionello]

Agreed, Photomatix is much better, it offers a lot more adjustment options than Photoshop does during the actual HDR process.
I for one use both PS and Photomatix, on the same image.

[Goofup]

I have PSPX2, and the HDR function is new to this version. Don't laugh, ok, but I've never done a HDR before, but I did do some goolging and found some examples pictures to try it out with.

I've never used Photomatix before so I have nothing to compare it to, but I was surprised that it seemed to work pretty good at combining images. You open the HDR dialog, open the pictures, align them by clicking a button, the hit "Suggest Settings". From there you further adjust the overall brightness and clarify via sliders. Click OK and it creates an new HDR image for you that you can further sharpen, whatever.

Now all that sounds pretty easy and simplistic, and it is. Course I have no idea how hard PSPX2 is working "behind the scenes" to make it "seem" simple. Is it as good as Photomatix could do? Even I can answer that one: of course not! Get real. Photomatix is a dedicated HDR program that sells for $100. However from my simple one-time test, PSPX2 seemed to do a pretty good job from what I could see (looked pretty darn close the the end result on the site to me anyway).

I just tried the first one here:
Examples of tone mapped HDR images and dynamic range increase with Exposure Blending

I may try the others later for the fun of it and for testing.

[heartseye]

I have PSP X2 AND Photomatix.....once you are used to both I think you'll get images of equal quality from both systems, in most cases....cheers...Bob

[Virtual_D]

The adjustments offered in Photomatix are useful but not a necessity. PSPX2 does a good job of merging images and offers all the bells and whistles to make your final adjustments.

[JDArt]

Has anyone tried the photomatix plug-in versus the standalone product? I'd prefer a plug-in, but I'm not sure it has the same power.

[jfrancho]

It is exactly the same. The only difference is that using the plug in, you are working in a color managed environment.

[Arizona]

The Photomatix plugin is just for tone mapping isn't it? The standalone will merge and tone map plus a few other features on combining images. The tone mapper in the standalone has a couple more sliders that the plugin doesn't have.

I have both but usually use the standalone. At times I will tone map with the plugin. The bundle was not much more than the standalone.

I never did like the Photoshop HDR but Photomatix gives a good solution.

[Rense]

don't know I'm only using the stand alone version.

[Arizona]

The only place I can see Photomatix in PS is under Filters. It pops up the tone mapping filter for an open image. I can't see anything under import or automate. I believe that is as it was advertised when I bought it but can't entirely remember. It seems the plugin was only $10 more so I went ahead and got it.

[jfrancho]

Originally Posted by Arizona

The Photomatix plugin is just for tone mapping isn't it? The standalone will merge and tone map plus a few other features on combining images. The tone mapper in the standalone has a couple more sliders that the plugin doesn't have.

I have both but usually use the standalone. At times I will tone map with the plugin. The bundle was not much more than the standalone.

I never did like the Photoshop HDR but Photomatix gives a good solution.

Yes, that's correct, sorry for the mis-info. I create the radiance files in the standalone, and tone-map in Photoshop. I do it this way so I can immediately work on a set of radiance files (sometimes I make three or four versions of the same HDR scene) once they are tone mapped.

[Arizona]

Originally Posted by jfrancho

sometimes I make three or four versions of the same HDR scene) once they are tone mapped.

Same here, I"ll make several versions. I tend to save the Radiance files so I can bring it back up fast if necessary for another direction of work in tone mapping as well since it takes some time to make the Radiance file.

[MrB]

I just tried the first one here:
Examples of tone mapped HDR images and dynamic range increase with Exposure Blending

I may try the others later for the fun of it and for testing.[/quote]

Goofup, I really like the top image.