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UER Forum > UE Photography > Bracket and Blends: How To (Viewed 98973 times)
desmet 


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Re: Bracket and Blends: How To
< Reply # 40 on 4/7/2008 6:18 PM >
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Well, it's funny you mention panos because that has been a problem for me...I want to shoot bracket and blend panos but the thought of bracketing and blending each exposure, then combining to pano sounds like a huuuuuuuuuge amount of work, and a process that might introduce significant errors into the pano process. I would totally do it, but i haven't run into a subject that was THAT compelling that I'm willing to put in a weeks worth of work getting it how I want it.

Im totally gonna look in to that...if it could make created b&b'd panos easier I will definitely have to start using it.




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Re: Bracket and Blends: How To
< Reply # 41 on 4/9/2008 4:05 AM >
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Okay, here's a typical example of a blending I don't think worked. The sharp black lines come from the two images not matching up perfectly. Does anyone know how I can make this look better?





desmet 


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Re: Bracket and Blends: How To
< Reply # 42 on 4/10/2008 11:35 PM >
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Posted by racetraitor
Okay, here's a typical example of a blending I don't think worked. The sharp black lines come from the two images not matching up perfectly. Does anyone know how I can make this look better?

http://www.daehanm...05okpoland2/76.JPG



Are you sure its from not matching up? Did you use a tripod?

Try decreasing the opacity of the darker layer...that will make the windows look more natural. You can also use Image->Adjustments->Brightness/contrast to lighten them.

This is kind of a classic example of what I don't like about HDR, except with a B&B. Look at the windows compared to the rest of the scene...they are not the brightest thing in the scene even though they were probably quite bright in real life. So, you wanna lighten them to make them BRIGHT without losing DETAIL.

Once it's lightened, work the layer mask with a light brush to soften the transitions.



[last edit 4/10/2008 11:36 PM by desmet - edited 1 times]

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Re: Bracket and Blends: How To
< Reply # 43 on 4/12/2008 7:18 AM >
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Posted by desmet



Are you sure its from not matching up? Did you use a tripod?

Try decreasing the opacity of the darker layer...that will make the windows look more natural. You can also use Image->Adjustments->Brightness/contrast to lighten them.

This is kind of a classic example of what I don't like about HDR, except with a B&B. Look at the windows compared to the rest of the scene...they are not the brightest thing in the scene even though they were probably quite bright in real life. So, you wanna lighten them to make them BRIGHT without losing DETAIL.

Once it's lightened, work the layer mask with a light brush to soften the transitions.


Yeah, I did this without a tripod. I held the camera still but even changing the shutter speed moved the camera slightly.

Maybe the opacity trick will work, but you're right, for the most part I prefer pictures where the windows are blown out than pictures that look like this.




ScreenAce 


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Re: Bracket and Blends: How To
< Reply # 44 on 8/10/2008 10:42 PM >
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This rules! After taking some time to really work with this, I had an ah-ha moment. My experiment worked out great. This will change how I shoot ...and post process.

Thanks!




Atlas Wolfe 


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Re: Bracket and Blends: How To
< Reply # 45 on 2/4/2009 5:51 AM >
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This was amazing.
I will have to try it. I'll post again with the results.




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Re: Bracket and Blends: How To
< Reply # 46 on 2/12/2009 4:47 PM >
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Posted by racetraitor
I've been experimenting with this lately, but my biggest problem is that the images never align perfectly. No matter how steady the camera is, the two photos are always off by a fraction of a degree and won't align perfectly in Photoshop. Is there a way to deal with this after the pictures have been taken?


I started to play with this after reading the tut. and I've been having the same issues. The problem is that my camera does not Auto Bracket and moves ever so slightly when adjusting. Also, any movement of the subject matter during the delay causes ghosting. Basically, I need a new camera.

In my search, I found http://hdr-photography.com/aeb.html which lists the different specs of cameras which will make this procedure much easier.




desmet 


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Re: Bracket and Blends: How To
< Reply # 47 on 3/5/2009 3:49 PM >
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If you're using an SLR and a sturdy tripod you really shouldnt need auto bracketing. The problem with auto bracketing, too, is that sometimes the autobracketing won't bracket a wide enough area to get everything. If it's really dark in a building the windows and the inside can be more than 3 or 5 stops apart.

If you're using a point and shoot or don't have a great tripod, then I can see the bracketing being a problem. Nothing you can really do about that other than just be extra careful not to bump the camera when you're messing with it.




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Re: Bracket and Blends: How To
< Reply # 48 on 3/5/2009 10:38 PM >
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Posted by desmet
If it's really dark in a building the windows and the inside can be more than 3 or 5 stops apart.



Interesting.

Yes, I do usually only carry a P&S, so I am having these difficulties. Either subject matter or camera are moving. But I'm more curious about your comment on the f-stops. What range do people normally use? When does it start to look too cartoon? Honestly, I still appreciate the ones that do.




desmet 


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Re: Bracket and Blends: How To
< Reply # 49 on 3/5/2009 11:58 PM >
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Posted by jratter


Interesting.

Yes, I do usually only carry a P&S, so I am having these difficulties. Either subject matter or camera are moving. But I'm more curious about your comment on the f-stops. What range do people normally use? When does it start to look too cartoon? Honestly, I still appreciate the ones that do.


Depends on a point and shoot....but f8 is usually the sharpest aperture on most SLR lenses.

The cartoony thing mostly applies to HDR rather than this. This technique is really aimed at giving you realism. If you want cartoony (and I urge to you reconsider lol) I would go with HDR.

It actually is possible to have HDR stuff thats cartoony without also sucking. The key is avoiding halos and not making the windows dark and the inside bright...and other shit like that.




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Re: Bracket and Blends: How To
< Reply # 50 on 3/6/2009 12:09 AM >
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Posted by micro
Great tutorial.

I've also found that Photoshop actions like this can sometimes lead to decent results as well so long as there isn't too much contrast between dark and light areas:

http://www.outdooreyes.com/photo80.php3


As good as photoshop actions are for certain monotonous processes, I find that it isn't good to rely on them too much for things like curves and colour adjustments as I find each photo generally has it's own nuances that demand subtle differences to get the best possible effect.





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Re: Bracket and Blends: How To
< Reply # 51 on 5/20/2009 12:30 PM >
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Thank you for taking the time to post this great tutorial!




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yokes 


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Re: Bracket and Blends: How To
< Reply # 52 on 8/11/2009 9:25 PM >
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Another good blending tutorial

http://www.luminou...ls/surprised.shtml




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desmet 


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Re: Bracket and Blends: How To
< Reply # 53 on 8/17/2009 3:24 PM >
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There is a second section of Photomatrix which I have discovered (no doubt HDR people have seen this for years and have either just not said anything or ignored it because they don't want realistic looking images) called Blended Exposures. It's basically an automated bracket and blend tool and I have to say it is freaking amazing for creating realistic-looking blended images.

I am just starting to scratch the surface but these are two I used this on already....

http://www.desolat...d/tower_water.html

http://www.desolat...twisted_pipes.html

It really is pretty much just an automated bracket and blend. You can't really produce bad-HDR type images with it. No halos, no odd color shifts or dark skies/light interiors. Basically, it's everything that HDR should have been from the jump.

Definitely more to come on that one.




yokes 


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Re: Bracket and Blends: How To
< Reply # 54 on 8/17/2009 3:45 PM >
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Where is this tool in photomatix?




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Re: Bracket and Blends: How To
< Reply # 55 on 8/17/2009 3:48 PM >
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Posted by desmet
There is a second section of Photomatrix which I have discovered (no doubt HDR people have seen this for years and have either just not said anything or ignored it because they don't want realistic looking images) called Blended Exposures. It's basically an automated bracket and blend tool and I have to say it is freaking amazing for creating realistic-looking blended images.

I am just starting to scratch the surface but these are two I used this on already....

http://www.desolat...d/tower_water.html

http://www.desolat...twisted_pipes.html

It really is pretty much just an automated bracket and blend. You can't really produce bad-HDR type images with it. No halos, no odd color shifts or dark skies/light interiors. Basically, it's everything that HDR should have been from the jump.

Definitely more to come on that one.


I used it when I dabbled with HDR when I started shooting. Really great tool.




grit your teeth in the face of fear. self repression is the true sign of a coward, toss your inhibitions to the wind.
desmet 


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Re: Bracket and Blends: How To
< Reply # 56 on 8/18/2009 12:59 AM >
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Posted by yokes
Where is this tool in photomatix?


Right on the main menu..."Generate HDR Image", "Tone Mapping", "Exposure Blending"


I used it when I dabbled with HDR when I started shooting. Really great tool.


Yea, I have been avoiding shooting bracket and blends a bit just because its such a pain in the ass...now...different story!




desmet 


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Re: Bracket and Blends: How To
< Reply # 57 on 8/18/2009 5:04 AM >
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Fairly OK example from the software. The darkness overall is a choice on my part, and the blown highlights at the far end are just the result of not bracketing enough. Still, though, HUGE dynamic range here and you get great detail anywhere you want it. I could have had a lot more brightness in the interior with no loss of detail outside, but again, it was a choice to keep it dark.





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Re: Bracket and Blends: How To
< Reply # 58 on 9/9/2009 1:54 AM >
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I started playing with the blending tool in Photomatix again. It really does yield great results:





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yokes 


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Re: Bracket and Blends: How To
< Reply # 59 on 9/9/2009 2:03 AM >
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Ah... it is a 3.0 feature.




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