Photomatix Pro: Total Control Over Your HDR Image

When asking about HDR applications, the one that most often gets recommended (in my experience) is Photomatix Pro. It has many features/options that allow you to ultimately get your HDR image looking the way you envisioned.

Many people think of an HDR image as more of an “artsy” type of photograph, but in reality HDR imaging has very practical uses. It allows you to reproduce the range of tones that our eyes can see, but no camera can capture in a single image. The process of creating an HDR image involves combining multiple images of the same scene at different EV settings; but enough of what HDR imaging is, and onto how Photomatix handles it.

Upon opening Photomatix Pro, you are greeted with a “Workflow shortcuts” window. This window has four buttons for getting started with your image, and a tutorial button for when you need help. For the purposes of this review, I am going to select “Generate HDR Image.”

Clicking this button brings up a dialog where Photomatix asks you to select the images you want to combine. You can see the three images that I am going to use below. In Aperture, I took a RAW photo of a bolt of lightning, and, using the exposure adjustment, made two additional images to process.

Once you have located your images, clicking “OK” will send you to the next step. Here you have a few options when deciding how Photomatix will create your HDR image. The defaults have worked fine for me so far, but your results may vary. Click “OK” once again, and Photomatix will go to work.

The initial result once Photomatix is done is very lackluster. You must process the image using tone mapping in order to make the image something worth looking at.

This is where things can become confusing. Photomatix has an array of options and sliders to adjust your image. The manual provides an explanation of what each slider does to your image, so it is recommended that you read each blurb before adjusting. Once you have a handle on how each option changes your image, you can begin tweaking to reach the desired effect.

Overall, Photomatix Pro is very good at what it does. Though the interface may be a little bland, it is still easy to navigate. While some may be intimidated by the many buttons and sliders present at any moment on screen, a quick skim of the manual will get you up to speed.

Though the price may be an issue for many, HDR soft also has academic pricing available, and one license is valid for both the Mac and Windows versions.

You can pick up Photomatix Pro for $99 from HDR soft.

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