Creating HDR Images

You can create images with a wide dynamic range that preserves detail in highlights and shadows, as well as HDR* images that resemble paintings.

HDR stands for High Dynamic Range.

Note

  • Ideally, three source images of the same scene with low, normal, and high exposure should be used to create an HDR image.
  • HDR images can be generated from all image formats except HEIF.
  • No image information is added to HDR images.

  1. Select images.

  2. Select [Start HDR compositing tool] in the [Tools] menu.

    • You can also select images after starting the tool.

  3. Complete the required settings, then click [Start HDR compositing].

    • To change selected images or add others, click [Browse], then select the image file and click [Open].
    • Selecting two or more images of the same size enables you to select [Auto Align] for auto image alignment. Note that auto image alignment may not work correctly for patterned images (with a lattice or stripes, for example) or images that are generally flat and uniform.
    • Once you click the [Start HDR compositing] button, the [Adjust Image] window appears.

    Caution

    • Auto image alignment removes some peripheral image areas.

  4. Configure the settings as needed.

    • [Adjust Image] sliders

      [Tone/Color]

      • [Brightness]:

        Adjusts overall image brightness. Drag the slider right to brighten images and left to darken them.

      • [Saturation]:

        Adjusts overall color saturation. Drag the slider right to make colors more saturated and left to make them duller.

      • [Contrast]:

        Adjusts overall contrast. Drag the slider right to increase contrast and left to lower it.

      [Detail Enhancement]

      • [Strength]:

        Adjusts both overall contrast and the contrast of details. Drag the slider right to increase the effect.

      • [Smoothness]:

        Adjusts overall smoothness. Drag the slider right for a smooth, natural appearance.

      • [Fineness]:

        Adjusts clarity of image details. Drag the slider right for a sharper outline.

    • [Presets] effects

      You can choose from the following five preset effects in the [Presets] pull-down menu instead of adjusting each slider. Selecting a preset moves the sliders accordingly. You can also adjust the sliders after selecting a preset.

      • [Natural] (default):

        Corrects rendering in areas of high-contrast scenes where detail is often lost in highlights or shadows, to preserve more of this detail.

      • [Art standard]:

        An impressive finish with the rich tonality of a painting.

      • [Art vivid]:

        More vibrant than [Art standard].

      • [Art bold]:

        Also more vibrant than [Art standard], for subjects that “pop.”

      • [Art embossed]:

        Tones down vibrancy, relative to [Art standard], for retro ambiance.

  5. Click [Save As].

    • Click [Save As], then complete the required settings and click [Save].

    Note

    • You can add a button for this function to the main window toolbar ().