Faked HDR with Photomerged Exposure

[Fauxtoto]

Hi,

I made a “faked HDR” experimentation with this photo, originally taken in jpg format. I sent it to ACR where I made two new versions, respectively over exposed by 1 and 2 stops, slightly adjusting the shadows in one of them. I then transferred these two modified photos in PSE, as PSD files, with the original, also in PSD format. There, I performed a Photomerge Exposure, automatic mode, slightly tweaking highlights and shadows and adding a bit of saturation. I doubt it would be the best way to enhance in this case, but still fun and interesting.

Please feel free to try with the same or any different strategy of your own. I would be curious to see the results with different methods and approaches, especially with Elements and/or ACR and/or Lightroom, since these are the tools I use. No restrictions in the means though, including plug-ins or dedicated HDR programs.   

Thank you.

The original, followed by the Photomerged Exposure:

[Tpgettys]

You achieved a pretty dramatic improvement; well done!

[Sydney]

Excellent job Fauxtoto, you have vastly improved the dynamic range by bringing out detail that was hidden in the shadows.

Oh, by the way, the Nik collection, which includes HDR Efex Pro 2, is now a free download from Google. Here is the link where you can download it: www.google.com/nikcollection/

I have played around with it a bit, but might have another go later today and post my before and after images.

[Squirrel2014]

Wow! The difference is amazing. I hadn't appreciated what HDR achieved, really, as not a photographer, although I had heard of it. You've been very imaginative to come up with such a technique. Congratulations

[Sydney]

Here are before and after images of St Marys Cathedral in Sydney. As you can see in the first image there are a lot of dark shadows and overblown highlights. I used Nik HDR Pro 2 (Structured 1 preset) to process the image and came up with the after result. Although I could have tweaked the preset to produce a better rendering, overall I was happy with the amount of detail that was reclaimed from both the shadows and highlights in the before image.





As I mentioned in my earlier post the Nik collection is now totally gratis and can be downloaded here: www.google.com/nikcollection/

[Moto]

Sydney "...the Nik collection, which includes HDR Efex Pro 2, is now a free download from Google."

For Photoshop Elements Users:

In the Nik Collection - HDR Efex Pro 2 is not included because it is not compatible with Photoshop Elements.

See the sections on the bottom of the page for Mac and Windows compatibility: www.google.com/nikcollection/ 

Also: the compatibility section states it's compatible with Elements 9 through 13. The Nik Collection also works with Elements version 14.

UPDATE and CORRECTION: see dandc's post - There is a Nik Collection HDR Efex Pro 2 stand alone app.
The Elements in app version doesn't include HDR Efex Pro 2.
Sorry for the confusion I caused.

[dandc]

Nik's HDR Effect Pro 2 can be used as standalone application - just navigate to the Nik Collection program folder and select the executable for the HDR module. There are detailed instructions online if needed. After I located the executable I created a desktop short-cut, making it pretty easy to use.

The other option I've used for HDR creation is uploading bracketed shots to a private Google Photo folder. Google's Auto Awesome will (usually) create a HDR from them. There isn't any ability to tweak the settings used though, so Nik's module is a better option in most cases.

[Moto]

dandc "Nik's HDR Effect Pro 2 can be used as standalone application..."

Great info! Thanks.

[Fauxtoto]

Thank you all. Thank you Sydney for sharing your experience (nice Cathedral, BTW) and pointing out the Nik Collection. I will certainly have a look into it. However it may take a while since for the moment I am concentrating on beginning to learn Lightroom; little by little.

[Sepiana]

I am aware this thread is not a recent one but I thought a little clarification is still needed about the compatibility of HDR Efex Pro 2 and Elements.  The information on the Google/Nik site states . . .

Adobe Photoshop Elements: 9 through 13 (apart from HDR Efex Pro 2, which is not compatible with Photoshop Elements)

Source: Licensing and Compatibility
 

This means that, when you run the installer, HDR Efex Pro 2 will not be installed in those versions of Elements.  The workaround, as dandc mentioned, is to install it as a stand-alone.

However, if you have Elements 14, there is no problem. HDR Efex pro 2 will be installed as a plug-in and will work flawlessly.

[Moto]

It's a mystery.
No Nik Collection HDR Efex Pro 2 on my Elements 14.
Does anyone else have this problem?

[Sepiana]

Moto,

Is Elements 14 listed in the Compatible Host Applications box in the Setup dialog when you run the installer? It shows up in my list.  If you don't see Elements 14 in that box, follow the instructions in the Setup dialog to use the "+" button to add this version to the host list.  You need to navigate to the Plug-ins folder --  C:\Program Files\Adobe\Photoshop Elements 14\Plug-Ins.

[Sepiana]

Moto,

I am curious now. Did you check Automation Tools in Elements 14?  Is by any chance HDR Efex Pro 2 listed there?

[Moto]

Sept 12, 2016 17:48:47 GMT Sepiana said:

Moto,

I am curious now. Did you check Automation Tools in Elements 14?  Is by any chance HDR Efex Pro 2 listed there?

I checked Automation Tools and the option "Merge to HDR Efex Pro 2..." is not listed.

Sepiana, "Is Elements 14 listed in the Compatible Host Applications box in the Setup dialog when you run the installer? It shows up in my list."
Elements 14 is listed when I re-ran the Installer.

I re-downloaded "nikcollection-full-1.2.11.exe."
I uninstalled and re-installed the Nik Collection. HDR Efex Pro 2 still doesn't show up.

The mystery remains.

[Sepiana]

Sept 12, 2016 21:21:43 GMT Moto said:

I checked Automation Tools and the option "Merge to HDR Efex Pro 2..." is not listed.

Elements 14 is listed when I re-ran the Installer.

I re-downloaded "nikcollection-full-1.2.11.exe."
I uninstalled and re-installed the Nik Collection. HDR Efex Pro 2 still doesn't show up.

The mystery remains.

Moto,

I sincerely don't know what the problem is. I have Elements 14 installed on two computers. There was no problem with the installation of HDR Efex Pro 2.

Two very long shots in the dark . . .

- Did you run the installer as Administrator?

- Did you keep Elements 14 closed during the installation process?

If no one else comes up with a solution, I would suggest you post on the Google/Nik forum.

Nik Collection Forum