In this post, I’ll talk about creating HDR (high dynamic range) images from a single RAW file. This technique is effective for bringing back 1 to 2 stops of detail in both the shadows and highlights, because that’s about how much latitude you have in a RAW file. Basically we’re going to squeeze as much usable image data as possible out of that RAW image. For this tutorial I’ll be using Adobe Camera RAW 5.6 to create my multiple exposures, and Photomatix Pro 4.0.1 to merge them into HDR. If you’re reading this and thinking “HD what?” then head over to Wikipedia for a little background info, but basically we’re out to capture a scene with higher dynamic range then the digital camera sensor can accurately represent.

HDR is often used (abused?) to create surreal images with psychedelic colors and spooky clouds. That’s all fine and good, but the “cartoony HDR look” does get old. I’m interested in using HDR as a tool to close the gap between what my eye say, and my camera recorded. In other words, I’m after “realistic HDR.” As an example, take a look at these images of the famous Golden Pavilion in Kyoto, Japan. This Zen Buddhist temple is plated with gold, which makes it kinda shiny. There’s a nice reflection in the water, a clear blue sky, and green trees in the background. If I expose for the highlights in the temple, the shadows would be lost, if I expose for the shadows the temple will be blown. What to do? Shoot RAW and HDR it later!

Straight from camera. Processed in Adobe Camera RAW with default settings.

HDR image straight from Photomatix Pro

Read on for the step-by-step instructions and to download the files used in this tutorial.

1. Generate Multiple Exposures from a single RAW file
To generate an HDR image you need photos ranging from underexposed to overexposed. You get about 2 stops +/- EV in the RAW file, so I’ll go from -2 EV to +2 EV in 1-stop increments. This will yield 5 separate files.

Note: The purpose of the underexposed images is to capture as much detail as possible in the highlights so I’ve also set “recovery” at 20 for the underexposed and 0 EV images.

Pulling a -2 E.V. image from Adobe Camera Raw

Pulling a -1 E.V. image from Adobe Camera Raw

Pulling a 0 E.V. image from Adobe Camera Raw

Pulling a +1 E.V. image from Adobe Camera Raw

Pulling a +2 E.V. image from Adobe Camera Raw

2. Load the “bracketed” images into Photomatix Pro.

Initial Photomatix Pro Screen

Loading bracketed images into Photomatix Pro

Since I exported these images from a RAW file at 1 stop increments, I’ll choose 1 for the EV spacing:

Setting the EV spacing in Photomatix Pro

These images were all created from a single RAW file so there’s no need to align source images, and Photoshop does a better job with the other enhancement settings. So I don’t check anything here:

Photomatix Pro Preprocessing Settings

3. Play with the settings until it looks “right.”

I’ve found that the “Exposure Fusion” process works well when you’re going for realistic HDR.

Photomatix Pro HDR Settings

4. Save the final image.

5. Tweak the image in PhotoShop or your favorite image editing application.

Final Image - HDR with contrast and saturation boosted in PhotoShop CS4.

6. Try it yourself!

Download the files from this tutorial and make your own HDR image of the Golden Pavilion in Kyoto.

Original Raw Image (23.4 mb)
Bracketed Images (63.3 mb)*
Photomatix Pro Free Trial

* If you have access to Adobe Camera RAW you don’t need the bracketed images, you can create them yourself.