HDR Efex Pro After the Shoot

by Sholik, Stan

• ISBN13: 9781118063446
• ISBN10: 1118063449
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2011-10-25
• Publisher: Wiley

Summary

A concise, thorough guide to the new HDR Efex Pro imaging toolkit for photographers Now that youve gone mobile and HDR, you want to be able to download and enhance your favorite photos on the run, without having to return to the mother ship (i.e., your desktop computer). This book shows you just how to do that using the amazing HDR Efex Pro, the image editing toolkit from Nik Software. In brilliant color and using plenty of show-stopping examples, this practical guide explains all tools and features. Follow numbered steps and youll soon be handling things like alignment, ghosting control, highlights, and contrast-from anywhere-like a professional photographer. Shows you how to use the tools and features of HDR Efex Pro, the revolutionary imaging toolkit from Nik Software that allows you creating the dramatic HDR look from a single image and enable both realistic and artistic effects within a single tool Gets photographers quickly get up to speed using easy-to-follow, numbered steps Covers advanced alignment and ghosting control; shadow and highlight detailing; color, contrast, and vignette controls; and more Features gorgeous, full-color examples to illustrate techniques Take your photography skills to new levels with the exciting new HDR Efex Pro and this must-have guide.

Author Biography

Stan Sholik, a self-taught photographer, has worked for more than three decades in commercial, advertising, and illustrative photography. Skilled with photographic technology, he is also known as the author of numerous articles for View Camera, Shutterbug, Professional Photographer, AfterCapture, Rangefinder, and other trade publications.

Table of Contents

About the Author	p. iii
Acknowledgments	p. vii
Introduction	p. xiv
Understanding HDR Imaging	p. 3
What Is HDR Imaging?	p. 4
What is dynamic range?	p. 4
What is an HDR image?	p. 6
What is tone mapping?	p. 10
When Do You Use HDR Imaging?	p. 11
Using HDR imaging to capture full detail	p. 12
Using HDR imaging for creative effects	p. 13
Getting Started with HDR Efex Pro	p. 17
Overview of the Workflow	p. 18
Presets	p. 19
Global adjustments	p. 23
Local adjustments	p. 27
Finalizing your image	p. 28
System Requirements	p. 29
Installation	p. 30
Adjusting Preferences	p. 31
Customizing the interface	p. 32
Setting the default language	p. 32
Setting the preview mode	p. 33
Setting the background color	p. 33
Setting the zoom state	p. 33
Customizing the Alignment & Ghost Reduction options	p. 34
Setting Alignment	p. 35
Setting the Ghost Reduction Method	p. 35
Setting the Ghost Reduction Strength	p. 36
Setting the software update interval	p. 36
Customizing the image output settings	p. 37
Setting stacking preferences	p. 38
Opening Images in HDR Efex Pro	p. 41
Image Input Requirements	p. 42
Basic image requirements	p. 42
Choosing a camera for HDR imaging	p. 42
Image capture technique	p. 42
Exposure values dialog box	p. 43
Automatically setting exposure values	p. 43
Manually setting exposure values	p. 45
Opening Images from Adobe Lightroom	p. 46
Setting up Lightroom for HDR Efex Pro	p. 47
Importing and selecting images in Lightroom	p. 48
Exporting from Lightroom	p. 51
Using the Export button	p. 51
Using the File menu	p. 51
The fastest way	p. 51
Summary of export steps	p. 51
Alignment & Ghost Reduction with Lightroom export	p. 52
Opening Images from Adobe Bridge	p. 53
Setting up Bridge for HDR Efex Pro	p. 53
Opening an image series	p. 55
Using the Image Merge dialog box	p. 58
File list	p. 59
Open as a Smart Object check box	p. 59
Alignment check box	p. 60
Ghost Reduction Method and Strength	p. 60
Summary of export steps	p. 61
Opening a single image	p. 61
Opening Images from Adobe Photoshop	p. 62
Opening an image series	p. 62
Opening a single image	p. 65
Using layers and masking with HDR Efex Pro	p. 66
Opening Images from Apple Aperture	p. 68
Importing and selecting images in Aperture	p. 68
Exporting from Aperture	p. 74
Alignment & Ghost Reduction with Aperture export	p. 75
Choosing a Workflow to Open Images	p. 76
Working with Presets	p. 81
Prebuilt Presets	p. 82
Default preset	p. 84
Realistic (Subtle) preset	p. 84
Realistic (Balanced) preset	p. 85
Realistic (Strong) preset	p. 85
Realistic Gradients 1 preset	p. 86
Realistic Gradients 2 preset	p. 86
Fine Structures preset	p. 86
Subdued Contrasts preset	p. 87
Structured Skies preset	p. 87
Vibrant Textures preset	p. 88
Vibrant Details & Colors preset	p. 88
Monochrome, Contrasty preset	p. 89
Monochrome, Soft preset	p. 89
The Old Cottage preset	p. 90
Night On Earth preset	p. 90
Vintage Colors preset	p. 91
Granny's Attic preset	p. 91
End of the Road preset	p. 92
Bleach Bypass Look preset	p. 92
Full Scene Compression preset	p. 93
Vibrant Scenery preset	p. 93
Gradual Contrasts 1 preset	p. 93
Gradual Contrasts 2 preset	p. 94
Postcard Paradise preset	p. 94
Clean City 1 preset	p. 95
Clean City 2 preset	p. 95
Friendly Scenery preset	p. 95
Bright Room 1 preset	p. 96
Bright Room 2 preset	p. 96
Strong Counterlight preset	p. 96
Very Low Compression preset	p. 97
Single Exposure 1 preset	p. 97
Single Exposure 2 preset	p. 98
Favorites	p. 98
Custom Presets	p. 98
Creating a custom preset	p. 99
Deleting a custom preset	p. 102
Modifying a custom preset	p. 102
Exporting a custom preset	p. 103
Importing Presets	p. 104
Adjusting Dynamic Range with Tone Compression	p. 107
Understanding Tone Compression	p. 108
Adjusting Tone Compression	p. 108
Tone Compression slider	p. 108
Setting tone compression	p. 111
Selecting an HDR Method	p. 115
Understanding HDR Methods	p. 116
HDR Method Types	p. 118
Natural HDR Method	p. 118
Clean HDR Method	p. 118
Crisp HDR Method	p. 120
Halo Reduction HDR Method	p. 122
Subtle HDR Method	p. 123
Sharp HDR Method	p. 124
Dingy HDR Method	p. 125
Grainy HDR Method	p. 126
Illuminate HDR Method	p. 127
Diffused HDR Method	p. 128
Fresco HDR Method	p. 129
Textured HDR Method	p. 130
Soft HDR Method	p. 131
Bright Soft HDR Method	p. 132
Dark Soft HDR Method	p. 133
Dark Textures HDR Method	p. 134
Bright Textures HDR Method	p. 135
Gradual Medium HDR Method	p. 136
Gradual Large HDR Method	p. 137
Harsh Details HDR Method	p. 138
Making Global Adjustments to the HDR Image	p. 141
The Global Adjustments Section	p. 142
Adjusting Exposure	p. 143
Adjusting Contrast	p. 147
Adjusting Saturation	p. 150
Adjusting Structure	p. 153
Adjusting Blacks	p. 157
Adjusting Whites	p. 160
Adjusting Warmth	p. 162
Working with Control Points	p. 169
Selective Editing with the U Point Tool	p. 170
Adding a Single Control Point	p. 173
Expanding and Collapsing a Control Point	p. 174
Previewing a Control Point	p. 176
Adding Multiple Control Points	p. 177
Creating multiple Control Points	p. 178
Synchronizing Control Points	p. 182
Deleting a Control Point	p. 184
Applying Local Corrections with Control Points	p. 187
Local Corrections Overview	p. 188
Adjusting Exposure	p. 189
Adjusting Contrast	p. 194
Adjusting Saturation	p. 196
Adjusting Structure	p. 201
Adjusting Blacks	p. 204
Adjusting Whites	p. 206
Adjusting Warmth	p. 210
Adjusting Method Strength	p. 214
Putting It All Together	p. 217
Finalizing the Image	p. 223
Adding a Vignette	p. 224
Selecting a vignette type	p. 225
Customizing the vignette	p. 228
Adjusting the amount	p. 231
Adjusting the size and edge softness	p. 231
Adjusting the shape	p. 232
Adjusting the center	p. 233
Adjusting Levels and Curves	p. 237
Understanding the curves diagram	p. 238
Selecting a preset adjustment	p. 240
Adjusting Levels and Curves manually	p. 246
Checking the Image Before Saving	p. 248
Using the Loupe	p. 249
Understanding the Histogram	p. 250
Saving Your HDR Image	p. 251
When opened from Lightroom	p. 251
When opened from Aperture	p. 252
When opened from Bridge or Photoshop	p. 254
When opened as a Smart Object	p. 254
When Things Go Wrong	p. 261
Dealing with Alignment Issues	p. 262
Dealing with Ghosting	p. 263
Dealing with Noise	p. 266
Dealing with Color Fringing	p. 268
Dealing with Digital Artifacts	p. 269
Dealing with Halos	p. 270
Keyboard Shortcuts	p. 272
Presets	p. 274
Glossary	p. 276
Index	p. 280
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