Double processing

So there are times when processing an image more than once can get a look that just once can't. What I do is process at settings that make a much darker image than I would normally do. Then without saving or closing the image I process again at different settings. The reason to do the first one darker is that the second processing step lightens it up quite a bit. Oh, I am using Photomatix Pro. Here is an example of what I am talking about.



The upper left is the 0 EV image, the upper right is how I would tone map if I was going to only do it once, the bottom left is how I would tone map if I was going to tone map the same image twice (notice how much darker I make it), the bottom right is the final image tone mapped twice and an Orton Effect added.

When I first started doing HDR, I used to do double processing as well. I would run it through Photomatix a second time after saving it as a 16bit tiff. I've learned that I can do a lot more subtle work in PS after tone mapping than with running it through a second time. But I love those four examples above. Really shows how great a photo can look with tonemapping without going over the top.

Melanie

Right now, I'm converting the RAW (Nikon NEF) files and doing slight adjustments in Lightroom first. I usually take the 'normal' exposure and lightly tweak it, then apply the same changes to the other exposures (very handy if I 'healed' anything) and export them all as 16-bit tif files. I process those tifs through Photomatix Pro, tonemap, and output the result as 16-bit tif. Then that's imported back into Lightroom for final adjustments before saving as an 8-bit tif or jpg. I'm a PS beginner, so when I'm better at it, I'll probably use that as well.

Double processing is something Ben Wilmore talked about during the Phototshop CS4 for Photographers seminar. I have not tried it out, but iot does look interesting.

saftbill, that sounds very similar to my workflow, although many times I just open the RAW files directly in Photomatix. The downside to that is you need to import the final product back into Lightroom.

HDRJ, I used to import the RAW files straight into Photomatix, but in the FAQs at their website ("Do I need to process bracketed RAW files to 16-bit format first?") , they basically state their RAW converter isn't the best, and recommend using LR, PS, DxO, Aperture, etc. to do the RAW conversion. That's when I started using LR for the RAW conversion.

saftbill wrote:HDRJ, I used to import the RAW files straight into Photomatix, but in the FAQs at their website ("Do I need to process bracketed RAW files to 16-bit format first?") , they basically state their RAW converter isn't the best, and recommend using LR, PS, DxO, Aperture, etc. to do the RAW conversion. That's when I started using LR for the RAW conversion.

Thanks, that is good to know. The workflow is much better that way, also, since it gets saved back into Lightroom automatically.