11 ways to - High Dynamic Range Images 4 masking techniques 4 PS HDR methods 3 Third party tools Net tutorials:

Basic HDR Tripod – or auto bracket in burst mode Aperture priority Or manual, but change the shutter speed Three or more shots One for the highlights One for the shadows One for the mid range HDR vs Tone Mapping

Technique #1 Masking in Photoshop gradient mask simple mask (plus a bonus) luminosity mask what about 1 image, process twice?

Using a mask to simulate a graduated neutral density filter. This is a 2 stop graduated neutral density filter. They come in various stops with either a hard or soft transition edge. The come with a holder that allows the filter to be rotated so the transition can be at an angle. The main draw-back is that the transition can only be straight.

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Uncheck ‘Blend images together’

Note: images have been aligned – crop to eliminate the difference at any time

Highlight top layer and click ‘add adjustment layer’

1.Make sure the mask is active – double lines around the box 2.Click gradient tool 3.If not already selected click this gradient option 4.Shift click to draw a straight line on the image – the length of the line defines the transition 5.Foreground is white, background is black; rule is ‘white reveals, black conceals’ 6.Repeat, adjusting as often as you want until you get it ‘close’ – not perfect Click here to make sure white is white and black is black

Alt click on the mask to show the mask in the main frame. So, what about motion?

The \ key reveals the mask over the image

To edit the mask, click on the mask in the layers palette and paint with white or black Large brush, soft edges, medium to low opacity

Final results. Probably could use a bit more work here. Note: you don’t need to use the gradient mask. Just use a large brush with soft edges gradually changing the opacity until you get what you want.

Simple Mask Alternatively, for a simple mask, just take and image exposed for the shadow and one for the highlights and build a mask.

Bonus shortcut! First, just adjust the opacity and see if you need to go any further!

Painting with white reveals the layer, painting with black conceals the layer (and reveals the underlying layer). Use low opacity, eg: 25% and built up the mask.

Final version.

Luminosity Mask ‘ctrl alt shift ~’ -.33 ev -1.0 ev ev ev

Open the images using ‘file’ ‘automate’ ‘photomerge’. Uncheck ‘merge images’ Sort with brightest image On the top

Press: Ctrl alt shift ~

This selects the pixels On the right hand half of the histogram.

Press ‘Select’ ‘Inverse’ Then create a mask by pressing on the mask icon

The Mask White reveals Black conceals

Repeat for all layers except the bottom Histogram looks OK, but note it’s not been refreshed.

Some slight clipping.

More or less finished product. Needs some Cleaning up of mess. Note histogram is updated.