Merge to HDR Tip

I found this little known fact out first hand when I was first experimenting with different tone mapping operators a few years back.  I was testing out the various softwares that will take your bracketed shots and “Merge to HDR” to create either a .hdr or .exr.  Turns out the act of merging to a High Dynamic Range Image using bracketed images, can be and IS unique amongst the various apps on the market.

The process the application goes through to merge to hdr  is not as standardized as I thought it would (or should be) and is slightly differently with various apps (done under the hood with their code).  Hence the reason that merging raw files to save in one app and then opening that .hdr or .exr in another app could and can does lead to different results than just using that 2nd app to merge and then tonemap the same files.  One would think that it should be a standardized formula that would lead to the same .hdr / .exr.  But as it turns out… different chefs make different dishes despite starting out with the same ingredients.

So the next time you are planning to use an application to provide automation (merge to hdr for dozens of folders) using one app, then tonemapping those .hdr / .exr saved files in a totally different app… you should know what the tendency of the original app you are using to merge “tends” to do (create).  Color, saturation, etc…

Just a little HDR tip to close out the 2009 year.