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Softonic Rating:
Good:7/10
License:
Evaluation
Added:
August 1, 2007
Updated:
September 7, 2007
Publisher:
Website
File size:
4.1 MB
Downloads:
710
Elena Santos

“Increase the dynamic range of your photographs”

by Elena Santos

High Dynamic Range (HDR) imaging is a special technique that enables photographers to obtain perfectly exposed images in all areas, even if they have radically different luminosity values. And now you can try this method with your own pictures and Photomatix.

You don't need to know a lot about professional photography, nor spend a lot of money in material. Some photos taken with a different exposure value is all this program needs to create some astounding HDR images. Well, you'll also need some patience as the program may take a while to process images, depending on your system's performance.

Photomatix includes automatic working modes for those who don't want to be bothered tweaking a dozen different values, and also manual modes for picky photographers who prefer controlling every single detail. It also features a quick tutorial and a user manual to help you take your first steps in HDR creation.

Languages:

English

Recent changes in Photomatix Pro:

  • Bug fixed: dark spots on the final image tone mapped with Details Enhancer that happened with a few images since version 2.5 should not happen anymore
  • Bug fixed: Tone Compressor Settings window called from Batch Processing or Single File Conversion should now correctly take into account the Temperature and Saturation settings

Limitations:

The trial is fully functional and never expires, but applies a watermark to images produced with one of the two Tone Mapping methods and four of the six exposure blending modes.

OS requirements for Photomatix Pro:

  • OS: Win98/98SE/Me/2000/XP/Vista
Pros
  • Easy to use
  • Several working modes
  • Includes tutorial and manual
Cons
  • Image processing can be quite slow
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From the publisher of Photomatix Pro

If you have ever photographed a high contrast scene, you know that even the best exposure will typically have blown out highlights and flat shadows. Photomatix offers two ways to solve this problem: Exposure Blending, which enables to merge differently exposed photographs into one image with increased dynamic range, and Tone Mapping, that allows you to reveal highlight and shadow details in an HDR image created from multiple exposures. The tone mapped image is ready for printing while showing the complete dynamic range captured.

The benefits of using Photomatix are:

Saving on lighting equipment

Given that most digital cameras can auto-bracket at different exposures, you do not need to acquire expensive lighting equipment -and carry it- when shooting high contrast scenes. Just enable Auto Exposure Bracketing, and let Photomatix merge your photos into an image with extended dynamic range.

Saving time in post-processing

Photomatix Pro is designed for productivity -- automatic blending, unlimited stacking, easy comparison of results and batch processing save hours of masking and layers work in image editing programs.

Great pictures on cloudy days

Shadowless hazy sunlight or an overcast sky usually results in dull-looking photographs. The tone mapping tool of Photomatix Pro can turn them into great-looking images. Check this image as example.

Noise reduction

The Exposure Blending functions of Photomatix Pro merge any number of bracketed photos -- this process is equivalent to image stacking, which tends to reduce noise in the resulting image.

Well exposed panoramas

A panoramic scene is almost always a high contrast scene -- you can't limit your view to areas with the same brightness when shooting a 360° panorama. By taking views under several exposures and processing them in Photomatix Pro, you can create a panorama that will show details in both the dark and bright areas of the scene.

Photomatix Pro options

Photomatix Pro Options
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