If you're waiting for my monthly update, I have bad news: My Macbook Pro died, mother board failure! So the latest website update is currently beeing wiped off the drive in some secret underground Apple repair center. That's right - I'm blogging this on my iPhone because that's the only computer I have left. I'm expecting it to implode any minute, because it recently came out of warranty too...

New Years resolution? Well, now that I figured out this mobile blogging thing, my resolution is to post news more often. Too many times last year I found out about something cool, but never followed up with a post. And now the unwritten stories pile up.

Wish you a wonderful 2009,
mine can only get better from here.

Happy Holidays from HDRLabs & friends!

I was pulling a bunch of levers and scored some amazing deals for you. Most of them you won't find anywhere else. All together, this is a total savings of $151.49. It's like Christmas!

What's the catch?

Well, to qualify for these rebates you need to own the HDRI Handbook, either the English
or the German edition.
Considering a cover price of $32.97 (or €49.00) on Amazon, you basically get the HDRI Handbook for free when you buy two of these programs. If you already have the book, you can type in the password on the software links page and start saving right away...

Many thanks to all the participating developers for making these great offers available:
AGS Technik, Creaceed, db&w, HDRSoft, Imaging Luminary, and MediaChance. You guys rock!

PS: I should mention that these coupon codes are not retroactive. That means, they are only valid when you buy a software now, they DO NOT qualify for a refund if you previously bought any of the software packages. Duh!

... for December's update.

That's because I was on my Annual Thanksgiving Roadtrip, this time across Arizona, Utah and Nevada. Shot tons of awesome panos, and now I'm loaded with material for the year to come. Check out the brand new sIBL-of-the-month, shot on the highway 163 heading towards Monument Valley!

BTW - I tonemapped this set with the new FDR Tools 2.2, and I gotta say: FDR Tools really has turned into a powerhouse! Noteworthy features are:

• xDOF Merging: Combines images with different focus into one HDR with extended depth of field. (Haven't tried it yet, but sounds great).
• Project-based workflow, where you can set up a template for every step and run it as a batch.
• Curves !!! I love Curves to death! The ultimate power tool for post-processing, now attached to every tonemapper. Check out this screenshot of total tone control:

And with FDR Tool's proven ICC color management, this is really an app for professionals.

What else is new here?

I've updated the software list to include Hydra, Essential HDR and indispensable plugins like EXR Trader, Pro EXR and Flexify. Also, you can now filter for PC or Mac.
Actually, the entire site framework has been refurbished. Not that this should matter to you - except for all links now fading on rollover (uh, oh) - but it will be much easier for me now to create some advanced pages. And believe me, I have some pretty awesome things on my list already...

Blochi

Now you have one more reason to get a shiny iPhone.

That's because the mobile edition of HDRLabs is now online. Quick forum access on-the-go, Kirt Witte's awesome Tips&Tricks, even the handy Pano Calculator are there - right in your pocket. iPhones and iPods are automatically referred to www.mobile.hdrlabs.com, other devices you'll have to point there yourself.

If you're chained to your desktop, make sure to check out this preview page!

More sIBL-sets than you can eat!

Finally we have a proper archive, where all free sIBL-sets are collected in one spot. Not only will you find all past sIBL-of-the-months there, but also new contributions from our friends at HDR-VFX and Chris Huf. I dare to say this is the biggest free HDR collection in general, at least at this level of quality.

Happy Halloween, my friends!