What's new in HDR Imaging?
Releases, tech demos, rumours, papers.
LightBitch v1.3 goes online
January 13, 2009
LightBitch is now officially the first LightWave plugin that automatically checks for updates. It's not only sending you to a webpage, no, it literally goes online: LightBitch checks on this server and notifies you of a new version of itself:
Pretty cool, eh? Honestly, I call this my biggest LScript stunt so far - considering that not even LightWave itself has this ability.
Next up is my Smart IBL plugin. We'll see, maybe this one could even ping the sIBL archive...
Which reminds me, Matt Estela has just published a tutorial screencast, demonstrating the awesomeness of lighting a scene with Smart IBL. My favorite quote is "From zero to hero in one click." - I'm gonna have to use this :)
Comments
Aria HDR MAX launches with a photo contest
January 10, 2009Hurray, I'm back with my newly refurbished MabBook. Got a new motherboard, and someone found it necessary to also replace my filthy keyboard. Thanks, Apple - these new keys are pretty shiny.
First, the site updates that were in limbo state for a week:
The new sIBL of the month is my new favorite location: Monument Valley. There are several fixes for Internet Explorer in place now, most importantly IE7 will actually show you the coupon codes on the software tools page. And the Hot-on-Flickr gallery has filled up with some great eye candy again...
In the meantime, a new HDR software has surfaced:
Does the world need yet another HDR software? Sure it does - it's a sign that this field has become popular enough to feed a larger market, and with time camera makers will find HDR worth supporting. And spare us these puny 3-frame-bracketing disappointments. And after all, competition has always been the motor of innovation, and that why I say:
Yes! Bring it on, HDR MAX, show me what you got.
The analyst in me would place HDR MAX in the professional field, because the whole appearance of the software is very polished and professional. One might also say: Holy crap, that looks like Photoshop!!!
Even down to the small options widget in the Layers .. errr ... Exposures palette, design and functionality is identical to Photoshop CS3. Wonder what John Nack thinks about this. But I think it's awesome - it feels like coming home: If you know how to navigate Photoshop, you know HDR MAX in and out within minutes.
Tonemapping is powerful, simple to use, and pretty halo-resistant. It sure mastered my good old kitchen test with ease. One important feature is missing, though: no panorama option, hence it will break the seam of a 360 pano.
HDR generation can be done from JPEG or RAW, auto-aligment is on by default (couldn't find a way to turn it off). It has some manual alignment tools, or you can also just nudge an exposure as you would nudge a layer in Photoshop. However, no sign of ghost suppression, chromatic aberration removal, or noise filtering.
Post adjustments like curves or saturation tweaks can be done as well, which is a nice touch. Batch mode is also included. In overall, I'd call this a good and solid version one. It's not revolutionary, and the current feature set hardly justifies the record price tag of $149. Made me expect more, not less than what most others have to offer in this newly popular HDR software segment. The "Pro" shine fades to grey when even OpenEXR support is missing from this program.
Anyway, that is my personal opinion. Make up your own by checking out the trial version (which is fully functional for 30 days, regaining some points in my book).
Seriously, give it a shot! And send your pics to the HDR MAX photo contest before January 31st. More about this contest on Trey Radcliff's blog (including a Q&A with the developer). If you're the lucky winner of a MacBook Pro, make sure to get the Apple Care 3-year warranty... I can tell you, it's worth it.
First, the site updates that were in limbo state for a week:
The new sIBL of the month is my new favorite location: Monument Valley. There are several fixes for Internet Explorer in place now, most importantly IE7 will actually show you the coupon codes on the software tools page. And the Hot-on-Flickr gallery has filled up with some great eye candy again...
In the meantime, a new HDR software has surfaced:
First look at HDR MAX
Does the world need yet another HDR software? Sure it does - it's a sign that this field has become popular enough to feed a larger market, and with time camera makers will find HDR worth supporting. And spare us these puny 3-frame-bracketing disappointments. And after all, competition has always been the motor of innovation, and that why I say:
Yes! Bring it on, HDR MAX, show me what you got.
The analyst in me would place HDR MAX in the professional field, because the whole appearance of the software is very polished and professional. One might also say: Holy crap, that looks like Photoshop!!!
Even down to the small options widget in the Layers .. errr ... Exposures palette, design and functionality is identical to Photoshop CS3. Wonder what John Nack thinks about this. But I think it's awesome - it feels like coming home: If you know how to navigate Photoshop, you know HDR MAX in and out within minutes.
Tonemapping is powerful, simple to use, and pretty halo-resistant. It sure mastered my good old kitchen test with ease. One important feature is missing, though: no panorama option, hence it will break the seam of a 360 pano.
HDR generation can be done from JPEG or RAW, auto-aligment is on by default (couldn't find a way to turn it off). It has some manual alignment tools, or you can also just nudge an exposure as you would nudge a layer in Photoshop. However, no sign of ghost suppression, chromatic aberration removal, or noise filtering.
Post adjustments like curves or saturation tweaks can be done as well, which is a nice touch. Batch mode is also included. In overall, I'd call this a good and solid version one. It's not revolutionary, and the current feature set hardly justifies the record price tag of $149. Made me expect more, not less than what most others have to offer in this newly popular HDR software segment. The "Pro" shine fades to grey when even OpenEXR support is missing from this program.
Anyway, that is my personal opinion. Make up your own by checking out the trial version (which is fully functional for 30 days, regaining some points in my book).
Seriously, give it a shot! And send your pics to the HDR MAX photo contest before January 31st. More about this contest on Trey Radcliff's blog (including a Q&A with the developer). If you're the lucky winner of a MacBook Pro, make sure to get the Apple Care 3-year warranty... I can tell you, it's worth it.
2009 - and it starts all over again
January 5, 2009If 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.
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.
Best deals in town for readers of the HDRI Handbook!
December 21, 2008Happy 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!
Sorry for beeing late...
December 4, 2008... 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:
And with FDR Tool's proven ICC color management, this is really an app for professionals.
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
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!
- 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
