Need guidance for HDR photos--

Someday_DreamerSomeday_Dreamer Registered Users Posts: 67 Big grins
edited October 14, 2009 in SmugMug Support
We just started shooting some HDR photos but now I need to know the best or recommended way to handle them in SM...

--I know to upload the TIFF we need a SMVault, but what file is used for printing and will it make a huge difference? How do I make the switch?

Would someone like to share their process, recommendations or just some good advice..?

Thanks much-

www.globaltrekk-photos.com

Comments

  • Art ScottArt Scott Registered Users Posts: 8,959 Major grins
    edited October 14, 2009
    We just started shooting some HDR photos but now I need to know the best or recommended way to handle them in SM...

    --I know to upload the TIFF we need a SMVault, but what file is used for printing and will it make a huge difference? How do I make the switch?

    Would someone like to share their process, recommendations or just some good advice..?

    Thanks much-

    www.globaltrekk-photos.com

    Most printers use jpg in sRGB (including Bay & EZPrints).....too upload to SM just upload a a #12 jpg (largest size from photshop).
    "Genuine Fractals was, is and will always be the best solution for enlarging digital photos." ....Vincent Versace ... ... COPYRIGHT YOUR WORK ONLINE ... ... My Website

  • Someday_DreamerSomeday_Dreamer Registered Users Posts: 67 Big grins
    edited October 14, 2009
    Art Scott wrote:
    Most printers use jpg in sRGB (including Bay & EZPrints).....too upload to SM just upload a a #12 jpg (largest size from photshop).

    So is the TIFF file even needed in SM?

    Does everyone use the jpg to print or is there another option?
  • phalvorsonphalvorson Registered Users Posts: 14 Big grins
    edited October 14, 2009
    So is the TIFF file even needed in SM?

    Does everyone use the jpg to print or is there another option?

    Creating an HDR file from multiple images is really only the first step. Tone-mapping the high-bit HDR back down to 16 or 8 bits is where the magic is. Most printers accept Jpg images only which limits the bit depth of the image, but not the perceptive quality if you have tone-mapped the HDR's properly.

    I would suggest that after you create and tone-map the HDR back to 8 bits that you convert the color profile to sRGB and save as a full resolution jpeg with the quality at 10 or 11 out of 12, or 90%. I really don't think you'll be disappointed with the printed results.

    Keep in mind that only contrasty scenes will benefit most from HDR. Doing it on low contrast scenes won't gain you anything, and in fact will just take lots of extra time. Of course you may already know all this.
    Palmer Halvorson
    www.palmerhalvorson.com
  • The Photo BoothThe Photo Booth Registered Users Posts: 56 Big grins
    edited October 14, 2009
    I agree with the previous recommendations. Save (export) your final HDR image at the highest possible resolution and as the highest quality JPEG.

    Mark
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