There has been a lot of talk about substitute software to
replace Adobe post processing software. My preference for post processing
software is ON1. I am using Adobe
Photoshop less as ON1 updates its software. For 2018 ON1 has added HDR merging
and panoramic stitching amongst other features like cataloging your images such
as what Adobe Lightroom does.
High dynamic range or HDR is a technique to reproduce a
greater dynamic range of luminosity than what is possible with standard digital
imaging. ON1 software automatically aligns your images and removes ghosting
from motion between exposures. Panorama
stitching is the process of combining two or more images to form one cohesive image. ON1 goes one step further to embed panoramic
metadata for Facebook panning so you can show 180 degree views!
The reason I make panorama images is to simulate a medium
format (or larger) camera. Instead of
holding the camera horizontally to make one long narrow image, I hold my Nikon
full frame vertically and stich two or three frames to produce a nice sized
image. My Nikon creates 6,016 w x 4,016 h pixel images. By holding the camera vertically and taking
three consecutive shots I can stitch them together to make a possible single
12,048w x 6,016h pixel image if I use a tripod and keep the horizon level and the
ends of the scene just meet that would be impossible to achieve. I hand held my camera for the shot above so
the alignment of the three images created a cropped size. Yes! I hand held my camera to take all the
images required including the HDR frames.
To take the picture above with a 50 mm lens, I set my camera
for aperture priority at f/11 and a three frame bracket of -.07ev, 0ev, and +7ev
at an ISO of 400. I had to compensate
for the shade and didn’t want too low of a shutter speed for the higher
ISO. I also set the camera for
continuous shooting so I can get three rapid shots. I shot the first three frames for the right
most image, then moved the camera for the center three shots, then moved the
camera for the last three shots on the left.
+0.7 ev 1/20 Sec
In ON1 Browse, I select the three images I want, then from
“File” select “Create HDR”
The dialog has sliders for the Tone & color tab and HDR
tabs that you can adjust the image to where you want it. I just saved the image with the default
settings. After I stitch the images
together I’ll process the final image later.
The overlap is quite evident here which will cause this image to smaller
in width.
Add 1, 2, and 3 at the start of the title in each HDR images to help with your ordering then from the drop down “File” menu select “Merge to Panorama...” Then the “Create Panorama” dialog shows. You can now set “Edges” to crop, wrap to fill, or do nothing for edges; select “Open in browse, develop, or effects; and select “Add Panoramic Metadata.”
I set mine to “Crop” and “Open in Develop” for final
processing.
Above is another panorama image using three frames
which resulted in a 10200 w x 6600 h pixel image or 34” x 22” at 300 ppi. The image above needs to be cropped to show less lawn.
Above is another HDR example of the camera hand held
in three frames 0.7ev, ISO 1000, 50mm, f/4.5.
ON1 Raw 2018 simplifies the tasks of creating HDR and/or
panoramic images. It also allows me to
do landscapes, stills, and other slow moving scenes without the need of an
expensive medium format camera.
