A Video is Worth 1000 Pictures - Single Image HDR Tutorial

If a picture is worth 1000 words, then what is a video worth?  I find written tutorials hard to follow but when I see something demonstrated, my mind can grasp it better.  I put together a tutorial for creating an HDR effect using a single image.  You can make the effect as subtle or dramatic as you like.

If you have any questions, please be sure to leave them in the comments.

Apps Used
Adobe Photoshop Express
Pro HDR
Filterstorm
Snapseed
Photo FX Ultra 



Single Image HDR by Geri Centonze from Geri Centonze on Vimeo.

Before

After

Before image by Seemann at MorgueFile (thanks for sharing this fabulous image!)

Create an HDR Effect Using One Image

I have been promising a tutorial on achieving an HDR effect using only one image – here it is!  For normal HDR processing, you need to capture an underexposed and overexposed photo of the same subject preferably using a tripod or other stabilizing device and then combine them using an HDR app or software on your computer.
The method shown here, although it involves a few steps, requires only one photo.
I started out with the great photo on the left of a a vintage truck by morgueFile photographer Mary Vogt.  If you haven’t visited morgueFile there are 1000’s of photos with terms listed on how they can be used.  The image on the right (below) is the “after” photograph.

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Step 1
Open your image in Photoforge (I sure hope you already have this great app because it is no longer available in the USA App Store since it was purchased by Yahoo!)   Choose Exposure adjustment and lighten the image to about +1.50 and Save it to your Camera Roll.  The actual amount of adjustment will vary with individual photos.

Step 2
Using the History button (looks like a clock) on the bottom tool menu go back to the original image and adjust the Exposure again.  This time decrease the exposure to about –1.90 (this will vary with individual images).  Basically what you’re trying to do is get the details that were blown out in the original by purposely reducing the exposure.  Save this version to your camera roll.

Step 3
Open up iCamera HDR app (I see this app is no longer available in the USA App Store – not sure what’s up!) Tap Load a Photo and pick the overexposed version that you saved to your camera roll.  The app will then give you a choice between HDR photo or Single Photo.  Select HDR.  You will then be prompted to Please select another photo.  Choose the darker version.  iCamera HDR will then align the images and process them.

Step 4
When the two images are combined into one image, select Tone Enhancer on the bottom menu and slide the Strength to about 80.  Leave the Fill Light set to 0.  Proceed to Step 5.

Step 5
On the menu to the right of your image, select Brightness and adjust to –30.

Step 6
Adjust Contrast between 2-10

Step 7
Under White Balance, adjust the Temp slider to 10 to slightly “warm” the image.

Step 8
Adjust Saturation up between 3-10

Step 9
Adjust Blur/Sharpening up to about 10

Step 10
Save the iCamera HDR adjusted image to your camera roll

Step 11
Open the iCamera HDR version in Filterstorm and under Filters select Vignette.  Make sure Circular Vignette is chosen.  Adjust the Vignette Radius to 0 (the whole image will turn black).  Then bump the Vignette Brightness slightly to –60 (if you want a darker finished image you can leave the Brightness at –70). Click the checkmark at the bottom of the Vignette adjustment to apply changes.

Step 12
Back to the Filters menu in Filterstorm and this time select Curves.  Adjust the Curves up until the image is brighter without losing the contrast.  There is no exact setting for this – you just have to eyeball it.  Rather than tapping the checkmark, this time we are going to mask the brightness into the image so tap Mask instead.

Step 13
To Mask in the brightness, select the paintbrush icon on the right and a menu will pop up at the bottom left.  Adjust the brush settings.  I used a Diameter of about 150, Softness 100% and Opacity around 28%.  Start to brush in where you want the highlights.  I brushed several areas on the truck, the clouds and a few in the grass.  Click the checkmark to apply changes.

Step 14
Save the Filterstorm edited version to your camera roll.

Step 15
Open the Filterstorm version in PS Express and make an adjustment to Reduce Noise (setting to about 40) and tap the checkmark to apply changes.  Then Sharpen to about 20 and tap the checkmark to apply changes.  Reducing the noise and then sharpening sounds like a contradiction, but it works.  Save this to your camera roll.

Step 16
Open the PS Express version in Snapseed and adjust Brightness, Contrast, Saturation and Structure to your liking.  Resulting image shown below.

Step 17
Still in Snapseed I used the Selective Adjust Tool and added points where shown to adjust the Brightness, Contrast and Saturation to really make the truck “pop”.

Step 18
The final step in Snapseed was to apply Style 2 of the Vintage filters.  It’s only fitting for this vintage truck, right?! 

Below is the final edited image.  If you try this tutorial and post your results to Instagram or EyeEm, please tag me on them so I can see your results.  My username on both venues is @gericentonze.  I hope to see your work!


The images below were processed using similar steps

HDR–Temporarily FREE!

HDR – temporarily FREE!  It shouldn’t be too hard to remember the name of this HDR app – it’s simply “HDR”. 

From the description on iTunes:  Capture High-Dynamic-Range photographs with HDR. By combining twice the image data of a standard photograph HDR is able to mix an over-exposed and under-exposed photo with incredible results. Includes 4 different mix options, plus the ability to import raw images all in one incredibly fast app.

Featuring:
- Automatic and manual modes (To set exposure manually: drag exposure loupes to dark and light area of photo, double tap to return to automatic mode)
- Import from Photos: Select light and dark photos from library to mix in HDR.
- 4 different HDR mixes: Auto, Optimized, Vivid, Contrast
- Alignment: Photos are automatically aligned for the sharpest possible results.
- Native device camera resolution support
- Save in photos
- Speed: Fastest possible capture and merge of HDR results

Check out my HDR Tutorial on The App Whisperer

High Dynamic Range imaging gives a unique look to your photos.  Check out the tutorial I wrote for The App Whisperer by clicking on the image below.

Temporarily FREE–HDR FX Pro App!

HDR FX Pro is temporarily FREE!  Grab it while you can and save $1.99!

 

 

Achieving an HDR look Step by Step by Steven Savy

Steven Savy (Instagrammer @stevenyvas) was generous enough to share his process for creating HDR-like images using his iPhone!  I’ve been drawn to his gallery since I first stumbled across it and was thrilled to have a peek behind the scenes. 
Please visit Steven’s gallery to see more of his work. 

Apps Required:  Snapseed, iCamera HDR, Photo FX, Iris Photo Suite, PS Express, Squaready, Filterstorm, Lenslight

Step 1 – Open image in Squaready and size to your preference (below)

Step 2 – Load image in Snapseed.  Select Details then Structure and adjust to 100 and save. (below)

Step 3 – Load image in iCamera HDR as a single photo.  Make adjustments to your personal liking and save. (below)

Step 4 – Open image in Iris Photo Suite, then in Filters add Retro, 3-Strip Technicolor, Diffused Glow and Polarizer.  Again, this is all personal preference as far as adjustments.  Save. (below)

Step 5 – Load image into Photo FX and under Light add Halo at 10 and save. (below)

Step 6 – Load image in PS Express and sharpen and reduce noise for clarity and smoothness. Save.  (below)

Step 7 – Now load image in Snapseed again.  Click Tune Image and adjust to preference.  Save.  (below)

Step 8 – Load image in Filterstorm.  Select Vignette under Filters and set radius to 0% then brightness between 70-80%.  This give you the dark look.  Click the check mark and go to Curves.  Adjust Curves to as light as you want the highlights to be and then click Mask.  Mask the areas you want highlighted.  In this case, I wanted the railing and building to show more.  Save.  (below)

Step 9 – Load image in Lenslight and add your sun and the light for the light pole and save. (below)

Congrats!  You’ve just created a like HDR image!  (below)

Thank you again Steve for sharing your expertise!