Photomatix Review (updated April 2012)
When taking landscape photographs I regularly looked to bracket, invariably taking 3 shots. The first at the recommended exposure, then using exposure compensation I dial 2/3rds either side (-2/3rds & +2/3rds) when using positive slide film. Where you use negative the amount will differ. The two bracketed shots are normally used to expose for the highlights (1 shot) and for the shadows (the 2nd shot). You can then use these to create high dynamic range (HDR) photographs by merging the multiple photographs together. There are several different image software packages available, and I use Photomatix.
I find Photomatix (version 4.0.2) to be a very easy and simple to follow tool, ideal for a dummy user like me. The one minor irritant is that Photomatix is not able to merge images of different sizes & so prior to loading I have to always use Photoshop CS5 to complete this action. The cause for the difference in size is the result of the scanning of the slide onto the computer, where cropping never creates the same image size twice. That being said is not a difficult or time consuming task.
This minor irritant has been resolved with the latest version, Photomatix 4.1.4. You can load your pictures and Photomatix will offer dimensions to resize all the images.
Once loaded Photomatix asked for the exposure difference between your altered images and then provides different options as to alignment, noise, ghosting & chromatic aberrations. Once you have made your choice you hit the ok button and it goes away and does it thing. It is the next stage that is the most appealing for me . Once merged it offers you a selection of default results ranging from tone mapped, fused to black & white with several different styles. You can choose a preferred default or look to either tweak or create your own settings. Once your happy you hit process to produce the final image to save.
This is Enhancer smooth default taken at Appleslade New Forest
Using HDR can allow you to lift details out of the shadows, without adversely affecting the highlights. This I find can be useful when using Fuji Velvia slide film.
This review will cover:
1) Scanned single image vs. fused with Photomatix
2) Scanned single image vs. tone mapped with Photomatix
3) Scanned single image with Photoshop CS5 black & white conversion vs tone mapped black & white Photomatix image.
Please note: Photomatix does offer more capabilities than this review looks at.
Image information for purpose of the tests
All Photomatix images are of 3 merged bracketed shots.
All of the photo’s were taken on my recent trip to Snowdonia National Park, using Fuji Velvia 50 slide film.
The scanned single image is my selected preferred exposure shot of the 3 bracketed shots.
1) Scanned single image vs. fused with Photomatix
First,comparisons between the scanned single image shot (SI) and Photomatix fused image (PI). (Clicking on 1 image gives you the ability to flick through all of them.
Image 1 – SI
Image 1 – PI
Image 2 – SI
Image 2 – PI
Image 3 – SI
Image 3 – PI
Image 4 – SI
Image 4 – PI
Image 5 – SI
Image 5 – PI
Image 6 – SI
Image 6 – PI
2) Scanned single image vs. tone mapped with Photomatix
The tone mapped image can create some very vivid results, that some people don’t particularly like. However for the purpose of this review I simply used the default settings.
Again scanned single image = SI
Photomatix tone mapped = TE
Image 7 – IS
Image 7 – TE
3) Scanned single image with Photoshop CS5 black & white conversion vs tone mapped black & white Photomatix image.
The final review compares a colour scanned single image that has been converted in Photoshop CS5 to that of a Photomatix black & white tone mapped image. The main difference here is the increased detail in the highlights with the Photomatix image.
Scanned single image = SI
Photoshop CS5 black & white converted image – PBW
Photomatix black & white tone mapped = BWTE
Image 8 – SI
Image 8 – PBW
Image 8 – BWTE
2nd example
Image 9 – IS
Image 9 – PBW
Image 9 – BWTE
And your conclusions in the review are ?
I find personally your Photomatix versions better for the colour versions, but prefer you Photoshopped black and white ones.
Hi Chris,
Sorry if not clear, I find Photomatix to be a very user friendly tool, with an easy to follow user interface to produce good results quickly.
I found for the colour that in fusion mode the Photomatix worked better then Photoshop CS5 for drawing out detail in the mid tones. I also personally like the tone mapped black & white. Sometimes it just comes down to personal taste.
Regards
Peter