Important Considerations Before You Start:
* Your Base Image: The type of image you're working with (landscape, architecture, interior, portrait, etc.) will heavily influence the look you create. What works well for a dramatic landscape might be terrible for a portrait.
* Image Quality: Working with good quality, well-exposed bracketed images (if possible) will give you the best results. Even a single RAW file will offer more flexibility than a JPEG.
* Experimentation: Don't be afraid to play around! The best way to learn is to experiment with different sliders and see how they affect the image.
* Non-Destructive Editing: Aurora HDR 2018 is non-destructive. You can always revert to your original image or undo changes.
Here are 5 distinct looks with suggested settings and approaches:
1. The Realistic HDR Look (Natural & Balanced):
* Goal: Create a natural-looking image with enhanced dynamic range but without over-the-top effects. Good for landscapes, cityscapes, and architecture where you want to represent the scene authentically.
* Steps:
1. Open Image(s): Load your bracketed images (or a single RAW). If using bracketed images, let Aurora perform its automatic HDR processing.
2. HDR Look (Panel):
* HDR Look (Intensity/Strength): Start with a low value (e.g., 10-20). Increase gradually if needed, but avoid going too high. The goal is subtlety.
* Ghost Reduction: Enable this to remove any movement between bracketed shots.
3. Tone (Panel):
* Exposure: Adjust slightly to brighten or darken the overall image.
* Contrast: Increase slightly to add some punch. A value of 5-15 might work well.
* Highlights: Reduce to recover detail in bright areas.
* Shadows: Increase to bring out detail in dark areas.
* Whites/Blacks: Subtle adjustments here can refine the overall tonality.
4. Color (Panel):
* Saturation: Increase moderately to enhance the colors (e.g., 5-15).
* Vibrance: Can be used instead of saturation or in conjunction with it to boost the colors without over-saturating.
* Color Temperature: Adjust to achieve the desired white balance (warm or cool).
5. Details (Panel):
* Structure: Add a small amount to enhance texture and detail. Be careful not to overdo it, as it can create a harsh look.
* Sharpness: Apply a touch of sharpening to improve clarity.
6. Final Touches:
* Use the Dodge & Burn filter with a low intensity to enhance specific areas.
* Consider adding a slight vignette to draw the viewer's eye to the center of the image.
2. The Dramatic HDR Look (Bold & Punchy):
* Goal: Create a visually striking image with strong contrast, vibrant colors, and enhanced details. Suitable for landscapes, architecture, and other scenes where you want to make a statement.
* Steps:
1. Open Image(s): Load your images (bracketed preferred).
2. HDR Look (Panel):
* HDR Look (Intensity/Strength): Increase to a moderate to high value (e.g., 40-70). Experiment to see what looks best.
3. Tone (Panel):
* Exposure: Adjust to taste.
* Contrast: Increase significantly to create a dramatic effect (e.g., 30-50).
* Highlights: Reduce to recover detail in bright areas.
* Shadows: Increase to bring out detail in dark areas.
* Whites/Blacks: Adjust to fine-tune the tonality.
4. Color (Panel):
* Saturation: Increase to create vibrant colors (e.g., 20-40).
* Vibrance: Use to enhance less saturated colors.
* Color Temperature: Experiment with warmer or cooler tones to create a specific mood.
5. Details (Panel):
* Structure: Increase to enhance texture and detail, but be careful not to overdo it.
* Microstructure: Use this to enhance very fine details.
* Sharpness: Apply sharpening to improve clarity.
6. Glow (Panel):
* Experiment with a subtle glow to add a dreamy effect.
7. Tone Curve:
* Use the tone curve to fine-tune the contrast and tonality. A slight "S" curve can add punch.
8. Final Touches:
* Consider using the Polarizing Filter (Panel) to add more depth and richness to the sky.
* Add a vignette to draw attention to the subject.
3. The Gritty/Grunge HDR Look (Textured & Edgy):
* Goal: Create a raw, edgy look with enhanced texture and detail, often with a darker mood. Good for industrial scenes, abandoned buildings, or scenes where you want to convey a sense of decay.
* Steps:
1. Open Image(s): Load your images.
2. HDR Look (Panel):
* HDR Look (Intensity/Strength): Start with a moderate value (e.g., 30-50).
3. Tone (Panel):
* Exposure: Adjust to achieve a darker overall tone.
* Contrast: Increase moderately.
* Highlights: Reduce significantly.
* Shadows: Increase slightly.
* Blacks: Decrease to darken the image.
4. Color (Panel):
* Saturation: Reduce slightly to create a more muted color palette.
* Color Temperature: Experiment with cooler tones for a more somber feel.
* Consider using the HSL panel to target specific colors and desaturate them further.
5. Details (Panel):
* Structure: Increase significantly to enhance texture (e.g., 40-60).
* Microstructure: Use carefully to add fine detail.
* Sharpness: Apply selectively.
6. Glow (Panel):
* Increase the Smart Glow filter with small radius and soft glow.
7. Vignette (Panel):
* Add a dark, strong vignette to create a sense of enclosure.
8. Tone Curve:
* Slightly darken midtones.
9. Final Touches:
* Use the Orton Effect (Panel) to add a dreamy, slightly blurred effect. Be subtle.
* Add a small amount of noise for a more gritty feel (Details Panel). Be careful not to overdo it.
4. The Black and White HDR Look (Timeless & Classic):
* Goal: Create a striking black and white image with enhanced contrast and detail. Suitable for any subject, but particularly effective for architecture, portraits, and landscapes.
* Steps:
1. Open Image(s): Load your images.
2. HDR Look (Panel):
* HDR Look (Intensity/Strength): Adjust to taste.
3. Convert to Black and White:
* In the Color Panel, reduce the Saturation to 0. (Or use the B&W Conversion Panel for more control)
4. Tone (Panel):
* Exposure: Adjust to taste.
* Contrast: Increase significantly to create a dramatic effect.
* Highlights: Reduce to recover detail in bright areas.
* Shadows: Increase to bring out detail in dark areas.
* Whites/Blacks: Fine-tune the tonality.
5. B&W Conversion (Panel): (If used)
* This panel allows you to control how different colors are converted to grayscale. Experiment with the sliders to adjust the brightness of specific tones. For example, you can darken blues to make skies more dramatic.
6. Details (Panel):
* Structure: Increase to enhance texture and detail.
* Sharpness: Apply sharpening to improve clarity.
7. Tone Curve:
* Use the tone curve to fine-tune the contrast and tonality.
8. Grain:
* Add a small amount of grain for a classic film look.
9. Final Touches:
* Use the Dodge & Burn filter to selectively lighten or darken areas of the image.
* Add a subtle vignette to draw the viewer's eye to the center.
5. The Soft/Dreamy HDR Look
* Goal: The goal of this preset is to capture a soft, ethereal mood. This aesthetic is often used in landscape photography.
1. Open Image(s): Load your images (bracketed preferred).
2. HDR Look (Panel):
* HDR Look (Intensity/Strength): Increase to a low to moderate value (e.g., 20-40).
3. Tone (Panel):
* Exposure: Adjust to taste.
* Contrast: Decrease to achieve a soft look.
* Highlights: Reduce moderately to recover detail in bright areas.
* Shadows: Increase slightly to bring out detail in dark areas.
4. Color (Panel):
* Saturation: Adjust to taste.
* Vibrance: Use to enhance less saturated colors.
5. Details (Panel):
* Structure: Decrease to create a soft effect.
* Sharpness: Reduce to create a soft effect.
6. Glow (Panel):
* Add a moderate amount of soft glow. This will add to the dreamy effect.
7. Tone Curve:
* Use the tone curve to fine-tune the contrast and tonality.
8. Final Touches:
* Add a vignette to draw attention to the subject.
Tips for Success:
* Use Presets as Starting Points: Aurora comes with a wide variety of presets. Use these as a starting point and then customize them to your liking.
* Pay Attention to Highlights and Shadows: Overexposed highlights and blocked-up shadows are common problems in HDR. Use the Highlight and Shadow sliders (and the tone curve) to control these areas.
* Don't Overdo It: It's easy to get carried away with HDR processing. Strive for a balanced look that enhances the image without making it look artificial.
* Zoom In: Zoom in to 100% to check for artifacts and over-sharpening.
* Save Your Presets: Once you've created a look you like, save it as a preset so you can easily apply it to other images.
* Masking: Using masking in Aurora is a powerful way to apply adjustments selectively. This can be crucial for refining the look and preventing unwanted effects in certain areas of the image.
By following these tips and experimenting with different settings, you can create a wide range of stunning HDR images with Aurora HDR 2018. Good luck and have fun!