HDR toning

[Paul]

I asked this in another thread, so i thought i would ask in my own new thread.

When i create a new image manipulation, and i have several layers open and i want to use HDR on a layer i get this info box pop up.


Is there a way to use HDR effects on a single layer other than me saving that as a new file first?

 

[Hoogle]

you have topaz dont you if not get a free hdr toning plugin and apply the plugin to that layer

alternatively convert that layer to a smart object and then it will act as an independant file.

My preferred method for subtle toning is actually to add a black and white adjustment layer make it a clipping mask to the the layer you want to effect set the adjustment layer blending mode to luminosity and as you move the sliders you will get similar hdr effects and because it is in luminosity it remains colour still. This may not work so well on an image that has very little color as it only really effects the RGB channels

 

[Paul]

Yeah i have Topaz, but i like to use shop tools as for your reply i just tried it and making the layer i want to (HDR) still flattens all layers?

 

[Paul]

Bumped for a reply guys.

 

[MikeMc]

I think that saving it as you first stated is the only way as HDR is a merging function

 

[Tom Mann]

Hi Paul, I'm sure you have already thought of this, but after you apply your toning effect, you could select the entire screen, copy it, and then use the history palette to go back to the state just before you applied the HDR effect. Finally, hit cntrl-V, and it will paste your tone-mapped version as a new, separate layer in the 8 or 16 bpc file that you started with, leaving all of the original layers intact.

Cheers,

T

PS - As I recall, in situations like this (ie, operations in two different color spaces, one linear gamma, and one with the usual gamma) you may get asked about whether to convert the image or just use the raw numbers (ie, without conversion back to the gamma = 2.2 or whatever space). I always have selected "convert" and it seems to give the expected result. I suspect (although I haven't tried it), that the "use numbers" option would give unexpected / unwanted results.

 

[Tom Mann]

PS - @Hoogle, PS's HDR toning algorithm can make changes to the image beyond the method you suggested.

Specifically, in the locally adaptive version of HDR algorithms, they look at the neighboring areas and hence can introduce changes in the local contrast, not just the global contrast. I suspect that if one worked hard enough, one could use the method you suggested in combination with a large radius USM adjustment to get closer to PS's HDR toning results, but I haven't actually tried it.

Cheers,

T

 

[Exkalibur]

Would that help you ?

http://planetphotoshop.com/hdr-toning-workflow-tip.html

 

[MikeMc]

Smart objects.......Brilliant!!