I export images from Lightroom using the plugin supplied with Photomatix Pro (if you use ProPhoto RGB in Lightroom, check the dev's website for instructions as to how to preserve this colour profile on export). The selective deghosting feature in Photomatix Pro also works very well, better than any automatic deghosting methods that I tried. Photomatix Pro did as well as Photoshop CC (which is supposedly the best at aligning images), and better than other HDR apps, including one that makes a big deal about its ability to align handheld images. I mostly shoot sequences of 3 and 5 images handheld, so auto alignment is a critical feature. It produced the best results, offers the most features and was the easiest to use (after some learning time). It is not a good idea to over-saturate in Photomatix because you do not have any control over the colors that are being manipulated.I tried several HDR apps (and the Merge to HDR Pro feature in Photoshop CC) before deciding to buy Photomatix Pro. Over saturating in Photomatix Pro with the Saturation slider is always a BAD idea! There are so many tools for saturation after Photomatix.Then I work my way down paying the most attention to the Lighting Adjustments and the Highlight Smoothness. Usually I keep the top the same at all times, 100, 50, 10, 10. Working From Top to Bottom is the best idea when tone mapping an image.I have never met an HDR image that deserved a Surreal+ slap in the face! Let’s face it, having 11 increments (and more) on one slider is more forgiving than 5 quick adjustments (Natural, Natural+, Medium, Surreal, and Surreal+). The Lighting Effects Mode is not nearly as powerful as the Lighting Adjustments Slider.A preset can be used as a baseline, but very rarely do they make a ‘one and done’ image. Dynamic Range changes drastically from one image to the next. Presets are not always the best option.Let me reiterate, these are not ‘rules’… they are tips… please don’t throw tomatoes at me and call me a Communist! I know I discuss these things in a lot of my videos, some are here, some are there, but here they are in one concise video rather than all over the place. I rattled the peas around in my head and came up with 5 tips for tone mapping in Photomatix Pro.
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