"Flickr HDR" vs. "The real thing"

Sometimes, terms tend to establish with just a portion of the original meaning. This also seems to apply to HDR imaging. If you follow the threads and images on various photo discussion boards and platforms, you will notice: most times, HDR is meant for a certain look, not for the technology itself.

To help to understand the difference, Erik Reinhard - on of the pioneers of HDR imaging - wrote an article about "Flickr HDR" which is worth reading.

Why care?
If you want to be able to master the various problems and pitfalls of HDR, you have to be able to understand exactly, what type of image you're actually working on. I personally prefer to distinguish between 3 types of images - each one with important differences in workflow (e.g. tonemapping):

• LDR: That's what you will certainly use most of your times. It is the range, your camera can capture with one shot (no matter if you use JPEG or RAW).
• MDR: Images with extended range, typically a bracketed image. Still, this image will not contain the full dynamic range of the scene you capture.
• HDR: This is "The real thing". Everything (all brightness and color), including the light source itself is included in the image. Thus, such images can even be "reversed" by using them as a light source, e.g. for computer generated scenes - called image based lighting (IBL).
  

Just for the sake of funny comparisons:

• Flickr HDR: http://www.flickr.com/search/?q=hdr
• Real HDR: http://hdview.at/hdr/index.html, using
  http://research.microsoft.com/ivm/HDView/HDR.htm

Please do not forget: This is not to critizise the artistic value of an image - we're talking about the technology!

Another new version of Slicer

Changes in Version 0.0.4.1:

• Full automatic mode: Slicing, stitching, if applicable - cutting - and HDView creation can be done in full automatic mode. You set the parameters, the rest doesn't need any manual intervention.
• Creation of some helpful batch files for the above tasks. You can start (or repeat) every step by simply clicking the appropriate batch file.

Also, there is a manual available now. It is included in the ZIP-file at http://dativ.at/slicer but you can also access it here for reference.

New version of Slicer uploaded

Changes in version 0.0.3.0

• Bug fixed: Some slice numbers caused program errors
• A single PTGui project can be dragged onto the Slicer icon to start the application with the work file
• Can now create a batch file which converts the sliced panorama parts for HDView
• EXIF date for each image in multiplier is re-read. So all batch-created panoramas will show the correct date.

The file can be downloaded as usual on the Slicer page.

HDView Beta 3 released

Microsoft Labs has released a new version of HDView which now has evolved to a high dynamic range, high resolution image viewer.

The most apparent new features are:

• the possibility to use 8-, 16-, or 32 bit (HDR) images.
• New high dynamic range adaption methods: "auto-contrast" and "realtime tonemapping", enabling an adequate display of HDR images.
  This feature comes with a price to pay: You need a reasonably modern GPU which supports pixelshader 2.0 or above. If your GPU doesn't support it, you can still explore the images but you can't use the auto-contrast or tonemapping feature.
• a new viewing type: fisheye mode. This is very helpful if you have to display a very wide viewing angle, but it is also fun just to play with...

Also, there are a lot of not so apparent things that changed without being noticeable at first glance:

• Color management: You can embed color profiles which will ensure that the images are best possible viewed on your specific hardware (monitor)
• You can directly use KML Photo Overlays. This means, images prepared for Google Earth display can be viewed in HDView
• The 3DConnexion device and the XBox controller can be used as an input device
• etcetc... Read more about the new version at the HDView blog!

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Demonstration and test samples:

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Spherical HDR panoramas at http://hdview.at/hdr

(click image to open list of HDR panoramas)

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NY Rooftop by Christian Bloch, EdenFX

(click image to open panorama)

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KML Photo Overlay examples,
Images are served directly from the gigapan.org site:

(click image to open)
Original GigaPan image

(click image to open)
Original GigaPan image

The Panotools Meeting 2008 is near

If you haven't booked till now: don't forget the Panotools Meeting 2008 in Prague!
The conference will be held at the FAMU (University of Film and Photography) from Monday 4th August till Thursday 7th August 2008.

For furter information go to the Panotools Meeting Homepage and sign up to the dedicated Yahoo group at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/panotools-meeting