How to do HDR without pixinsight?

[Lognic04 (Logan)]

I get the concept (take several shots changing exposure), but what confuses me is how do i merge them? do i use masks? i have found that masks just dont look natural no matter what you do, and i dont think commercial hdr software can do stacking
I use LR > DSS> FIT lib (removes the hard work)> PS
also, is there a point of using FITS lib to stretch?
Logan

[DavidLJ (David)]

To combine two images my using my old version of Photoshop you can :

1. Open the brighter image as the background layer
2. Add the fainter image as a new layer
3. Add a “reveal all” layer mask to the fainter image layer
4. Select and copy the background layer to the clipboard (CTRL-A then CTRL-C)
5. Open the layer mask (Alt + left click the mask)
6. Paste the copied background layer to the layer mask (CTRL-V). It displays as a monochrome image.
7. Select Filter | Blur | Gaussian Blur
8. With Preview checked, slide the Radius button until the displayed image is quite blurred and click OK
9. Select Window | Documents | New Window to display the combined layers
10. With the fainter image layer still selected, use the Opacity slider to fine tune the combination.

In newer versions of Photoshop the menu layout, etc. may be different but the above listing should give you the general idea.


Hope this helps.

[rcheshire (Rowland)]

...or you can use Hugin to merge your images.

[mostschaedel (Gerald)]

Or you decide - against your header line -to use PixInsight which means you do not need anymore
LR, DSS, FIT lib, PS, Hugin etc...
Every astro image processingstep can be done with 1 complete program (PI) better and with more precision.
than with many programs doing software jumping.
Gerald

[Merlin66 (Ken)]

Have a look at the latest version of PaintShopPro. It seems to have an HDR function.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G70KCo5hZDE

[glend (Glen)]

Photoshop CC 2017 has an HDR function.

[JA]

Hi L,

If you want HDR without Pixinsight and for it to be easy and if you are willing to be subject to noise reduction* via JPEG, considered a no-no by some for astro, then many of the newer breed of digital cameras offer an in-camera solution to produce HDR images, with varying degrees of configurability, from HDR images using 2 images at a selectable 1, 2, 3 or x stops apart to the possibly of using multiple (>2?) images.

Best
JA

*PS: The noise reduction can often be turned on & off and also altered in its aggressiveness.

[skysurfer]

Well, I do that with Photoshop or Darktable. No problem.