Top 10 Best HDR Software Review 2012
April 2010 Review – This is a review of the top ten best HDR software used for creating high dynamic range (HDR) photographs. I’ve been talking about writing this HDR software review for a while, and finally I decided to sit down and just do it. This is not a thorough review. Since I’m leaving for south East Asia in a couple of days, I didn’t have time to write an in-depth article. I’ll do a complete review of each HDR program when I get back from my trip. However, I did have enough time to play around with each HDR software to see what kind of high dynamic range results I was able to achieve.
Listed below for review, in alphabetical order, are the top 10 best HDR software for 2010. I downloaded and installed each HDR program to find out which software is the best.
- Artizen HDR
- DynamicPhoto HDR
- easyHDR
- Essential HDR
- HDR Darkroom
- HDR Photo Studio
- Luminance HDR
- Photomatix Pro
- Photoshop CS5 HDR Pro
- Picturenaut
Below are the 3 exposures used to create the HDR images. These exposures will be used to test each HDR software.
Each HDR program has different settings so there was no way to replicate the same results for each image. So instead of trying to get the HDR image to look similar, I tone mapped each image the best I could with the settings available.
1. Artizen HDR
Good program for creating HDR images. Artizen has many features making it the most robust HDR software out of the ten.
OS: Windows Only Price: $45.95 Canadian
http://www.supportingcomputers.net
Pro - Comes with photo editor.
Con – HDR software only available for Windows.
Artizen HDR – Honest Opinion:
Recommended for advance users who want to control the entire HDR process in one program.
2. Dynamic-Photo HDR
Dynamic-Photo HDR has a lot fun controls for creating HDR images. These controls help make stylized HDR photos a lot easier to create.
OS: Windows & MAC Price: $55.00 US
Pro – Easy point and click controls.
Con – Colors seem to blend together, notice the sunrise.
Dynamic-HDR Pro – Honest Opinion:
Recommend for people who like creating more stylzied HDR images.
3. easyHDR
Easy to use with enough controls to create good looking HDR photos. Don’t expect any bells or whistles with this program.
OS: Windows Only Price: $30.00 EURO
Pro – Easy to use HDR software.
Con – Can’t save presets or select them.
easyHDR – Honest Opinion:
More cons than pros. I would recommend downloading this program and trying a few others before you committing to this HDR software.
4. Essential HDR
Essential HDR is probably the easiest HDR program of the bunch.
OS: Windows Only Price: $48.99 US
http://www.imagingluminary.com
Pro – Simple and easy to use HDR software.
Con – No manual alignment tool.
Essential HDR – Honest Opinion:
I would recommend this HDR program for beginner HDR photographers. It’s very easy to use, especially for creating stylized HDR. However realistic HDR might be more of a challenge.
5. HDR Darkroom
HDR Darkroom has a very slick and simple user interface. Great for creating realistic HDR images. However alignment tool needs some work, but it could very well be that this software has a problem with this particular image. I’ll check it out again with a different set of exposures when I get some free time.
OS: Windows & MAC Price: $79.00 US
Pro – Export to Photoshop feature is a time saver.
Con – Auto alignment tool doesn’t work to well.
HDR Darkroom – Honest Opinion:
This HDR program was designed for more realistic HDR images, so if you’re trying to create stylized photos I would recommend Photomatix or Dynamic-Photo HDR instead.
6. HDR PhotoStudio
Straight forward HDR program, simple and easy to use. Tone mapping option was design for more realistic photos.
OS: Windows & MAC Price: $149.99 US
Pro – Simple easy to use interface.
Con – Not designed for stylized HDR images.
HDR PhotoStudio – Honest Opinion:
Similar to HDR Darkroom this program was designed for more realistic HDR images, so if you’re trying to create stylized photos I would recommend Photomatix or Dynamic-Photo HDR instead.
7. Luminance HDR
Luminance HDR has potential… but it’s the most time consuming and difficult program to use. Over time I’m sure this program will evolve to something great.
OS: Windows & MAC Price: FREE
http://qtpfsgui.sourceforge.net
Pro – FREE!
Con – Not the most user friendly software.
Luminance HDR – Honest Opinion:
I highly recommend giving this program a shot since it’s free. If you can get it to work, you can produce some pretty cool stylized HDR images.
8. Photomatix Pro
Photomatix is the most popular HDR program in the industry and it’s the program I use for all my HDR images.
OS: Windows & MAC Price: $99.99
Photomatix Coupon Code: CaptainKimo
Pro – Lots of options for tone mapping.
Con – No manual alignment tool.
Photomatix Pro – Honest Opinion:
Since Photomatix is the HDR software I use most, it’s the one I recommend above all else.
9. Photoshop CS5 HDR Pro
Adobe Photoshop CS5 is an advance photo editing program with an HDR tool that creates very realistic HDR image.
OS: Windows & MAC Price: $699.99
Pro – Photoshop is the best photo editing program available.
Con – The most expensive HDR application even for an upgrade.
Photoshop CS5 HDR Pro – Honest Opinion:
Unless you want Photoshop I recommend something cheaper. CS5 HDR feature is good but not worth the price.
10. Picturenaut
Picturenaut is a free and easy to use HDR program, but very limited features for tone mapping. It does a great job of creating realistic HDR images.
OS: Windows Only Price: FREE
Pro – Free, simple to use for realistic results.
Con – Limited controls for tone mapping.
Picturenaut – Honest Opinion:
Very easy HDR application to use. Since it’s free I recommend downloading and trying it out to see if it meets your needs.
Conclusion
That’s my two cents, but don’t take my word for it. I highly suggest you download the programs and try them yourself. Each one of these HDR software have trial downloads so download them and play around to find an HDR program that fits your style and workflow.
If you need help choosing a program, just leave me a comment. I’ll be more than glad to help or answer any question you might have.
I’m running Apeture3 on a 3 year old Mac Mini and it runs a bit slow. I’m intend to purchase Photomatix but not sure whether the plug-in or full stand-alone version is best. I’d like to use the plug-in version but I’m concerned that it will slow Apeture3 down even more as part of the program. Your recommendation?
Ever try HDR Efex Pro? Wondering if you didn’t or it didn’t make your list. I’ve ben debating between that and Photomatrix Pro but am leaning toward the first. Thanks!
This is the 2010 list I have the 2011 list coming out which has HDR Efex listed. There seems to be a new version out now so it might have addressed issues that frustrated me so I will redo the review when I have some time.
Any opinion about the HDR software that Onone is offering?
I hope you get into OLO neo’s PhotoEngine for a quick better review. So far it has been LIGHTYEARS beyond PhotoMatix in ease of control and presets you can fully control. Results are. slightly noisy unless you’re carefully or want stunning but unrealistic images. Free beta testing gets you a 25% discount on first release. I’m spoiled on PE so a free program has a steep mountain to climb. PhotoMatix is right up there but slipped to my #2 spot under OlO nerdlwxx. x. x. xxbo
looks like PE is PC only.
I have been using PS4 as my photo editor and I use it to process my HDR pics. I want to know what are the advantages of using any of these softwares over the CS4.
Thanks so much for any advice. I’m looking to produce the most realistic to the eye images for interior designers, architects, and realtors. I believe HDR is what I want, but they all seem so ‘photoshopped’ in their final apperance more of a rendering than a photo – not what my clients would want to portray their work. I’ve only tried Photomatix trial. I feel manual lining up might be needed? but am mainly interested in how to fix the ‘fake’ look. Have you used Topaz for more post HDR editing? I use Lightroom and would like a compatible HDR software. Again, thank you so much for any input you can share.
OlOneo will easily make the Top 10 in 2011, but as someone noted above, no Mac version yet. My biggest problem us the price. I feel it’s not close enough to Photomatix to pull experienced users towards it. Photomatix is all but useless to me: no ‘backing up’ if you want another edit; painfully difficult interface; renders are nowhere near the image pre-render; if you’re not a PhotoShop wizz, you are in for layering that doesn’t produce what pros get from it.
Anybody with a non-PS editor that will still get Photomatix tamed? If not, there a big dam in my workflow.
[...] is a link to a list of programs that will get the job done. Photoshop also comes with a HDR tool Top 10 Best HDR Software Review 2010 __________________ Its not about the gear – it's about what you can do with it. [...]
I usually use easyHDR Pro, SNS-Photo HDR and HDR Pro Pro according to type of photos one is better than another, is this blog HDR : http://elblogdelhdr.blogspot.com/ there are sufficient examples to evaluate.
Regards
jlgomezlinares recently posted..Santillana del Mar
I was looking for an artical like this, thanks.
I noticed you did not mention anything about raw format.
I used the efex trial to test it. It will link up with Lightroom 2 through 3.4 which is what I was looking for. The CON was that it only did a stylized photo and a bad one at that. I am still looking for an alignment feature, ( it is the week end or I would call them,do that monday). The images I used and the other images both had a bad color cast on the edges of different things in the picture created. I did use cs5 with one of the pictures and it turned out great with very good detail zoomed in past 100%. At this posting I have not had a chance to go to my friends house to use his Cs5 yet to check the other or new images. So far the (niksoftware.com HDR efex)Does not work for me, If I already had a good murged picture the HDR Efex software program would be very usefull to have for Stylized, it has several presets and lets you create your own to save. So for now I think that the free ones will work for me, I just need to murge pictures to make the HDR and I can use Lightroom to change them if I need that.
Thanks again: Mike P.
I have just recently discovered HDR photography, although I have been involved in photography for many years and digital for about 15, I tend to learn just enough for my needs. I am hooked!!! After doing some research and looking at many different programs, I have narrowed my options down to either Photomatix or Oloneo PhotoEngine. What are your (or anyone’s) thoughts comparing the two? I guess I would lean towards more natural looking photos, if that helps. Second question – Photoengine has a ReLight feature which automatically senses all light sources and lets you adjust each one separately! Is there an easy way to do that with Photomatix, without using PhotoShop, which is out of my price range? Being an existing light devotee, it seems like a feature I would get a lot out of. Taking all the features and end results into consideration, would it be worth the extra $50 for the ReLight feature in Photoengine, and do the other Photoengine features measure up to Photomatix? I don’t want to buy a program for one option, and find out the rest of the features and the end results were not worth it! I hope all you experts who have been having fun with HDR for years will have some advice for a total newbie! Thanks!
Ken… I haven’t sat down to test the release version of Oloneo yet, when I do I’ll give you my thoughts. But for now my 2 cents, Oloneo is better at realistic HDR, where Photomatix is better suited for more creative processing. It’s up to you want you’re going to end up doing more of. Honestly if you want realistic I would stick with the old fashion grad filters. An alternative route also, would simply be to blend multiple exposures together in Photoshop. When it comes to digital there is always plenty of ways to skin a cat
Thanks for a great comparison. It would be great if you also posted some or any HDR application for Linux.
I have been doing wedding photography for years. I really love landscapes and natural lighting. I am getting into real estate interiors and feel HDR is the future. I prefer the ones that look more natural. overly photoshopped pictures look nice but not normal and way too fake. I appreciate the comparisons and hope the software is not too difficult too learn. Which ones are the easiest to manipulate?
I use freeware Fusion HDR, http://fusion.ns-point.com/. It is quite effective in fusing multiple exposures of a high contrast scene. For single exposure images of a high contrast scene, I have gotten satisfying results from the tonemapping function of Fusion HDR.
Robert – Oloneo would probably be your best bet.
David – fusion is a good HDR program for free. Good for starters.
Thanks David and Capt Kimo.
When I said I do wedding photography I should have mentioned that I do not use photoshop. I am currently using Picasa as this does everything that I need. Most of todays brides are low end and getting married on the beach. The job market is horrible, competing against Chinese slave labor at the point of a gun, is difficult. Oloneo looks to be high end. Thanks for the remarks…
Capt I am local and live in Palm Beach County. I see from your Coral Cove pix you get around locally.
Do you offer hard copy books?
Up until today I have stuck with Photomatix exclusively. I’ve tried a few other versions of HDR software, but none have seemed to be as good as Photomatix. Today I downloaded HDR Photo Pro and I have to say that I much prefer it for creating realistic HDR images. Photomatix is still my favorite for creating a more surreal effect however.
hi kimo, im just a beginner for hdr software, what is ure best recommended for me?
I had asked in an earlier post what is a good HDR program. I have now tried a few, and the the one I have found to be the best, at least at natural looking results, and for a beginner, is Oloneo PhotoEngine. It also has very advanced features that a pro will like. You can download a free trial that only lasts 30 days, but that was enough to convince me that it is the one I will buy when I save up enough.
If you want to download any trial programs that have an expiration feature after so many days, I would suggest reading up on HDR, taking a bunch of photos, and then downloading when you are ready to go. That way you won’t waste any days of your trial waiting for good photo opportunities to come along.
Personally I think anyone who wants to do realistic HDR should spend time learning how to use ND filters, mix that up with a little Photoshop shadow and highlights, which is also available in Photoshop Elements, can produce some amazing results.
Am using Photomatrix Essentials and it does everything I need. For only 40 bucks it is a real bargain. They don’t give you as many presets as the Pro version, but you have all the controls that are important from Pro. I test drove both versions and decided Essentials worked great for my needs.
I tone map the pics, then save them in tiff format and then reload into Essentials to make adjustments under one of the other sections. When I’m finished I save the final product and then open it in Photoshop Elements and make any final adjustments there.
Thanks for you insight Jon.
I’m reposting Jim Heim’s post because my question is the same. The only difference is I am using a Mac lap top. If you answered this, I must have missed it?
I’m running Apeture3 on a 3 year old Mac Mini and it runs a bit slow. I’m intend to purchase Photomatix but not sure whether the plug-in or full stand-alone version is best. I’d like to use the plug-in version but I’m concerned that it will slow Apeture3 down even more as part of the program. Your recommendation?
I always recommend the stand alone, simply because if Aperture gets a update there is a chance it will stop working with the plugin. You don’t have to worry about that with a stand alone software.
Hey Captain, I’ve been using the photomatix pro / trial version but i get a lot of noise on the final product. I’ve used topaz to denies it but it only blurs it cause it doesn’t have detailed control . can you help hot to get the noise out or get a better final HDR picture . thanks
There’s a few things you can do. Make sure you add some micro-smoothing to your tone mapping. Use more exposures with your HDR. Use Denoise before you do anything else. Bring one of the original exposures to blend in.
CK -
Great review and thanks! I noticed a new update and PRO version of Hydra, but you left that out of your review. Is this just kids stuff, or have even tried it?
I haven’t tried it because I don’t have a MAC.
Hi
I really like HDR I was wondering if there is a program that I you can use with older photos(dont have brackets for those photos), or are all HDR programs set for the 3 to 5 brackets only?
Thank you for your help
Sam
Photomatix will let you process a single file. I won’t say that you get an amazing result from it only because it’s a single exposure but you’ll be surprised every now and then what a single exposure can offer.