User's Manual

Photomatix Pro 5.0 User Manual 3
DSLR cameras and some compact digital cameras oer Automatic
Exposure Bracketing (AEB)� This enables you to automatically
take three or more exposures in a row; one at the proper exposure,
one or more underexposed, and one or more overexposed� Follow
these steps if your camera oers AEB mode:
• Select the Continuous shooting mode on the camera’s
drive setting� Consult your camera manual for model-specic
instructions for using this setting�
• Set the camera to Auto Exposure Bracketing (AEB)
• If possible, use the camera’s self-timer setting, a cable release or
a wireless shutter release to minimize camera shake�
• Set the exposure increment to +/- 2 for optimal exposure range�
If your camera does not oer +/- 2 exposure increments, select
the maximum possible� Consult the camera manual for model-
specic instructions for choosing this setting�
1.2 Selecting the Exposures
To get good results with HDR processing, your bracketed
sequence must include photos that correctly expose highlights as well as
photos that correctly expose shadows� The latter is especially
important to prevent noise in the processed HDR image�
In the lightest photo of the sequence, the darkest shadow areas of the scene should be shifted at least
into the mid-tones� To check this, use your camera’s histogram preview in playback mode� In your most
overexposed photo, the left part of the histogram should be empty until 1/3rd of the histogram’s width� If
this is not the case, add one or more photos taken with longer exposure times� Another option is to re-shoot
the exposure sequence with the normal exposure set one or more EVs higher if your most underexposed
image in the exposure sequence was too dark� This is the case when the histogram of your darkest image is
completely empty on the right half�
The number of exposures needed depends on the dynamic range of the scene, in addition to the exposure
increment� For most outdoor scenes, three exposures taken at +/- 2 exposure increments is sucient,
provided the scene does not include the sun� However, for the interior of a room with a bright view out the
window, you will need at least ve images taken with an exposure increment of +/- 2, or nine images taken
with an exposure increment of +/- 1�
In scenes with extreme dierences between light and dark details, you should change the exposures
manually to ensure you capture a wide enough range to cover your scene�
The continuous shooting mode may not
always be the best strategy because camera
shake may build up. It is recommended to
use a method that ensures the least possible
shake for each single shot, such as mirror
lock-up functionality, if available.
1.1 Setting up the Camera
• Set your camera to Aperture priority (the "A" setting) so that
only shutter speed will vary between the exposures�
• Set a low ISO such as ISO 100, or lower if available�
• Turn o the ash� The ash may try to balance the exposure of
all the images, when the goal instead is a range of exposures�
• Use a tripod whenever possible� Even though Photomatix Pro
oers automatic alignment of hand-held photos, using a tripod
is almost always better�
AEB settings on a Nikon D7000
(3 frames, at +/- 2 EV)
Canon Rebel T2i/550D LCD showing
AEB with +/-2 EV increments selected
Note