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Ability to HDR Merge variants of the same image

Permanently deleted user
  • Edited

Hi,

Lightroom has this fantastic feature that allows for the merger of different virtual copies of the same image (i.e. variants). In this fashion one can do a great approximation of "exposure bracketing" in post. 
The end result is a very quick and elegant way to bring some balance to either under or overexposed images.

IMHO, this would be a great feature to bring to C1 toolset.
Thanks in advance.

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Comments

3 comments

Date Votes
  • Greg Hammond

    Wasn’t it explained inone of Paul’s or someone’s video that this doesn’t actually do anything, because variants of the same image do not contain any more information than the original RAW file that forms the basis for the variants?

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  • Permanently deleted user
    • Edited

    Indeed, it's undeniable that the data set is exactly the same. That being said, after merger the results are immediately apparent: much better histogram distribution; tonality and lightness are significantly improved. I also personally usually lower highlights in one of the copies, which in turn produces a more weighted small details enhancement in the final merged image.
    Can one produce the same results by refined usage of masks and so on, sure... But this yields a very pleasant result (again, akin to a bracketed exposure in seconds).
    Anyway, I just find it to be immensely useful. I recently did a couple of shoots while spelunking and the results after using this feature in LrC are night and day. 

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  • Greg Hammond

    Fair enough. I guess if someone finds it useful. But don't the results you describe depend exactly on how you create the variants in the first place? FWIW, I've actually tried this myself [sometime late last year IIRC, though I really dislike using LR], and while the result does come out "in seconds," it hardly took the place of detailed editing in C1. If all one does is "bracket exposure" in the variants, then one is basically letting the software make its decisions for you. OTOH, if you're taking the time to adjust highlights in one of the variants, aren't you already investing in a more detailed editing process? I mean, how long does it take to "redistribute a histogram or adjust a curve? My personal preference is to use the tools we already have, but . . . to each their own. Thanks for the explanation, and cheers!

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