What exactly is HDR imaging?

High dynamic range imaging (HDRI or just HDR) is a method of capturing an extremely high range of luminance then outputting (called tone mapping) to a digital image. Multiple images are taken of the same subject in a range from very high to low exposures. Those images are then combined with special software to create an HDR image.

An HDR file is impossible to view or print properly. To use an HDR image, one must tonemap it to a standard 8-bit Tiff or Jpeg file. Tone mapping compresses the extended range of the HDR image into a narrow range while maintaining the separation of each step of the tonal range.

In the real world what this means is now a bright, sunny outdoor scene can now include detail in the very darkest shadow and the brightest highlight as well as every step in between. Texture once lost in shadows and highlights can now be seen clearly. This new technique opens the door to a whole range of textures and hues not possible before.

This tone mapping can also be used with a standard 8-bit image to create a psuedo-HDR image. Though the image isn’t truly HDR, it still can have that similar look.

Call or e-mail to find more about HDR and what it can do for you.