Tutorial: AKVIS HDRFactory

How To Use The Program

AKVIS HDRFactory lets you create an HDR-image from a series of shots or from one single photo. Follow the instructions below:

• Step 1. Launch AKVIS HDRFactory or open your photo editor (if you work with the plugin version of AKVIS HDRFactory).

• Step 2. Open an image or a series of shots.

  - If you work with the standalone edition:

  The dialog box Select Files to Open appears if you click on the button on the Control Panel or using the key combination Ctrl+O on Windows, ⌘+O on Mac. The program supports images in the JPEG, TIFF, BMP, PNG, and RAW formats (CRW, NEF, ORF, PEF etc - see the full list here). You can also drag the required image into the workspace of the program.

  - If you work with the plug-in:

  Open an image in your photo editor by calling the command File -> Open. Call the AKVIS HDRFactory plug-in. For this purpose in Adobe Photoshop select the menu item Filter –> AKVIS –> HDRFactory; in Corel Paint Shop Photo Pro select Effects –> Plugins -> AKVIS –> HDRFactory.

  In plugin as well as in the standalone edition, you can process one single image loaded from the image editor or create an HDR image from the series of shots. To work with HDRI tab in the plugin you should open the full set of photos by clicking on .

  
• Step 3. Select the value of the Preview Size parameter.

  This parameter sets the image size at the preliminary processing stage and can have the following values: 1, ½, ¼, and ¹/8. At value = 1, the size of the original image (its width and height) do not change. At value = ½, it is reduced twice, at value = ¼, it is reduced by 4 times, at value = ¹/8 – by 8 times. The processing time is reduced accordingly.

  The Preview Size parameter is an auxiliary tool, it does not influence the real size of the image. The original image will stay the same and all details of the original image will be kept.

  This parameter speeds up the pre-processing stage when one tries different settings to obtain the best result. It is useful with photos that do not require close attention to every detail and it is enough to see the general outcome (for example, when processing photos for printing in the standard size).

  Note: Once you have adjusted the parameters, it is recommended to try the processing with Preview Size = 1 to make sure that the best settings are chosen.

• Step 4. When you load a series of images taken with different exposures, the images will be opened to handle in the HDRI tab.
• Step 5. When a single image is loaded, it will be opened right in the Adjustment tab. Here you can make some correction or create a pseudo-HDR image - an image looking like HDRi made from one single photo.

  Also, here you can continue working with series of shots and apply additional effects to the High Dynamic Range image which you got in 1st tab.

  
• Step 6. Using the Effects tab you can add a soft glow effect to the photo, darken or lighten the image edges, adjust image hues, add warm or cold tints.
• Step 7. If you like the new settings of the parameters, you can save them as a preset and use them later. To save the settings, enter a name for the preset in the Presets field and press the button Save.

  Note: The HDRI, Adjustment, and Effects tabs have the common list of presets. When a new preset is created it will be available in all tabs and will contain all their settings.

  When moving a cursor over a preset in the drop-down list, the quick result appears in the Preset Preview window.

  

  To process the image with a certain preset, select this preset from the list. The image will be automatically processed with the preset's settings.

  Next time you launch the program, these settings will be used by default. If you change the parameters you can return to the initial settings of the selected preset by clicking on Reset.

  To delete a preset, select it from the list and click on the button Delete.

• Step 8. For further image correction you can use Post Processing (available only in the standalone version).

  You can open the Post Processing parameters by clicking on , right to the HDRI/Adjustment/Effects tabs, and hide them by clicking on .

• Step 9. If you work with the plugin, press to apply the result. The AKVIS HDRFactory plugin will close and the picture will appear in the photo editor's workspace.
• Step 10. Save the resulting image.

  - When using the plug-in: open the save file dialog File -> Save As in the graphics editor, type a file name, specify a file format and choose a folder in which to save the file.

  - When using the standalone: press and in the Save As dialog window, enter a name for the file, choose the format (TIFF, BMP, JPEG or PNG) and indicate the target folder.

• Step 11. It is possible to print the image. To do this press the button , adjust print settings and press the button Print.