Can a single image be turned into HDR image?

5 years 5 months ago #610907 by Phyllis Miller
Seeing that I'm still lurking around on this this sight, I'll ask one other question.  I've read that HDR is the process of taking bracketed shots and combining them to create a single image with greater dynamic range.  

Can you accomplish this from a single image? 


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5 years 5 months ago #610910 by Nikon Shooter

Phyllis Miller wrote: Can you accomplish this from a single image? 


No, Phyllis.

An image may have 6 to 9 stops in DR as an average RAW file
may count 8 to 14. Extended DR projects may require up to 18
plus stops which are not possible in an image.

A bracketed series of RAW exposures may answer your need.

Light is free… capturing it is not!
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5 years 5 months ago #611034 by Pettigrew
There are a number of softwares out there that can take a single image and create HDR 'like' looks though

Canon EOS 7D SLR | XT W/18-55 Kit Lens | Canon 50mm 1.8 | Tamron 17-50mm 2.8 | Canon 28-105mm | Canon 75-300mm | Canon 100mm 2.8 Macro | Canon 100-400
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5 years 5 months ago #611271 by Flying Pig

Pettigrew wrote: There are a number of softwares out there that can take a single image and create HDR 'like' looks though



Now will there be a difference from normal bracketed HDR to one that was created from one image?


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5 years 5 months ago #611294 by Shadowfixer1

Flying Pig wrote:

Pettigrew wrote: There are a number of softwares out there that can take a single image and create HDR 'like' looks though



Now will there be a difference from normal bracketed HDR to one that was created from one image?

Of course it will. A true HDR will have more dynamic range. That's why you do HDR. The single image stuff is basically just tone mapping. It's not really a HDR image. 
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5 years 5 months ago #611359 by effron

Shadowfixer1 wrote:

Flying Pig wrote:

Pettigrew wrote: There are a number of softwares out there that can take a single image and create HDR 'like' looks though



Now will there be a difference from normal bracketed HDR to one that was created from one image?

Of course it will. A true HDR will have more dynamic range. That's why you do HDR. The single image stuff is basically just tone mapping. It's not really a HDR image. 


Yup, and in any event that single image better be a well exposed raw file.....

Why so serious?
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5 years 5 months ago #611710 by Finn
+1 many newer cameras capture such a wide dynamic range 


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5 years 5 months ago #611827 by Conner
You can, but if you can bracket a few shots, you'll have much more detail in the HDR image than from single image.  


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5 years 5 months ago #612915 by Sandy Smith Photos
Aurora HDR will do what you need.


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5 years 5 months ago #612919 by G Vernon
Processing a single image is pseudo HDR (Tone Mapping). there is a limit to how much dynamic range you can pull out of one image. Bracketing 5 - 7 + images will cover the DR range you need without excessive editing and the usual halos and noise issues.


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5 years 5 months ago #613074 by Chris Grimm
+1 you need to me mindful of not pushing the DR to far from a single image.   You get strange things showing up in your shots! 


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5 years 5 months ago #613109 by Ozzie_Traveller
G'day Phyllis

While the ^^ answers are all quite correct, on your camera you have a setting called 'Scenes'. I don't have a Nikon to look at, but my Panasonic offers 24 'scenic' options for me to experiment with - and one is HDR, where the camera takes 5 images through the -2EV thru to +2EV range and merges them together. Now while the final image might not be as perfect as an HDR created from RAW images, it is a quick & easy way to get "something"

You might like to explore your camera's Scenes and find out :)

Hope this helps
Phil from the great land Downunder
www.flickr.com/photos/ozzie_traveller/sets/

Phil from the great land Downunder
www.flickr.com/photos/ozzie_traveller/sets/

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