HDR app looking for feedback - DPChallenge Forums

Canon EF 16-35mm f/2.8L USM

07/25/2008 02:43:56 PM · #1

Hi Everyone

I am one of the developers of Artizen HDR and we are presently in the process of developing our 2.6 version, which is in it's beta 3 release. To make Artizen a better product we are looking for individuals who are willing to help give us feedback. So feel free to email us at technical (at) supportingcomputers.net any suggestions or issues.

You can find us www.supportingcomputers.net.

Message edited by author 2008-08-25 22:50:38.

Patrick_R

Canon EOS-60D

07/25/2008 02:52:01 PM · #2

You will find out that quite a few of us are HDR people. Ill email you when I'm off work. I just finished helping with wukong so this could be interesting!

Derf

Canon EOS-7D

Tamron SP AF 28-75mm f/2.8 XR Di for Canon

07/25/2008 02:57:53 PM · #3

EVERY REPLY SHOULD INCLUDE PICTURES!!! I am in! Sign me up please!!!!

//derf.smugmug.com/photos/159181162_9WgnX-L-1.jpg

//derf.smugmug.com/photos/293432488_sRHzx-L-2.jpg

Message edited by Manic - please keep images under 500px and 30kb, or post links or thumbs instead.

08/22/2008 12:05:17 PM · #4

Beta 4 has just been made available for download, which introduces several very important functions;

- New Color Histogram in Tone Mapping Window.
- Updated HDR Creation Auto Alignment algorithm.
- Updated Natural Tone Mapping Operator for more Natural results.
- Optimized HDR Creation Manual Alignment GUI.
- New White Balance Filter.
- 6 New Vignette styles added.
- GUI enhancements

Message edited by author 2008-08-25 15:39:29.

Canon EF 17-40mm f/4L USM

08/25/2008 09:01:19 AM · #5

So what is Artizen i guess should be answered in a simple and direct manner.

Artizen HDR is an;

-RAW Converter with support for more than 14+ RAW file format from more than 200+ digital cameras.
-HDR App with state of the art Auto Alignment algorithm, 4 Tone Mapping Operators (Display, Natural, Dramatic and Cipher) with Batch Processing capabilities.
-Image Editor with 100+ functions such as Levels, Curves, Color Balance, White Balance, Exposure, Blur and much much more...

if you have any questions feel free to ask.

david_c

Canon EOS-7D

08/25/2008 09:14:44 AM · #6

E-mail sent.

08/25/2008 09:19:28 AM · #7

That was rather stupid of me not to provide a download link.

Download Link

Message edited by author 2008-08-25 13:19:52.

08/25/2008 09:19:31 AM · #8

I actually preferred using Dynamic HDR, Photomatix and Essential HDR all over this program. Not as complicated, less noise in the resulting images, and not as complicated to me. Might be very good for some, but did not get anywhere close to the results I would expect after reading what all could be edited/adjusted. Good luck either way, I'm just one person.

08/25/2008 09:25:12 AM · #9

Truegsht: When did you last try out Artizen cause we have made quite a few enhancements, but your opinion is fair and honest. I know many individuals who each would have many issues with each of the apps you just stated, such as Dynamic Photo HDR produces blotchy results, Photomatix results are very unnatural (some go as far as saying it has hinder the progress of HDR cause they don't like the "HDR look"), and Essential HDR produces flat results that simply look like an over used Edge detection filter. So everyone has their point of view and they are all valid. What right for one is not right for another.

Message edited by author 2008-08-25 13:26:28.

Sigma 24-70mm f/2.8 EX DG Macro for Nikon

08/25/2008 09:40:44 AM · #10

Also so that you are aware, unlike the other applications you mentioned. Artizen is the only one to have 2 Noise Reduction filters, so any noise that appeared in the tone mapping process could have been removed by either of these. Also noise in HDR photos is usually a results of not having enough exposures to cover the range, so regardless of which app you use you may want to take a few more exposures to help with noise.

Message edited by author 2008-08-25 13:41:10.

cryan

Nikon D700

08/25/2008 09:41:10 AM · #11

I will download when I get home tonight. Always in the market for new toys to play with.

Simms

Canon EOS-5D Mark II

Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM

08/25/2008 09:42:18 AM · #12

Originally posted by artizenhdr:

Essential HDR produces flat results that simply look like an over used Edge detection filter. So everyone has their point of view and they are all valid. What right for one is not right for another.

Gonna disagree with the whole `Essential HDR leaves images flat` comment.. Some tweaking in Photoshop, but EHDR gave me the canvas I needed.

Message edited by author 2008-08-25 13:43:02.

08/25/2008 10:04:16 AM · #13

Originally posted by cryan:

I will download when I get home tonight. Always in the market for new toys to play with.

I got a download about a month or so ago as a trial after emailing from here. I never got good results on a steady basis, and the noise reduction was better using CS3 or NN to reduce than in the program. I ended up with lots of artifacts, what appeared to be dead pixels, etc.. EHDR is probably my choice overall. I do disagree to it giving flat results as well. About 90% of the time the image is great, but that goes back to having enough bracketed photos to cover the range needed as you mentioned. Even with brackets of 7 plus images, I had problems with smooth looking results using your program. But like you said...it is a matter of taste to each individual. One last thing...was supposed to be a 30 day trial/beta I guess, but went to limited use after 10 days. Might have just been a bug or something, but I deleted the program.

Message edited by author 2008-08-25 14:05:33.

Nikon AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 17-55mm f/2.8G IF-ED

08/25/2008 10:32:34 AM · #14

Not that you have too, but in the last month 2 major updates have been released which made significant changes to the whole process, so you might find the results rather different. Also the EHDR comments were not my own since i don't use it, i don't even have a trial installed. These are comments made by many in forums like flickr, so you would have to take it up with them. What i will say is that some tweaking in Photoshop can make a huge difference with any photo, so i personally prefer to compare RAW results to RAW results.

One last comment, did you demo the new version 2.6 beta or just use version 2.5. There are major differences between the two.

Message edited by author 2008-08-25 14:33:32.

justamistere

Nikon D3s

08/25/2008 10:35:21 AM · #15

I have only purchased and used Photomatix. I'll give yours a try this weekend.

08/25/2008 10:37:44 AM · #16

That Robin photo looks familiar do you work for EHDR?

Edit: Even after a quick search i can see you are affiliated with them in some way or another. Another issue many Photomatix users have with this team is that they clearly make an effort to distort the capabilities of Photomatix on their site to make Photomatix look bad. There have been many angry discussions regarding this practice on their part, calling Photomatix cartoony when many users produce very natural results. At least now i know where you are coming from.

Just like the patience ppl gave EHDR when they were in beta we would appreciate the same consideration.

Message edited by author 2008-08-25 14:54:33.

08/25/2008 10:57:08 AM · #17

For those who are honestly interested in trying Artizen feel free to post any questions and i would be more than happy to respond.

Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM

08/25/2008 11:12:25 AM · #18

I tried the version put out last month...guessing it is not the newest version. I may try again to see if I get better reults from any changes made.

Ken

Canon EOS-7D

08/25/2008 11:47:17 AM · #19

I haven't tried Beta 3 yet, but has the manual rotation been reduced to 0.1deg from 1 deg? Also, there's still the issue that when you click on a photo during alignment you loose the blue highlight on which photo you are aligning. This is a big annoyance for me when I have a large sequence of bracketed photos open and I end up trying to count them to keep track.

To those who haven't tried Artizen, I find that it's superior to Photomatix in generating the hdr image, especially in the area of shadow noise. Also, it aligns much better than Photomatix 2, but Photomatix 3 is much closer to Artizen in that respect. One thing that Artizen offers that Photomatix does not is the ability to manually align when automatic fails. I prefer the tonemapping in Photomatix, but I'm more familiar with Photomatix and need to try doing more in Artizen.

salmiakki

Sony Alpha a7R III

Sony Sonnar T* 35mm F2.8 ZA

08/25/2008 11:50:22 AM · #20

It's pc only, which excludes a lot of users. (Before someone says it, I have no desire to convert my mac into a Windows machine).

Message edited by author 2008-08-25 15:51:25.

08/25/2008 12:02:14 PM · #21

Thank you Ken, we will make sure to have this issue resolved for you for the next update.

Sorry salmiakki, a OSX version is in the works but no official release date is known.

08/25/2008 12:27:41 PM · #22

I just downloaded to try again.. is there a "rotate" image button someplace? All my images are turned on their side.

Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR II

08/25/2008 12:49:01 PM · #23

under the menu option Modify you will find the Rotate options which has 4 options 180, 90 CW, 90 CCW and Arbitrary. This function will work on your HDR files as well.

dacrazyrn

Nikon D300

08/25/2008 01:03:45 PM · #24

I wish when people start these threads, that they immediately let us know if this is WIndows only, Mac only, Linux only, a few or all.
I hate starting to read them...take the time to go to the site. only to be disappointed that it is WINDOZE only.

Ahhh...

salmiakki, just beat me to it

Message edited by author 2008-08-25 17:04:57.