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How to Create an HDR Photo From One Image

HDR (High Dynamic Range) photography is the process of taking multiple pictures of the same scene, but at different exposures, then layering the pictures so they become one in an editing program. To make an HDR picture, you begin with at least three pictures: one properly exposed, one underexposed and one overexposed by the equal amount of the underexposed picture. Each of these pictures will record the scene differently. You can also create an HDR picture from a single image.

Things You'll Need

Digital picture
Computer and Internet connection

Instructions

- 1
  Open the picture you want to create and HDR in the photo editing program you use. Adjust the exposure of the picture so it is over-exposed by 25%. Save this new image as a different file to the original. It is important not to save the adjusted image as the original.
- 2
  Adjust the exposure of the original picture so that it is 25% darker. Save this adjusted image as a new file. You should now have three versions of one picture: the original, one that is lighter and one that is darker.
- 3
  Download a free HDR program from the Internet and open the program. There are many different programs available on the Internet, including Luminance HDR, PFS Tools and Picturenaut 3 )see Resources). All are free of charge.
- 4
  Open the program you downloaded, then open the three versions of the picture you want to create the HDR with. Follow the steps in the program to layer the three pictures together.
- 5
  Complete color balancing and noise adjustment that is common with HDR pictures and save your HDR image as a new file.

Photography