HDR Gamma setting

[drm]

Hi -

I'm a bit puzzled about the "for HDR Output" option next to Gamma-Gradation in General Options, and how it relates to Gamma expected in 48bit/HDR in HDR Studio.

According to Ian Lyons' tutorial, one should not check the option if one is using IT-8 calibration. But he also says the Gamma value from AI Studio should be inserted into "Gamma expected in 48bit/HDR". I don't quite understand this: surely the "for HDR Output" option is just automating the process, inserting the gamma into the TIFF file ? I'm concerned about the implication that "for HDR Output" is somehow in conflict with IT-8 calibration.

If I open a 48 Bit HDR with "for HDR Output" option checked in Photoshop, the image looks normal - just like the prescan, and identical to the same HDR opened in HDR Studio ... so I'm not quite sure what damage I could be doing.

If I understand correctly, a 48 Bit HDR with "for HDR Output" option checked and color calibration enabled is exactly the same as a "48 Bit Color", color calibrated, to the same gamma, EXCEPT it has no image processing. Is this correct ?

Thanks
David Mantripp

ps - and good luck against Argentina

[LSI_Ketelhohn]

Hi -

I'm a bit puzzled about the "for HDR Output" option next to Gamma-Gradation in General Options, and how it relates to Gamma expected in 48bit/HDR in HDR Studio.

Normally HDR files use a gamma of 1 (I would suggest to leave it that way).
If your Workflow requires you to use HDR files in another program which can not handle gamma adjustments you can set the expected value here.
This e.g would not be required for Photoshop as Photoshop can easily rise the gamma to 2.2.

According to Ian Lyons' tutorial, one should not check the option if one is using IT-8 calibration. But he also says the Gamma value from AI Studio should be inserted into "Gamma expected in 48bit/HDR". I don't quite understand this: surely the "for HDR Output" option is just automating the process, inserting the gamma into the TIFF file ? I'm concerned about the implication that "for HDR Output" is somehow in conflict with IT-8 calibration.

No this is wrong.
The setting has nothing to do with IT8 calibration.
The calibration is done at the normal set gamma (normally 2.2) and will be used when SilverFast HDR converts the image from gamma 1 to 2.2.

If I open a 48 Bit HDR with "for HDR Output" option checked in Photoshop, the image looks normal - just like the prescan, and identical to the same HDR opened in HDR Studio ... so I'm not quite sure what damage I could be doing.

No damage done.
you can also raise the normal gamma of 1 to 2.2 in Photoshop and the image would look the same.

If I understand correctly, a 48 Bit HDR with "for HDR Output" option checked and color calibration enabled is exactly the same as a "48 Bit Color", color calibrated, to the same gamma, EXCEPT it has no image processing. Is this correct ?

No.
The HDR image is not converted to a target colorspace and embeds the calibration profile for the scanner.
An 48bit image is converted to e.g AdobeRGB/ProPhoto/etc. and embeds that profile.

Thanks
David Mantripp

Your welcome
Arne Ketelhohn

ps - and good luck against Argentina

p.s.: we will need no luck.
...hopefully

[drm]

Thanks Arne -

0:4 ... and it looks like you still have all your luck unused

I have a final question about manipulating HDR files - out of curiosity this weekend, I've been trying to replicate the Silverfast Histogram / Curves behaviour in Photoshop, applying a 2.2 Gamma correction using Levels to a 1.0 Gamma 48 bit HDR. The results are patchy: on "easy" images I can get very close, in fact almost exactly the same, but where there is high contrast and less than perfect exposure, it is much harder - in fact so far impossible. I've tried setting the blending mode to "Normal" or "Luminosity" - I assume "Luminosity" should be better, but no luck. The colour cast slider in Silverfast seems like magic ... and I've no idea why Adobe never copied the simultaneous colour channel display, it really makes life so much simpler. I'm clearly not expecting you to give away any trade secrets here, but are there any known methodologies for applying a gamma correction without colour shift ?

Thanks

Davod

[LSI_Ketelhohn]

Dear David,

I must admit I can't really help with that.
This is probably something a Photoshop crack must answer.

kind regards,
Arne Ketelhohn.

[drm]

Ok thanks -

I think I'll actually just use HDR Studio.... Life is too short for Photoshop

Best wishes
David

ps - I must learn to spell my name correctly

[degrub]

Try working in Lab color space and see if you get better results. Then convert into RGB.