LR2_CS4_PreProcessing This tutorial uses Lightroom 2 (LR2) and Photoshop CS4 to open and process a bracketed set of image in preparation for HDR (High Dynamic Range) processing in the HDRSoft application, PhotoMatix. It works for previous versions of LR and CS, and should also work for pending releases. The Import process is typically used to download and backup an entire memory card at a time, and that’s how I actually use it. However, this tutorial is written to only import a specific bracketed set. It is assumed that you have a bracketed set of images available and that you have installed LightRoom 2. Producing bracketed sets is discussed in a separate tutorial Producing Bracketed Image Sets. Open LightRoom (LR2) Library>Import – the Import window will open.

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Navigate to the folder containing the bracketed set of images. Select the images – Ctrl-click each in turn. Click ‘Choose’ – the Import Photos window will open.

LR2 Image 02

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1. File Handling – Allows you to add, move, copy, or convert the selected files 2. ‘Choose….’ Allows you to select a copy or move destination

3. Organize – lets you decide how the LR2 database will be organized. ‘By date:’ works for me. 4. ‘Backup to:’ If checked, you can use the ‘Choose…’ button to open a navigation window for selecting the backup destination. I backup to a DROBO to minimize loss of data in the event of a drive failure. 5. File Naming – customize the file names in the database. I use the original file names to avoid decoupling the image filenames in the database from those in other places. 6. Information to Apply: I use defaults except for ‘Keywords’, where I use the camera name and location of the shoot.

Click ‘Import’

Use the navigation area on the left side of the screen to find the imported images. Select them – Ctrl-click each in turn. As each is selected, the thumbnail background will change from dark to light gray. Click ‘Develop’ to select the processing tools screen.

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LR2 Image 05 The processing options available in LR2 are extensive. Some are the same as those in Bridge and many have the same or similar abilities as those in Photoshop. Many users choose to do the majority of their processing here, only using Photoshop for those functions unique to it. I don’t. I only use the White Balance and Vignette control in LR2. White Balance – Click the image thumbnail that is closest to ‘normal’. Note that all of the selected images still show the light gray border of selected images except the one on which you clicked which now shows a white border to indicate that it will be the image modified by any adjustments made. There are three ways to set White Balance:

1. In the right hand panel, Basic section, to the right of ‘WB:’, click ‘As Shot’. A drop down will open allowing nine preset selections.

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2. Click the eyedropper and move the cursor over the image displayed in the center of the screen. The cursor will change to an eyedropper accompanied by a matrix indicating the color that will be assumed to be ‘gray’ if the current location is selected. Whatever color is clicked will be assumed to be neutral gray and the image color will be adjusted as such.

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3. Use the Temp and Tint sliders to taste.

Note that when the images are a bracketed set to be processed as HDR images, one should be very careful in using a White Balance other than the ‘As Shot’ selection available in method 1. If you made a change in White Balance, Click – ‘Sync…’ the Synchronize Settings window will open. NOTE: In the image above, the circled button at the bottom says “Previous”. Trust me, in LR2, it will say ‘Sync…’ ;).

LR2 Image 06 Click ‘Synchronize’ – the white balance selected will be applied to each selected image, and the Synchronization window will close.

LR2 Image 07 Vignette Adjustment - Use the slider on the right edge of the screen to scroll down to the “Vignettes” section. Select the lightest thumbnail. Under ‘Lens Correction’, use the ‘Amount’ slider to minimize vignette as much as possible. Pay attention to the lightness gradient in the corners of the image and keep them as smooth as possible. The best adjustment for one image will not necessarily be the best for the others. Select and adjust each image in turn. For images too dark to judge, use the setting for the next lightest one. Right-click in the displayed image or selected thumbnails Edit in>Open as Layers in Photoshop – Photoshop will be opened and each image will be inserted into its own layer.

THE FOLLOWING IS IN CS4

ALIGN AND EXPORT TO FILES

LR2CS4 Export Images 01 If you have any reason to think the images are not perfectly registered – 1. Right-click the Layers Icon (if it’s not visible press ‘F7’) 2. Select the layers – Ctrl-Click each layer name in turn 3. Edit>Auto-Align Layers…. The ‘Auto-Align Layers’ panel will open. Click OK.

LR2CS4 Export Images 02 Photoshop will align the images. The resulting image may show blank areas around the edges indicating corrected image location. With some versions of PhotoMatix (Px) and some combinations of correction, the corrected image set will produce unusable results when you attempt to process them in Px. If so, come back to Photoshop, click the History Icon (Window>History) and use the drop-down to select the ‘Delete Layer’ step just above the ‘Auto-Align Layers’ step. This will undo the alignment. If alignment is necessary, it can be applied after you load the image set into PhotoMatix.

LR2CS4 Export Images 03

4. File>Scripts>Export Layers to Files….

The Export Layers to Files panel will open. Browse to the folder where you want to put the files to be processed in Px. File Type – TIFF Check ‘Include ICC Profile’ Image Compression – LZW Click ‘Run’ When the ‘Export Layers To Files was successful.’ panel displays, Click ‘OK’ Close Photoshop. A ‘Save Changes…..’ panel will open. Click ‘No’. Close LightRoom. PROCESSING IS CONTINUED IN HDR_Photomatix or HDR_Bridge_CS4 If you found this tutorial of value, please consider visiting the SHUTTERFREAKS DONATION PAGE. Thank you.