Batch Processing

Use batch processing to automatically process image files. The batch processing tool processes multiple bracketed sets in one step, which can save you a lot of time when you have many bracketed sets to render.

To batch process multiple sets of bracketed photos follow these steps:

1. Open the Batch Processing of Bracketed Photos window by selecting Batch Bracketed Photos from the Automate menu or using the Ctrl+B keyboard shortcut.
2. Select how you would like to process the bracketed set, by checking one or more of the boxes at the top-left of the window.
3. For each processing method you selected, click on the Settings... button to choose the settings for that method.
4. Specify whether image alignment, ghost removal or noise reduction are needed. Image alignment is recommended, unless your bracketed sets are stitched panoramas or "fake" exposures derived from a single Raw file. Noise reduction is recommended too, especially with Raw files. However, ghost removal should be selected only for images that do need it, and left unchecked otherwise. For more details, refer to the Merge to HDR options section.
5. Select the number of exposures to combine using the pull-down menu. For example, select "3" if your bracketed sets consist of three exposures each.
6. In the Source section, select the folder where the bracketed photo sets are located. The files are arranged in alphabetical order. "N" files at a time are processed where "N" is the number you specified in the previous step.
7. In the Destination section, select the output file type. When using JPEG file output, select the amount of JPEG compression. 100 gives the least compressed JPEG file, with most image quality retained.
8. If you want to save the results in a different folder from the folder containing the source photos, select Custom Location option in the Destination section, and then click Choose.... Otherwise, select the default of Subfolder within Source Folder. This will create a subfolder with the name "PhotomatixResults" in the source folder selected in the Source section.
9. Click Run to start batch processing

While the batch is running, the processing status will display in the area below the Run button. When processing is complete, the path to the batch results will be displayed.

The heart of Photomatix Pro is where you adjust the image with various HDR Rendering methods. The image adjustment interface has three main sections:

Adjustments Panel on the left, Preview in the middle, Presets Panel on the right.

The Preview displays the image rendered with your current Preset and settings, and is updated immediately after a Preset or setting has been changed.

At the top of the preview panel are the Magnify Icons +/-. Tjese increase / decrease image preview size by 20%, and re-render it at the new size.

Image Adjustment Workflow

After you have merged your source images (or opened a single image file), the main workflow steps are:

1. Choose a Style for Your Image

   Choose a style by selecting a thumbnail in the Presets Panel, either a built-in preset delivered with Photomatix Pro, or a custom preset that you previously created.

   See the presets section for details on working with presets.

2. Refine the Effect

   You can refine the effect of the Preset using the controls in the HDR Settings and Color Settings sections (see the HDR Settings and Color Settings appendix for descriptions of each setting).

3. Apply the Adjustments

   When you are satisfied with the preview result, click on the Next: Finish button at the bottom of the Adjustments panel. This will apply the selected preset and settings adjustments to the image, at its original resolution.

4. Add Finishing Touches

   Before saving the image, you can use the options on the Finishing Touch palette in order to increase the contrast of your image, sharpen it, crop it or straighten it.

5. Save the Image

   Click the Done button on the Finishing Touch window to bring up the save dialog.

   Navigate to the folder where you want to save the image, and use the default file name or enter a new name in the Name field. Then, select a file type among the three offered.

   JPEG is best if you want to go straight to the Web with no further processing.

   TIFF 16-bit offers the highest quality output and is the best format if you plan on processing the image further in an image editor.

Working with Presets



User Created Presets



Built-in Presets

The Preset Thumbnails panel lists the available presets, showing a thumbnail preview of the e ect of that preset. When you click on a preset thumbnail, the Preview image is refreshed to show the result of rendering with the settings of that preset.

There are two types of presets, "Built-in" factory presets, and "My Presets".

Built-in or "factory" presets are those provided with the software. Photomatix Pro offers 37 built-in presets when you are working with bracketed photo sets, and 33 built-in presets for when you are working with single photo files.

"My Presets" or Custom presets are presets that you saved while adjusting your images - often these are ones that you have carefully refined to match your tastes and your images.

To access custom presets, click on the My Presets tab located at the bottom of the Preset Thumbnails panel.

To create your own custom presets as XMP files for future use, follow these steps:

1. In the Adjustments panel, at the left side of the Preview window, click the Presets drop-down list.
2. Select Save Preset from the list.
3. Enter a name for the preset in the Name field, and click Save.

If you save the preset in the default location (which is the custom_presets subfolder of the .photomatix folder in your home directory), the preset is automatically added to the Presets combo-box list, and also shows in the My Presets tab of the thumbnail Presets Panel.

Finishing Touch

After "Next: Finish", the Finishing Touch window appears, allowing you to apply a few optional finishing touches before saving.



Adjusting the Contrast in the Finishing Touch dialog

The Contrast and Sharpen tabs of the Finishing Touch window provide "Mild", "Medium" and "Strong" presets (and "Extreme" as well, for Contrast). The "Show Options" button gives access to options for more precise custom settings.

The Crop tool allows you to click and drag on your image, to set a custom crop. The Aspect Ratio menu allows you to constrain your crop to standard aspect ratios, such as square, 3:4, 9:16, etc.

When you've made any finishing touches you want, press Save to save the final image.

Next: Appendix: HDR & Color Settings

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