Has anyone compared these two HDR programs? I just heard about Hydra, was going to purchase Photomatix, but would like to hear some opinions, especially from anyone that has tried both.
What is your application for HDR? Are you looking for a photorealistic image with increased tonal range? I've noticed that some folks create what I call "HDR-esque" images that look extremely odd, at least to me -- the image at the top of the page at the Photomatix website is a glaring example of this.
I personally prefer the method that Timothy Farrar has created (FFDD : Digital Darkroom), I find that the results, while somewhat labor intensive, can look very good indeed.
White Balance so easy, even our 5 year old can do it.- Melissa Strickland
photomatic has a unique look to it that is attention grabing but not 100% real looking. its kindof artsy. i am looking for a realist looking HDR process that has contrast,and real color. i checked out the FFDD, and thats a little better, but just purchased PM tonight and dont want to spring for another $90.
PM has this high contrast, high color saturation look but at the same time of the image has parts that are really neutral and desaturated. odd, interesting but odd.
i am inspired to use PM mildly and then photoshop it a good amount. alot of the actions in the FFDD are also found in photokit which has a complete line of darkroom like actions in one software (really nice doge/burns).
If you want to get a realistic look with PM, don't try to make a 'final' image in PM alone. Use PM to make a 'correctable' image and use Photoshop to finalize it.
You do it in Photoshop CS3. Just go File>Automate>Merge to HDR. It works about the same as Photomatix, which is to say not very well. I think those things are way too strong, and you can get a better image by combining your shots in Photoshop, and then using a little creative masking to blend them in.
Here's a couple of shots from the Oregon coast that I shot over Christmas that are done with multiple images in Photoshop.
White Balance so easy, even our 5 year old can do it.- Melissa Strickland
People often say that HDR is too strong or too surrealistic, but it doesn't need to be that way. In fact, you may have seen quite a number of HDR images without even knowing that they were made using HDR. It's the overdone images that stand out and give HDR its reputation.
Hydra vs Photomatix for HDR 
Linear Mode
