1. Tone Mapping Software Photomatix Pro Application to Photography www.hdrsoft.com Konferenz und Workshop '05 Reality-Based Visualization

2. www.hdrsoft.com2 Tone Mapping Operators – Global vs Local Two categories of Tone Mapping operators :  Global: each pixel is scaled based on its intensity and global image characteristics  Local: pixels' surroundings taken into account for scaling (in addition to intensity and image characteristics) Main advantage is fast processing Necessary for "good-looking" photograph, human eye adapts to contrast locally

3. www.hdrsoft.com3 Example Local TMO – Photomatix Pro 32-bit HDR Image as viewed on computer screen Dynamic Range captured: ~ 30,000:1 (~ 15 EV) Dynamic Range reproduced: ~ 500:1 (very rough estimate) HDR Image after Tone Mapping in Photomatix Pro Dynamic Range reproduced: roughly same as DR captured

4. www.hdrsoft.com4 Tone Mapping vs Exposure Blending Exposure Blending: Combining differently exposed 8-bit images into another 8-bit image containing details in highlights and shadows of each exposure Tone Mapping: Processing HDR image directly (i.e. "real" light values captured) to compress range down to 8 bits for correct display on standard monitors Advantage: easy to understand, you can see what you are doing Advantage: if well done, accurately reproduces original scene (as seen at capture time)

5. www.hdrsoft.com5 Tone Mapping vs Exposure Blending Exposure Blending with Photomatix Pro "H&S Details – Auto" Tone Mapping with Photomatix Pro 1/750 sec. 1/180 sec. 1/45 sec.

6. www.hdrsoft.com6 Tone Mapping: Realistic results? Typical reaction Photographer Your Tone Mapping result does not look "natural" to me. It looks more like a painting than a photograph! But I was there and this is exactly what I saw. I would not have taken the picture if it had been looking like a dull photograph! Conclusion: Tone Mapped images better reflect reality seen. However, we are so used to viewing Low Dynamic Range photos, that we do not expect what Tone Mapping produces and may find it unrealistic.