Merge to HDR Not Choosing Proper Exposure Settings

KH
Posted By
Kenny_Hoff
Feb 12, 2009
Views
390
Replies
6
Status
Closed
Hi, I’m trying to merge photos that I shot for HDR from Bridge. When I select a few photos and use the command ‘Tools/Photoshop/Merge to HDR/’, the images open up in the dialog OK but the exposures it is ‘guessing’ are all wrong. It is selecting my underexposed shot as the ‘EV 0’, with my properly exposed and over exposed shots listing as ‘EV +1.64’ and ‘EV -4’ respectively. This is all wrong.

– Is there a way to change what Photoshop selects as the exposures?

I tried moving them, all sorts of click combinations, etc. It appears that they are stuck. When I shoot, it is -2EV, 0EV, +2EV.

Now interestingly, when I first open the photos in Photshop, then launch the ‘Merge to HDR’ dialog, adding the open files, it picks up the exposure just fine. This is just adding a few more steps to the workflow.
Related Tags
choice exposure hdr merge proper settings

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M
Mylenium
Feb 12, 2009
I would assume that the formatting of your EXIF data in the files is perhaps a bit odd and it confuses whatever Bridge is doing. Also, it could be influenced by the order in which you select your files. therefore try to select them individually with Ctrl+clicks instead of marquee or Shift selecting…

Mylenium
KH
Kenny_Hoff
Feb 21, 2009
Hmmm. No, the order of the images doesn’t seem to make a difference. And I don’t choose any different order when opening from within Photoshop. But when opening from within Photoshop (using ‘Add Open Files’ command), it puts the photos in the proper order, but gives them all the much more accurate exposure readings.

I have a Nikon D70, which is a pretty common DSLR. The only thing changing in the EXIF data is the shutter speed.

It just adds extra steps to what ‘should’ be more automated.
CC
Chris_Cox
Feb 23, 2009
Kenny – what version of Photoshop and Bridge are you using?

Can you send a sample set of images that show the problem to ccox at adobe dot com ? Thanks.
KH
Kenny_Hoff
Feb 23, 2009
Hi,
Thanks for the response. I just installed Photoshop CS4 & Bridge CS4. Downloaded the trial a couple weeks ago, then purchased a license. Not sure if any updates were done in last few weeks.

I can send you a sample set of files when I get home tonight. I’m assuming you mean just the original JPEGs (usually 3)?

As a test, I also tried a set of images from a different shoot a few months ago. But the problem was the same. It’s too bad you can’t just modify the values in the Merge to HDR dialog if you know them.
CC
Chris_Cox
Feb 23, 2009
Yes, send the original files so we can try to merge them and see what happens.
KH
Kenny_Hoff
Mar 20, 2009
Just checking in on this issue. I did send some sample files to you Chris a few weeks back. But I know there are tons of other crazy issues going on that are probably more common spread (I’m sure I’m having some of them – had to disable all GPU enhancements just to get CS4 to run reliably).

– Anyone else have issues opening images to HDR from Bridge?

Thanks. And a couple other questions on the subject:

– Is there any way to open a stack of images into the Merge to HDR by selecting the stack when it is collapsed? It seems to only open the top photo.

– Any batch or script you know of to globally change the photo that appears on top of the stack for a set/folder of images? My camera shoots -2EV, 0EV, +2EV so when it does the ‘Auto-Stack HDR’ command, all of the stacks show the under-exposed shot (first one).

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