Web Design » Photoshop » What Is HDR in Photoshop?

What Is HDR in Photoshop?

Last updated on January 26, 2023 @ 5:45 am

HDR is an acronym for High Dynamic Range. HDR is a technique used in photography to capture a greater range of tonal detail than what is possible using a single exposure.

HDR images are created by combining multiple exposures of the same scene, each captured at a different level of brightness. The result is an image with a greater range of tonal detail than what can be captured using a single exposure.

HDR images can be created using a number of different methods, but the most common method is to use special software to combine multiple exposures of the same scene. This software often includes tone mapping algorithms that help to bring out the full range of detail in the image.

HDR images often have a very unique look, with bright colors and high contrast. This can be due to the fact that HDR images often have a very wide range of brightness levels. This wide range can be difficult to achieve with a single exposure, but by combining multiple exposures, HDR images can often achieve this wide range.

There are many different ways to style HDR images, and each photographer has their own unique style. Some HDR images are very natural looking, while others are more stylized. It really depends on the photographer’s own personal preferences.

What Is HDR in Photoshop?

Photoshop is a program that many people use for crafting layouts and graphics or for photo editing tasks such as cropping and color correction.

But Photoshop can also do much more than that! One lesser known feature that Photoshop offers is its ability to create High Dynamic Range (HDR) photos.

PRO TIP: HDR in Photoshop is a high dynamic range imaging technique that can be used to create stunning images with a wide range of tonal values. However, it is important to note that HDR in Photoshop can also be misused to create images that look unnatural and garish. When using HDR in Photoshop, it is important to use it sparingly and with a light hand, lest you end up with an image that looks like it belongs on a comic book cover rather than in a fine art photography gallery.

What Is an HDR Photo?

An HDR photo is one that has been taken with an increased dynamic range in order to produce more vibrant colors and greater contrast than what would be possible with a standard photograph.

How Is an HDR Photo Created?

There are two ways that you can create an HDR photo in Photoshop.

  1. The first method, which is considered to be the traditional method, involves taking multiple photos at different exposures and then combining them into one image.
    For example, you might take one photo at a normal exposure, one photo underexposed ( darker), and one photo overexposed (lighter). By combining all three photos into one image, you would then have an increased dynamic range because all three photos would contribute something different to the final image.
  2. The second method, which is considered to be the newer method, involves taking just one photo and then using Photoshop’s Merge To HDR Pro feature to increase the dynamic range.

What Are Some Of The Benefits Of Creating An HDR Photo In Photoshop?

There are several benefits of creating an HDR photo in Photoshop.

  • Increased Dynamic Range : As we mentioned earlier, one of the benefits of creating an HDR photo is that it allows you to increase the dynamic range – meaning you can create an image with more vibrant colors and greater contrast than what would be possible with a standard photograph.
  • Greater Detail : Another benefit of creating an HDR photo is that it allows you to capture greater detail than what would be possible with a standard photograph.
  • More Natural Colors : When you increase the dynamic range, it also allows for more natural colors because all three photos would contribute something different to the final image.

How Do I Create An HDR Photo In Photoshop?

Now that we’ve gone over some of the benefits of creating an HDR photo in Photoshop, let’s go over how you can actually create one.

  • The first thing you need to do is open up Adobe Photoshop on your computer. Once you have Photoshop open, click on “File”in the top menu bar and then select “New…” from the drop-down menu.
  • A new window will pop up asking you how large you want your new document to be.
  • Once you’ve selected your desired size, click on “OK” in the bottom right-hand corner.
  • Now that you have a new document open in Photoshop, click on “Layer” in the top menu bar and then select “New…” from the drop-down menu.
  • A new window will pop up asking you what type of layer you want to create. Select “Background from Layer…” from this menu and then click on “OK” in the bottom right-hand corner.
Kathy McFarland

Kathy McFarland

Devops woman in trade, tech explorer and problem navigator.