

If you would like to try Photomatix Pro, you can download a fully functional trial version from HDRsoft, which never expires but will leave watermarks on saved images.Īlso, if you don’t yet have Photoshop, you can also download a trial of Photoshop CS6, which allows you to use the software for thirty days. So, with the advent of CS6 I would actually recommend both Photoshop and Photomatix for processing HDR photographs. However, I could have made further image adjustments in Photoshop and achieved the same result. I couldn’t get the high contrast look in the CS6 version that the Photomatix version has, while only in the HDR menu in Photoshop. When I did this comparison in CS5, the Photomatix result was astoundingly better.
#Photoshop cs2 vs cs6 full
Click the image to view it at full size: Photoshop and Photomatix Comparison
#Photoshop cs2 vs cs6 pro
Here is the final image, with my chosen settings, prior to processing: Photomatix Pro Prior to Processingįinally, here is the processed and saved Photomatix Pro result: Final HDR Result Photomatixįor the sake of comparison, here is the final result from Photoshop HDR next to the Photomatix result. Prior to creating an HDR image in Photomatix, I would suggest first reading my comprehensive HDR Photomatix Pro tutorial. This set of practice exposures can be downloaded from HDRsoft Here is my final result, still in the Photoshop Tone Mapping menu: Still in Photoshop Tone Mapping Menuįinally, here is the saved and processed image: Final HDR Result Photoshop You can then choose your bracketed images and let Photoshop CS5 do its thing. To create an HDR image in Photoshop, you would first need to go to File > Automate > Merge to HDR Pro. I was already using version 4 of Photomatix Pro when I upgraded to CS5, so the noise removal and deghosting in Photoshop HDR Pro didn’t jump out at me as being superior in any way. Version 4 of Photomatix Pro has fixed that discrepancy however. Most of what I found indicated that the HDR function in CS5 was more complicated to use than Photomatix, but that the noise reduction and deghosting were superior. You can export images from Lightroom to Photomatix Pro via the “File” menu, then Plug-in Extras > Export to Photomatix Pro.Īs part of the process of researching this article, I looked up what others had to say on their experiences with Photomatix vs Photoshop HDR Pro. In Lightroom you can go the the “Photo” menu and choose Edit In >Merge to HDR Pro in Photoshop. Most photographers who use Photoshop have as a result chosen to use Photomatix and other HDR software.īoth Photoshop and Photomatix are connected to Lightroom, which is a plus. The HDR feature has been a part of Photoshop since CS2, but has generally been considered far inferior to other software such as Photomatix.


Photoshop CS5 (now CS6) offers what is advertised as a substantially improved HDR feature, over past versions of the software. If you decide to purchase any Photomatix product at some point, you will get a 15% discount on your purchase, by entering the coupon code “ photoluminary” (without the quotes) into the Online order form. Category: Featured, Photography Software Reviews Tags: hdr, photomatix, photoshop 1 Comment
