[HDRI] Re: NYT article

[Kirk Thibault]

Photomatix is really very limited - I think the gallery images they  
show are not representative of typical output one can expect.   
Obviously tone mapping is a key ingredient in using HDR images on  
standard displays and print media.  I have found the tone mapping  
algorithms discussed in the text, and included on the accompanying  
DVD, of the HDRI book to be a great asset in exploring tone mapping.  
Anyone who is interested in tone mapping should really take the time  
to read the chapters in the book dedicated to this topic.   I am  
especially intrigued by the "photographic" tone mapping algorithm -  
in fact it inspired me to read all three of Ansel Adams' classic  
works on his photographical philosophy (The Camera, The Negative and  
The Print).  Implementing the Zone System in HDR tone-mapping is an  
interesting approach, especially with a basis on the neutral 17% gray  
card (Zone 5).  From a Radiance standpoint, is this 17% gray card in  
the macbeth.cal file?  It would be interesting to include it in  
renderings and use the Zone System with the photographic_tm tone  
mapping operator to explore various variations on the original, high- 
bit rendering output.

Thanks Eric!

kirk
--------------------------------------------------
Kirk L. Thibault, Ph.D.

Biomechanics, Inc.
439 S. Governor Printz Blvd.
Essington, PA 19029

p.  215.271.7720
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kthibault at biomechanicsinc.com
skype: kirkthibault


On Aug 10, 2006, at 7:07 AM, E. Reinhard wrote:

>
> Hi Santiago and All,
>
> I've just had a look at this article, and the images are
> quite obviously created with a program called Photomatix.
> This program combines multiple exposures, and also has a
> tone reproduction algorithm built-in.
>
> Unfortunately, most people on Flickr using HDR are using
> this program. My annoyance stems from the fact that the
> tone mapping algorithm produces very unnatural results, and
> is about the poorest algorithm that I know for dynamic range
> reduction. It is very easy to recognize Photomatix output as
> a result --- it looks too compressed with too much local
> contrast.
>
> The apologetic comments at the end of the NYC article about
> the unnatural look of the Photomatix output makes no sense to
> me. There is no good reason to offer such a poor tone mapper
> as the only choice in any program.
>
> As a result, the Flickr community is starting to equate HDR
> with non-photorealistic rendering, which in my view is very
> undesirable. The NYC article is not helping in that respect
> either, as it does not present a balanced view of the state
> of the art in HDR.
>
> High dynamic range imaging is an exciting technology for many,
> as it allows us to take pictures and do image processing that
> we couldn't do before. However, I feel that Photomatix, in
> combination with its apparent, but undeserved popularity on
> Flickr, is doing more harm than good to help establish HDR as
> a useful technology.
>
> Right, that's me finished venting.
>
> Cheers,
> Erik
>
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