HDR Editing Software

This alphabetical list contains different types of image editing software products with which you can post-process your images after having tone-mapped them. Some of the products are for general editing, others are plugins that can installed in host applications. Most of the descriptions are quotes from the vendors’ home pages (clearly marked as such). They do not necessarily reflect my opinion or that of any of the contributors. Wherever possible, one or more links to reviews were added in order to provide further and in-depth information about the products.

The order is alphabetical and does not imply any ranking.

Note: The HDR Resource List is living – it evolves and changes in the same way as the community changes. Therefore, this list is certainly incomplete and may not reflect the view of all visitor. If you feel that there is an important resource missing here, please contribute to the list (how to contribute). If your contribution is added to the index, I will add you to the list of contributors.

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GIMP (http://www.gimp.org/) by open source project Type: free Price (approx.): $0 Description: "GIMP is an acronym for GNU Image Manipulation Program. It is a freely distributed program for such tasks as photo retouching, image composition and image authoring. It has many capabilities. It can be used as a simple paint program, an expert quality photo retouching program, an online batch processing system, a mass production image renderer, an image format converter, etc. GIMP is expandable and extensible. It is designed to be augmented with plug-ins and extensions to do just about anything. The advanced scripting interface allows everything from the simplest task to the most complex image manipulation procedures to be easily scripted. GIMP is written and developed under X11 on UNIX platforms. But basically the same code also runs on MS Windows and Mac OS X." [source: http://www.gimp.org] Reviews: graphicssoft.about.com Added on: 2012-01-21
NIK Color Efx Pro (http://www.niksoftware.com/nikcollection/de/index.php?view=colorefexpro%2Fmain.shtml) by Google Type: commercial Price (approx.): $100 - $200 Description: "Color Efex Pro 4 provides the most comprehensive set of enhancements for color correction, retouching, and creative effects. Quickly stylize your photographs, retouch portraits with ease, and extend your creativity with unmatched control and versatility." [source: http://www.niksoftware.com] Reviews: photo.net, northlight-images.co.uk Added on: 2012-01-21
Noiseware (http://www.imagenomic.com/nwsa.aspx) by IMAGENOMIC Type: commercial Price (approx.): starting at $30 Description: "Noiseware is a high-performance noise suppression software tool designed to decrease or eliminate noise from digital photo or scanned images. Unlike most image processing software techniques that utilize simple methods (such as median filters) to treat digital noise in images, Noiseware features a sophisticated yet fast noise filtering algorithm. Using the adaptive noise profile capability and sharpening function, Noiseware greatly reduces the visible noise while keeping the details in the images." [source: http://www.imagenomic.com] Reviews: blogcritics.org Added on: 2012-01-21
Photo Ninja (previously Noise Ninja) (http://www.picturecode.com/) by PictureCode Type: commercial Price (approx.): starting at $129 Description: "Photo Ninja is a professional-grade RAW converter that delivers exceptional detail, outstanding image quality, and a distinctive, natural look. If you think this is "just another RAW converter", you're in for a surprise. Photo Ninja is truly special, with unique capabilities for improving and optimizing your digital images. Click on the items below to learn more about this powerful tool, and read why serious photographers are adopting it into their workflows." [source: http://www.picturecode.com/] Reviews: aperture.maccreate.com Added on: 2012-01-21
Photoshop (http://www.photoshop.com/) by Adobe Type: commercial Price (approx.): $1000 Description: Industry-leading photo editing software. Reviews: graphicssoft.about.com Added on: 2012-01-21
Topaz Adjust (http://www.topazlabs.com/adjust/) by Topaz Labs Type: commercial Price (approx.): $50 Description: Topaz Adjust is an image enhancement software that allows you to adjust exposure, local contrast, details, colors and other features of your images. It is typically used after the tone-mapping process. Reviews: picturecorrect.com, hdrsoftware.com Added on: 2012-01-21
Topaz DeNoise (http://www.topazlabs.com/denoise/) by Topaz Labs Type: commercial Price (approx.): $80 Description: Topaz DeNoise is an advanced noise reduction software that analyses images to remove noise more intelligently than e.g. simple filters in Photoshop can. Reviews: photographyblog.com, luminous-landscape.com Added on: 2012-01-21
Topaz Detail (http://www.topazlabs.com/detail/) by Topaz Labs Type: commercial Price (approx.): $40 Description: "Topaz Detail puts unique detailing capabilities right at your fingertips. Built with one-of-a-kind technology, this plug-in is invaluable for photographers who want precise and intricate detailing abilities that will help achieve high-quality enhancements. Topaz Detail works with three levels of internal detail separation in order to provide you with unprecedented control and flexibility over image detail manipulation. This extensive flexibility and the powerful technology behind it makes Topaz Detail invaluable for photographers who want to give their photos that extra something. Detail's advanced technology makes it possible for you to optimally remove, recover and enhance details, without the side effects of halos or artifacts." [source: http://www.topazlabs.com] Reviews: photographyandthemac.com, stuckincustoms.com Added on: 2012-01-21
Topaz InFocus (http://www.topazlabs.com/infocus/) by Topaz Labs Type: commercial Price (approx.): $70 Description: Topaz InFocus applies deconvolution technology to sharpen images intelligently. It attempts to sharpen the edges in the image while ignoring other areas. It can be used to reduce the blur in images (occurring e.g. due to movement or camera shake) considerably. Reviews: stuckincustoms.com, digitalimagemagazine.com Added on: 2012-01-21

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4 Responses to Editing Software

Machinery HDR says:

27. January 2012 at 22:48

Machinery Effects is a HDR program. You can use it also for fusing multiple exposures. Rather like a better version of Topaz adjust, crossed with Photomatix.

Reply
- farbspiel says:
  
  31. January 2012 at 13:57
  
  Hi,
  
  I have moved the software to the HDR Software section. Just as a suggestion (assuming that you are the creator of the software): The website is not really clear about the nature of the software. Maybe you want to change that.
  
  Cheers
  Klaus
  
  Reply
Mike Hardisty says:

28. January 2012 at 19:08

Hello Klaus

I updated my review of Machinery HDR Effects today to include the procedure to use multiple exposures which can Machinery can do.

In my opinion it is more than just an effects program like Topaz and Jim (Cosmovortex_2006) over on the Flickr HDR Group has done a quick review and agrees with me that you can use more than 1 exposure. I think Machinery should be considered as an HDR Programme rather than an editor despite it’s name.

At the time I wrote the first review I only considered one image but I thought that I should correct my review to include a bracket of 5 images.

The updated review can be found here http://mikehardistyhdr.wordpress.com/2012/01/27/machinery-hdr-effects-2/

Mike

Reply
- farbspiel says:
  
  31. January 2012 at 16:15
  
  Thanks Mike,
  
  I have moved the entry to the HDR Software section.
  
  Cheers
  Klaus
  
  Reply