My debt's about to increase
 

I found this new software, a plug in that mimics, among other things, HDR and I've been playing with it for hours!! It's from Topaz Labs, called "Adjuster" and is part of a suite of plug-ins. Very cool effects.
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3318/...d150c5fe_o.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3328/...181ae3d2_o.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3474/...604562a6_o.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3255/...fa5aa178_o.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3092/...4a64742a_o.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3412/...c76b9c0b_o.jpg
This is what it can do to a plain image:
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3530/...65b58d27_o.jpg
With this one, I first applied the Topaz filtering, then did the Sepia action and it looks like old film:
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3514/...200f7890_b.jpg

I love the textures in these - that first shot is awesome.

I love the irises.

cars are swell......were can we get this??

why do I ask when I can do it myself?

here it is...39.99


http://www.topazlabs.com/topazlabs/0.../topaz_adjust/

xoxoxoo

well done! I love them all!

Great shots! I love the one with the Oldsmobile.

One program that is supposed to be pretty good for this is Photomatix. It's $99. There's also a free alternative, for all operating systems qtpfsgui.

Edit: These are real HDR tools, not plugins which mimic it, as the original post mentioned. They create the HDR image from a series of images, usually 3 with one overexposed and one underexposed. You can also use these to create a HDR image from a single picture by creating a lighter and darker image and using the three resulting images.

A couple more I did last night:
This one, after I applied the Topaz Psychedelic, I added PS Poster Edge. Prints out really cool:
http://www.reevesphotographics.com/i...s/DSC00309.jpg

http://www.reevesphotographics.com/i...s/PICT0218.jpg

http://www.reevesphotographics.com/i...s/PICT0351.jpg
-----Added 15/1/2009 at 10 : 26 : 25-----
Just one more....for now ;)

http://www.reevesphotographics.com/i...s/PICT0405.jpg

what, doesn't anyone think it's kind of cheating? )

Yea, yea...filters is cheating...

So is cropping, burning, dodging, layering, noise reduction, color correction, contrast adjusting, highlighting or shadow adjusting, removing grandma's wrinkles, little Johnny's chocolate moustache, blackening tires, smoothing acne, adding lighting, adjusting levels, lens babies and fisheye lenses.

These included most of the above. Which part was cheating? :D

I totally dig the first picture. It reminds me of a dream. The filters really add to the intensity.

Those are really cool! Keep them up!

Thanks, guys. You wouldn't believe the heated discussion I'm having about them over in PopPhoto. Damned purists....

The only difference is that it takes skill to do any of these correctly and RIGHT. Just like the photography itself. (;

Those images are wonderful, ng. Do you have a DA account?

I love the effect this has on the photos. I know nothing about photography but for some reason I think this would be really neat to take a pic of a class of kindergartners all wearing really bright vibrant shirts.

Yes, I'm ngdawg there too

Nice work. This seems similar to some of the Lucis Art filters, but much cheaper. Good find.

Cool filters, I want to try them but I can't seem to get them to work on Windows 7, CS4 :(

I wish there was a stand-alone program that did the same thing. I don't own photoshop cs4, and it would be nice to adjust photos like this without having to take 3 photos at different exposures to get the HDR effect.

What is Windows 7?
I have CS4, but no serial to activate it, so I don't know (yet) if it'll work on it, but I'd assume it does as others in Flickr and another forum I frequent are using it.
Did you unzip it to your plug-ins folder?

Windows 7 is the newest version of Windows. It's supposed to be better than Vista and fix all the crappy problems. It's only in Beta right now though.

I think most anything that works with vista will work with Windows 7. You might have to right click, go to properties, and make sure it runs in compatibility mode for vista.

From studying the history of photography, I found out that the availability of dry plates was cheating. The pros were upset that the art was now available to everyone. You no longer had to make up your own plates. The same argument ensued with sheet film, roll film, the brownie camera, etc, etc.

I love your work dawg. You've inspired me. I plan on putting some of my Virginia City shots through those effects. Most were captured with a 4X5. I don't use digital much.

Keep up the good cheating :thumbsup:

I still can't post photos. I'm just a newbie lurker...:grumpy:
-----Added 12/2/2009 at 05 : 02 : 31-----
Here's another post. Now I'm closer to being able to post pictures.

You got my hopes up ngdawg... Topaz needs an Intel processor. The G5 won't handle it. Bummer!

Check out the links I posted above. They have lower system requirements and one is open source and free.

What's a "DA Account"?

deviant art. deviantart.com

very cool

if only i could see thru my eyes like this. it would be a dream almost.

nice work! errr. or editing?

I have to agree with what Syl Arena said this week on this very subject. Read #16. "Photographers are like dogs – they come in many breeds, some are purebred, others are mongrels. ...None of these is right or wrong, better or worse."


It's your art. Do what you want.