merge via HDRpro in Photoshop - problems with images having easy sky scenarios

[philllie1]

hi 

i am using "merge via hdr pro in photoshop" to get my hdr images. after testing it gives me the much better results in 32-bit than the .dng approach (especially in dark areas).

while i like the overall, neutral results compared to other hdr-tools, i run into artefacts/problems as soon as a sky is involved - even in simple light scenarios (i.e. blue sky without head light).
I enclose an example.

Other hdr programs I used so far, do not have the slightest problem with the sky in these images.

so: can I avoid this somehow? or is an improvement planned?

thanks for your hints.

 

[Ian Lyons]

Your example shows significant banding in the sky, which is something I've never seen in Lightroom or Photoshop.  Rather than try to determine the reason for your issues here I think it best that you have a read at this document prepared by Adobe to assist users get best results from the HDR feature. I suggest you take particular note of the number of images (less than you might think) required for optimal results.

https://helpx.adobe.com/uk/lightroom-classic/help/hdr-photo-merge.html

Let us know how you get on, especially if above guidance doesn't help.

[philllie1]

  

thanks @ian_lyons

i cant explain that either. 

as i said, doing hdr for years and with other programs, so can estimate how things are about to look. i don't get banding with other programs at all in easy settings like the above. nearly in every one, with lightroom/hdr-pro

another extract example is now attached. i assume, one gets the point, although dis example is in a difficult light situation.

I read the article you linked, and i am ok within parameters (also from experience) - i should get an ok picture !!
but i am not using the "merge to hdr", that you linked, but "hdr pro in photoshop".

so what am i supposed to do?

[philllie1]

 

this is an example, how hdr efex pro handles the same images - without the hint of a problem

and also an extract of the difficult image, no hint of a problem within hdr efex pro

 

[philllie1]

anyone got a hint or experienced the same problem?
thanks

[davescm]

Hi
I've never seen this. Can you post a PSD file or a link to a PSD file if it is too large , I'd like to try it here and see if I get the banding

Dave

[philllie1]

hi
somehow i also think it is a problem on my system, but haven't got a clue, what it could be.

tried ps 2018 and 2019 - both the same....but besides, no other hdr-program on the system has a hint of a problem on my system.
psd is attached, rendered from lightrom, smaller and only 8-bit so meet file-size restrictions...so not the same conditions, mine are more favorable of course - but i assume, your results will be better.

thanks for looking into it.

[philllie1]

.

[davescm]

Hi I had to guess the relative exposures on the three images in your test file and enter them manually. When I did so I only got the severe banding when I checked the "remove ghosting" checkbox which seemed to pick up large areas of sky luminosity from the darker image

[philllie1]

thank you Dave.
so after your input I took my images to my friend and it turns out, on his pc we have the same problem as on my pc - even with old images, that worked fine.

OK, so we went to our local photoshop/lightroom crack and mentor ...and the same problem.
So he went through adobe support and after many hours they admitted, that it is indeed an error - and they will fix the bug in the next version. Date unknown!!!!!!
which is a desaster. we havily rely on the 32-bit-rendering which is much better than the lightroom-hdr-engine and necessary for our work with clients. for the recent week, we were unable to deliver images in the quality we need and want - and adobe doesn't give a ..... about it.
Such a bug in version 20.xxx and they don't care about providing a hotfix - very disappointing at least.

thanks all for your inputs

[MaJo]

Hej

i have the same problems after my holidays. Do you have any news?

Does it make sense, to contact Adobe support?

thank you

Margret

[philllie1]

hi 

sorry for the delay - unfortunately the news is, i am busy evaluating applications for my post adobe time. Support did not bring a solution (arrogance, ignorance, no knowledge). Update made things worse (second hdr option also no more working; Merge with hdr pro unusable since quite a long time and no solution on the horizon). Not being happy, not being able to do my work, but being a paying customer is not really a business model i want to keep supporting.

Found already a better replacement for lightroom and my workflow is faster now. HDR also evaluated, decision on PS replacement in a few days. For details, this is of course not the right place. and i don't mean, that the world outside of adobe ist great and without flaws. but it is worth to consider/check out other options, i would even recommend it to all.
I should have done earlier. And yes, i know, that a single person won't change a thing about whats going completely wrong at adobe. 

Margret, I hope, it will work out for you. Be it with or without adobe products,  although i am not a help.