HDR DeNoise: Creating a Project

Overview

HDR DeNoise analyzes and merges photos of a scene to reduce the noise level while keeping the details, including details in deep shadows. HDR DeNoise is perfect for low light photos and still life photos under natural light.

An HDR DeNoise project requires two or more photos. The photos must share the same exposure values (shutter speed, aperture and ISO) and the same white balance. Each of the photos should show the same scene.

The easiest way to achieve that is to set your camera in burst mode and hold the shutter button. For best results take at least four photos.

Creating the project is done in four steps:

Step 1: locating the folder containing the photos
Step 2: selecting a set of photos
Step 3: adding the set to the Project Image Selection panel
Step 4: creating the project

Step 1, locating the photos

In order to create a new HDR DeNoise project, you have to first display the photos needed for the project in the Browse Workspace.

Selecting a folder and displaying the thumbnails:

Return in the Browse Workspace
Click on the “...” button located in the top Browsing toolbar
Using the File Dialog, navigate to the folder containing your photos
Click on the Open button

The Browse Workspace now displays the photos contained in the folder you just selected.

Step 2, selecting the photos

Selecting photos:

Scroll the thumbnail list until you see the set of photos you want to use
Click on the first photo in the set
Shift-Click on the last photo in the set

Or:

Scroll the thumbnail list until you see the set of photos you want to use
Control-Click on each photo

A green frame is displayed around the selected photos.

Step 3, adding the photos to the project selection panel

Add the photos selected at the previous step to the Project Image Selection panel.

Adding photos to the Project Image Selection panel:

Select the images as explained in step 2 above
Click on the Add button located at the bottom of the Project Image Selection panel

If the panel already contains photos from a previous project, you have first to clear the Project Image Selection list.

Removing all photos from the Project Image Selection panel:

Click the Clear button located at the bottom of the Project Image Selection panel

Removing one photo from the Project Image Selection panel:

Click on one of the small thumbnails located in the Project Image Selection list
Click on the Remove button located at the bottom of panel

You are now ready to create an HDR DeNoise project.

Step 4, creating the HDR DeNoise project

At this point, PhotoEngine can create the HDR DeNoise Project. The HDR DeNoise panel should display: “Ready to create HDR DeNoise Project!”

HDR DeNoise projects have one options: Auto Align.

What is Auto Align?

If you are not using a tripod the camera may move when bracketing. The Auto Align feature attempts to align the photos when assembling the images.

When to use Auto Align?

Use Auto Align only when taking photos handheld. Never use Auto Align when using a tripod. The additional processing always slightly degrades the resulting image. For high quality results, use a tripod and turn Auto Align off.

Enabling Auto Align:

Click on the Auto Align checkbox located in the HDR DeNoise panel
Click again on the checkbox to turn it off

After choosing the HDR DeNoise option, you are ready to create the project.

Creating the HDR DeNoise project:

Click the Create HDR DeNoise Project button located at the bottom of the HDR DeNoise panel

PhotoEngine automatically switches to the Edit Workspace and starts loading the photos.

What to do when the HDR DeNoise panel displays an error message?

If your photos do not contain Exif data or have missing Exif data, the HDR DeNoise Panel will display an information message such as: “Shutter speed values are required to build an HDR DeNoise Project”.

When this happens you can enter missing data by hand. The Project Image Selection panel works like a small spreadsheet. You can click in any cells to enter a missing value.

Manually setting missing data:

Click in the cell with the missing value in the Project Image Selection panel
Type the missing Shutter Speed, F-Number or ISO value
Press the Tab key to validate
Repeat until all missing values are entered

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