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Last modified: 2011-06-02

HDR ReLight: Editing a Project

To learn how to create a HDR ReLight project read the previous chapter. After creating or loading a project, the image is displayed in the Edit Workspace with default settings.

 

 

When editing an HDR ReLight project the Edit Workspace contains three main areas:

1:  the Timeline panel on the left of the screen

2:  the edited image displayed in the center

3:  the light sources and image settings on the right

 

To edit the image simply click and drag the various sliders located in the right panels. PhotoEngine automatically updates the image in real-time.

 

Editing light sources

When creating the project, PhotoEngine automatically detects the color, temperature, intensity of the scene light sources, ambient light and shadows. These values are displayed in the Light Sources panel.

 

The Light Sources panel provides unique features such as:

  • Turning on and off light sources
  • Modifying the white balance of each individual light sources without affecting the other ones
  • Fine tuning the light intensity of each light sources
  • Turning a daylight scene into a night photo!

 

The Light Sources panel is divided into two to six sub-panels, one for each light source. The number is equal to the number of photos used to create the project.

 

 

When PhotoEngine has detected that the scene has ambient light (for instance coming from a window), the sub-panels are listed as follows:

  • Ambient Light
  • Light 1
  • Light 2
  • ...

 

When no ambient light is detected, the list of sub-panels is:

  • Light 1
  • Light 2
  • Light 3
  • ...

 

To edit an individual light source, select one of the sub-panels and modify the settings.

 

Editing light source intensity:

  • Scroll the Light Source panel to see one of the sub-panels such as: Ambient Light, Light 1, Light 2, etc.
  • Drag the top slider located at the right of the sub-panel name
  • A value of 0% turn the light source completely off
  • A value of 100% restore the original light intensity

 

 

Editing light source temperature and tint:

  • Scroll the Light Source panel to see one of the sub-panels such as: Ambient Light, Light 1, Light 2, etc.
  • Drag the Temperature and Tint sliders

 

 

Remark:

The Temperature and Tint sliders allow you to directly define the light source color physical appearance. When you set the Temperature to 2800K, the edited source will light the scene like a real Tungsten light with a warm color would do. This is the reverse of White Balance edition where the goal is to neutralize the color cast of light sources.

 

This feature is very powerful. By changing the Temperature and Tint of individual light sources, you can:

  • Transform an original fluorescent light into a tungsten one or any other combinations
  • Remove color casts in scenes lighted by a combination of different light sources such as: daylight, tungsten and fluorescent
  • Transform a scene taken at noon in a late afternoon or early morning photo by editing the ambient light temperature

 

 Setting the light source color to a normalized illuminant:

  • Scroll the Light Source panel to see one of the sub-panels such as: Ambient Light, Light 1, Light 2, etc.
  • Click on the Illuminant local menu
  • Choose one of the illuminant such as: A, D55, D75, F3, etc.
  • Choose As Shot to restore the original light source color

 

 

Directly editing the light source color:

  • Scroll the Light Source panel to see one of the sub-panels such as: Ambient Light, Light 1, Light 2, etc.
  • Step 1: click and drag the horizontal slider of the Color Wheel  to increase the saturation
  • Step 2: click and drag the circular slider of the Color Wheel  to choose the color
  • The light color is previewed  in the color swatch located at the top right of the Color Wheel

 

 

With this feature you can create creative light setups with highly saturated colors. This is often useful when photographing objects for catalogs, industrial applications, interior design, etc. Interesting effects can be obtained by using complementary colors such as blue/cyan and orange for light sources coming from opposite directions.

 

Editing Image settings

When you are done with light setup, you can start working on general image settings with the Low Dynamic Tone and Brightness Curve panels.

 

Editing key image settings:

  • Scroll the panels located on the right of the screen to display the Low Dynamic Tone panel
  • Click and drag the Exposure, Brightness, Contrast and Saturation sliders
  • For high precision edition, hold the Control-Key while dragging a slider

 

 

Editing the white balance:

  • Scroll the panels located on the right of the screen to display the Low Dynamic Tone panel
  • Use the Temperature, Tint sliders, Color Wheel or the Illuminant local menu (As Shot, Daylight, Tungsten, etc.).

 

 

Setting the white balance with the Eye Dropper:

  • Click on the Eye Dropper icon located in the top tool bar
  • Click anywhere in the picture to set the neutral point
  • When done, click again on the Eye Dropper icon to turn it off

 

 

Remark:

White Balance settings affect all the light source colors. This should be your last step after editing the light source colors. Doing the reverse can make the light source edition confusing.

 

Using the brightness curve:

  • Scroll the panels located on the right of the screen to display the Brightness Curve panel
  • Click anywhere in the curve to add a new point
  • Drag a point or a tangent (arrow) to change the shape of the curve
  • To delete a point, click on a point and press the Delete-key or right-click and select Delete Selected Point

 

 

To learn more about curve edition, read: User Interface Main Controls.