Do you love shooting dramatic skylines and landscapes that ooze with character? Do you like taking pictures of the latest on-trend interiors, specifically those that are sure to make your Instagram feed the envy of all your friends?
HDR software or High-Dynamic Range Imaging might be something that you’ve heard about. Some believe that it is a costly, time-consuming practice that ‘real’ photographers need not bother with.
Think again. HDR software is definitely here to stay. Post-shot editing in both editorial photography, as well as outdoor photography, has become commonplace. It’s hard to imagine a world where such technology will cease. Thus, it is better to learn the skills now and be prepared for what will come afterward.
At this point you might have googled HDR software and found some seemingly (unreasonable) high prices online and been put off. Stay with us as we guide you through the best HDR software that will help you make amazing shots, or make your mediocre ones a bit more perfect.
Read on and we’ll break down the best HDR software available for everyone – whether you are a novice shooter, a seasoned pro, or working in an editorial position!
Photomatix Pro 6
Photomatix Pro 6 is the creation of HDRsoft and is the oldest most reliable HDR software available. Many photographers who have been using HDR software from the beginning, or at least the early days of photography, will vouch for this company as the go-to.
The recent 6th edition that has been launched for 2024 now features even more built-in filters, tools and compositional aids to better enhance your shots. Available for both PC and MAC, the software is reasonably priced for professionals or even amateur shooters. The development you’ll see in your shots makes it worth every penny of investment.
We strongly advice those that doubt the impact of HDR software to have a look at the Photomatix Pro 6. This is perhaps one of the most convincing pieces of software that has been created for modern photography in the past few years.
Pros
- Great value for money
- Compatible with MAC and PC
- Plugin mode for Adobe Lightroom
- Easy to use
- Pick it up quickly
- Tons of online tutorials
- Renowned HDR company
- Latest and most improved version
- Offers a great alternative to Adobe programs
- Includes plenty of inbuilt presets
- Its detail enhancers make your images sharp, crisp and distinctive
- Its Tone Balancer is a great tool for anyone who shoots landscapes. It merges together colors to create vivid landscapes that capture the real essence of your shot
- Brush Tool allows you to just focus on a particular area of your photography, rather than editing the entire image.
- Straighten Tool is used to perfectly merge images. This simple and easy-to-use tool is great for newbies.
- Ghost removal allows you to remove shadows, light rays, or any other inconsistency that occurs between your merged images.
Cons
- Becoming more technology-based which some photographers don’t find necessary
- Time-consuming to learn
Aurora HDR 2019 for Mac
The Aurora HDR software is another HDR program that lots of professional photographers have claimed is the greatest model.
The recently launched 2019 edition is available for both Windows and Mac systems. This is another great software that they keep revising. It is slightly more expensive than the Photomatix Pro 6, so bear that in mind.
Perhaps the major change with this program is the fact that it has more editing tools. Simply put, you can make even more adjustments to your photographs using this tool. Some photographers (like myself) prefer to keep the post-shooting editing to a minimum. But for those that are into editing, this is the tool for you.
Pros
- Available for MAC and Windows only
- Has a great range of photo-editing tools
- Easy to use, install and understand
- Bracketing with this software is the best we’ve found yet
- Includes great new features
- HDR Tonal Mapping lets you bracket your shots with more effects than ever before. This makes your shots look professional and essentially, unedited.
- Handling of RAW files time-saving file extraction allows you to edit your photos quickly and easily
- The user-designed interface is easy to use, and much more fun to work with than other models
Cons
- Expensive
- Relies heavily on technology
HDR Efex Pro – Academic
This HDR EfexPro is a plugin that you can activate whilst using other photography-editing software. For people who already edit and use technology to filter their shots, this might be a good option.
However, if you’re completely new to post-snapping editing on a computer, this software probably won’t be for you. It’s a good plugin to use on an existing editing software, such as Photoshop.
Nik is a well-known developer that makes strong programs. They have been making plugins for the likes of Adobe for many years.
Pros
- Great for those with technology and existing computer-based skills
- Plugin for existing software
- Easy to use
- Easy to install
- On-trend and up to date features
- The categorization of subjects within the display panel is nice
- Welcoming design
- Good for those that are professional editors
- Preset groupings are logical
Cons
- Difficult to directly add images
- Becomes hard to use when aligning 3+ images
- Not good for those that have no technology experience
Adobe Lightroom
Adobe is a company I am sure most, if not all, have heard of. Adobe of course is the creator of numerous design-based apps and creative platforms that allow multiple users the freedom to create.
If you already have photoshop and Lightroom installed onto your Mac or PC, chances are you may not even need a separate HDR software. And if you don’t, but you think you’d like to give those applications a try, we’ve linked a download to LightRoom for you!
LightRoom comes with a built-in photo merge software that is available on the HDR settings. This allows you to perform the same task that all the other programs have been requiring.
Pros
- You may already own the software
- You can use the software for multiple other design-based projects
- Adobe is a renowned company
- Lots of people use Adobe products
- Great for ease of use
- Limited controls allow editing to be quick, easy and more human
- Photo merge is a great built-in tool
- Auto-align and auto-tone are great image blending tools built-in
- De-ghosting mechanisms are also included and offer four setting ranges that allow you to minimize ghosting, flare, glare and shakes in your shots
Cons
- Limited hands-on design software
- Expensive (if you don’t already have it)
- If you just want HDR software for photography and nothing else, you may be better buying elsewhere as this program requires you renew yearly (at a cost)
Cyberlink PhotoDirector 10 Ultra
Finally, we have Cyberlink 10 which is a relatively new program that offers lots of HDR tools and software so you can edit your photos easily and comfortably.
The ease of use is particularly good. The design and interface make sense and there are lots of online tutorials that take you through step-by-step photo editing.
This is a good all-rounder at a great price that will suit any novice. It’s the cheapest ‘good’ software available and we recommend it to amateur photographers or those that just want to mess around with HDR.
Pros
- Cheap
- Easy to use
- Comes with lots of good HDR tools
- Editing is simple
- Great design layout
- Online tutorials
- Perfect for beginners and novices
- Works on MAC and PC
Cons
- Not professional
- Lacks modern features
Final Thoughts
We’ve taken you through a list of all the best HDR software available on the market right now. If you’re serious about trying out HDR resist the free online models which are often poor, outdated, and time-wasting.
If you shoot in difficult lighting, whether outdoor or indoor or if you shoot in tight spaces that can often become cramped and therefore have intense shadowing, this software will be your best friend.
No matter how much you’ve spent on your camera it will have a limited dynamic range. Images that have a high dynamic range will often have really bright as well as super dark tones that will give the shot added dimension. It’s impossible to get both perfect in one shot. Essentially, you will always be missing out on one of your shots.
To get this right in the studio, make sure to take 1-5 shots. This is commonly referred to as “bracketing”. Doing so helps you merge together the best of the light and dark tones to create images that have awe, depth-of-field view, and ultimately enhance the viewers’ visual experience.
Purchase one of these software programs from our list and you’ll be editing wonderful skylines, interiors, and low light street shots in no time.
