Batch Processing is a powerful way to open, edit, and save many images at once, saving time and effort. The HDR Merge Batch Processing tool is ideal for working on single images as well as many sets of bracketed exposures. Luminar will automatically group brackets based on EXIF data stored in each image, including exposure settings, aperture settings, ISO levels, lens data, and time shot.
- Capture bracketed photos: You’ll need to capture a series of bracketed photos with your camera, typically varying by exposure value (EV) increments (e.g., -2, 0, +2). Make sure to use a tripod to avoid misalignment between shots.
- Import your images: Open Luminar Neo and import your bracketed photos into the software. You can do this by clicking the “Add” or “+” button and selecting the images from your computer.
- Selecting Images: You can choose up to 1000 images that you want to merge into HDR images. Just drag and drop them onto the HDR Merge tool.
- Batch Processing: Now, look for the option called Batch processing. This allows you to work on multiple images all at once, saving you time.
- Tweaking Settings: Click on the three dots icon for more settings. Here, you can adjust things like Auto Alignment (to make sure all your images line up perfectly), Chromatic Aberration Reduction (to remove those weird color edges), and Ghost Reduction (to fix any blurry spots caused by movement). If you choose Ghost Reduction, you'll also pick a base image as your reference and decide how strong you want the effect to be. You have the flexibility to organize images by dragging them into your desired sequence. Additionally, if an image doesn't match the defined set, you can remove it by clicking on the X icon. To delete the whole group of images, just click on the trashcan icon.
- Merging the Images: Select “Continue” to start the HDR merging process. Luminar Neo will take all your chosen exposures and blend them into one image with beautifully balanced lights and darks.
- The newly merged HDR image will be saved as a Tiff file in the HDR Folder. You can leave it there or move it back to its original folder.
Using the HDR Merge feature in Luminar Neo, you can create stunning images with a broad dynamic range, capturing details in both highlights and shadows that would be difficult to achieve in a single exposure.
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Location in Neo: Catalog view > Merge Tools section