PTGui Pro 12.21 has problems with HDR processing compared to previous version of PTGui

[友添成隆]

I recently upgraded to PTGui Pro 12.21 and am experiencing problems with HDR processing compared to the older version of PTGui.

Specifically, when I process the same shot data between PTGui Pro 12.21 and the older version, the results are very different. In the older version, the brightness of the outdoor view through the window is adjusted correctly, preserving detail and color. However, in PTGui Pro 12.21, the same areas appear whitish, suggesting a highlight clipping problem.

Of course, in PTGui Pro 12.21, the image is linked by selecting "Image -> Link HDR Bracket Exposure" from the menu bar.

I have tried adjusting settings and parameters within PTGui Pro 12.21, but have not been able to achieve the same quality of HDR processing as the previous version. Do you have any recommendations or specific settings adjustments to alleviate this problem?


Also, would you recommend reverting back to the previous version of PTGui until this issue is resolved? My main goal is to maintain the quality of my HDR images, so any guidance would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you in advance for your help.

[PTGui Support]

Hi,

You should be able to get the same results from PTGui 12. Could you make
your project available so I can take a look? If possible, make jpeg
copies of your source images in order to reduce the size of the download.

Kind regards,

Joost Nieuwenhuijse
www.ptgui.com

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[Idociofoto]

Yes, there are many of us who have noticed the change between the algorithm of one version and another. Despite having more adjustments, it is difficult to adjust the appearance of the panoramas with the previous version.

The software is still great and it may just be getting used to, after so long, but I think the change has been too sudden and obvious and that's why many users who have been using the program for years are noticing it a lot.

I, on some occasions, have still continued using version 11.x to generate some panorama in which the result obtained with version 12.x has not convinced me.

Speaking of version 11.x, it would be great to have a version with OpenCL support with the latest Nvidia drivers.
I know I can install other, older drivers, but other applications I use benefit to some extent from the latest driver versions, so it's not an option.

[PTGui Support]

There were some differences in Exposure Fusion results, and there still
are if you use ECIv2 color profile, but otherwise this has been fixed in
12.21. So you might want to try again!

Kind regards,

Joost Nieuwenhuijse
www.ptgui.com

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[Erik Krause]

Am 30.05.2023 um 03:28 schrieb 友添成隆:

> In the older version, the brightness of the outdoor view through the
> window is adjusted correctly, preserving detail and color. However,
> in PTGui Pro 12.21, the same areas appear whitish, suggesting a
> highlight clipping problem.

HDR results have always been a matter of personal taste. I f.e. consider
images where indoor and outdoor (in full sunlight) have details with
full contrast as unnatural. A sunlit scene outside can never have the
same brightness as indoors (unless you use very strong artificial
light). Looking from the inside out you are always a bit blinded at
first, which the whitish look does resemble nicely (BTW.: it's reduced
contrast most of the time, clipping would be indicated by uniform white
areas).

But your taste might be different. Also, it's a matter of fashion. In
the early days of HDR strong halos - today known as "HDR effect" - were
fashionable, which looked spectacular, but soon got boring. PTGui 11
also produced more halos.

Said that, PTGui HDR results were never among the best for my taste.
Which is no surprise, since PTGui is an image stitcher in the first
place. But there are a lot of HDR programs meanwhile, so for any taste
there should be something. My personal favorite is SNS-HDR, since it
gives, without many adjustments, the most natural results for landscape
panoramas, which I do most.

Others prefer Photomatix, or Aurora HDR, or Oloneo, easyHDR,
LuminanceHDR, Affinity Photo, Photoshop, Lightroom...

--
Erik Krause
http://www.erik-krause.de