Bring your photos to life

Unless you specifically change it, the installation folder is C:\Program Files\Qtpfsgui. The only other requirement is a tripod, bracket or flat surface on which to stand the camera while taking source images for manipulation by the program.

Taking suitable pictures
To create an HDR image requires at least three source images: one taken at normal exposure, one that’s overexposed and one that’s underexposed. Many digital cameras have a feature called automatic exposure bracketing (AEB), which is a setting that automatically takes three pictures in this way.

If yours does, and if your hands are steady, you might be able to get away without using a tripod.
Cameras without automatic bracketing facilities must be manually set to overexpose and underexpose using their EV (exposure value) compensation controls.

Because changing the EV setting usually involves delving into the camera’s menu, a tripod is essential to ensure that the camera doesn’t move between shots. For the best results when using three images, one should be underexposed by two EVs and the other over-exposed by two EVs.

Over and under exposing by one EV also works, but the range of processing effects is less dramatic. By using more than three pictures you increase the range of possibilities, but always use an odd number of images with the same degree of over and underexposure at either end of the range, for example -3, -2, -1, 0, +1, +2, +3.

Those with a grounding in photography and who own a manually adjustable camera can think in terms of f-stops instead of EVs, or they can adjust shutter speeds.

For example, if a normal exposure requires 1/250th of a second, the equivalent of 1 EV over-exposure is 1/125th of a second and 1 EV under-exposure is 1/500th of a second, while two stops over and under would be 1/60th and 1/1,000th of a second respectively.

Pictures can be saved in any format, and there is no particular advantage to using TIFF over the more usual JPEG, but if using JPEG you should elect to save the picture at the highest possible resolution with the least compression. Indoor and outdoor shots are suitable, as are close-ups or landscapes, but avoid using a flash.

One of the great advantages of HDR manipulation is that it turns every day into a picture-taking day. Even in hazy conditions it is possible to take pictures that will respond to the HDR treatment.