Photoshop

Adjust dynamic range view for HDR images

The dynamic range of HDR images exceeds the display capabilities of standard computer monitors. When you open an HDR image in Photoshop, it can look very dark or washed out. Photoshop lets you adjust the preview so that the monitor displays an HDR image whose highlights and shadows aren’t washed out or too dark. The preview settings are stored in the HDR image file (PSD, PSB, and TIFF only) and are applied whenever the file is opened in Photoshop. Preview adjustments don’t edit the HDR image file, all the HDR image information remains intact. Use the Exposure adjustment (Image > Adjustments > Exposure) to make exposure edits to the 32‑bpc HDR image.

To view 32‑bit readouts in the Info palette, click the Eyedropper icon in the Info palette and choose 32‑Bit from the pop‑up menu.
  1. Open a 32‑bpc HDR image in Photoshop, and choose View > 32‑Bit Preview Options.
  2. In the 32‑bit Preview Options dialog box, choose an option from the Method menu:
    Exposure And Gamma
    Adjusts the brightness and contrast.

    Highlight Compression
    Compresses the highlight values in the HDR image so they fall within the luminance values range of the 8‑ or 16‑bpc image file.

  3. If you chose Exposure And Gamma, move the Exposure and Gamma sliders to adjust the brightness and contrast of the image preview.
  4. Click OK.
    You can also adjust the preview of an HDR image open in Photoshop by clicking the triangle in the status bar of the document window and choosing 32‑Bit Exposure from the pop‑up menu. Move the slider to set the white point for viewing the HDR image. Double-click the slider to return to the default exposure setting. Since the adjustment is made per view, you can have the same HDR image open in multiple windows, each with a different preview adjustment. Preview adjustments made with this method are not stored in the HDR image file.