![]() When you load bracketed images into Aurora HDR, there are a few options to consider before making the merge. Merging multiple images of the same scene at different exposures is how you really expand the dynamic range. ![]() The $99 price tag (for new users) seems a bit steep for yet another piece of software.Image editing can range from very simple – with one-click processing using a preset – to much more in-depth using any combination of the filter controls. My preference is to use the plug-in to keep everything nicely organized in my Lightroom catalog. User experience is good whether using the software as a stand-alone or a plug-in to Lightroom.The ability to use layers is a nice touch to give you more control over image editing.Filters are very responsive, giving instant feedback when the sliders are moved.Icons have hints to let you know what they are for. Although there are so many tools and features, everything is smartly laid out and intuitive to use.These can be a good starting point for editing an image. A number of presets are available and built-in to the software.There are tons of image adjustment tools – called Filters – in Aurora HDR 2018, which can be intimidating at first glance.Most of the editing action takes place with the use of sliders in the right-side panel, similar to the Develop Module in Lightroom.In some ways, it is not unlike Lightroom's Develop Module, minus the organizational panel on the left side. The user interface looks good and has a familiar feel.After spending several hours on both machines, editing new images as well as images from the archives, merging multiple image brackets as well as tone mapping single photos, and using the software as a plugin to Lightroom as well as a stand-alone, here are my first impressions of Aurora HDR 2018: In case you're wondering, Macphun allows the installation of the software on up to 5 devices (both Mac and PC). First Impressionsįor the purposes of this review, I downloaded the 14-day trial version of Aurora HDR 2018 on a newer Windows laptop and my 2011 iMac. The side-by-side before and after comparison is something I found very useful. Compatibility with both Mac and PC is a new feature for the 2018 release, although there is some feature disparity between the two versions as of the writing of this article. Users of Apple's Aperture or Photos can use it as an extension to those programs. It can be utilized as a stand-alone product or as a plug-in for Lightroom and/or Photoshop on Windows and Mac computers. Aurora HDR not only merges bracketed images, but also has a lot of tools and features for editing the final image. It was first introduced in late 2015 and has gone through a number of iterations since that time. To develop the software, Macphun teamed up with well-known HDR photographer Trey Ratcliff. That competition is good for us.Īurora is Macphun's version of HDR photo editing software. With continued improvements and introduction of new photo editing software, Macphun has become a major player in the market and a competitor to Adobe and OnOne. However, the newest iterations of Luminar and Aurora HDR have been developed for both Mac and Windows users. Their wide array of photography apps have traditionally been for Mac users only, and many still are Mac-only. ![]() They have been creating award-winning photography editing and digital image manipulation software for the Mac operating system and iPhone ever since. According to the Macphun website, the company was founded in 2008 by two college friends who decided to leave the game development business to focus on photography applications. Single image, tone mapped in Aurora HDR 2018, with some Photoshop work. Somewhere in The Palouse Region of Washington State. To download the free trial of Aurora HDR, click here. If you are a current Aurora HDR user, then I say it is worth the upgrade. If you regularly use Lightroom or other software to merge bracketed photos, and are either a Mac or PC user, then Aurora HDR 2018 is worth checking out. It boasts a wide array of tools and features an intuitive user interface that looks great and is fun to use and a workflow that can be used efficiently and effectively to create amazing and realistic HDR images. In short, Aurora HDR (2018 version) is one of the most powerful HDR editors on the market today. How does Aurora HDR stack up? Could it be the key to unlock the potential of your images? Read on to find out. It's even better that the options are more powerful, provide better results, and are easier to use with each iteration. It's nice to have so many options for the post-processing toolbox. Aurora HDR – by software company Macphun – is one of the newer kids on the block to offer HDR editing software. ![]() With all the incredible tools available to photographers, it has become easier than ever to create stunning HDR images. ![]()
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