Photomatix Basic 1.2

Photomatix is basically an application for merging and correct photographs.
Publishers offers this program to merge differently exposed photographs of the same theme, for correcting the unique highlights or flat shadows of each of them. The resulting image has all the unitary details but all the differences in lighting and shadows are combined, wich means that they become corrected when blended.

Basically, all the user needs are two different takes of the same theme, exactly the same focus, camera position, etc. but taken at different time of the day (or with different light). The application will take both of them and, after the user arrangements, will merge them to get a unique result without all the shadows and highlights disadvantages. This allows users to save in high cost lighting systems and all the necessary transportation for those.

The application is very useful for working on cloudy days and for reducing image noise. Also is a good tool for creating panoramas, taken the same pictures with different exposures. The output picture will show details on either shadow or highlighted areas.

Another way of working is to merge two overexposed (too much or too little) and merge both of them to get a better image.

The application runs on all Windows versions and Mac OS X.

It includes a Tone Mapping tool that is also available as an independent plug-in for Photoshop CS2 and CS3.