HDR video, How is it done? (not time-lapse)

L

Lowlypawn

Active member
hdr7460808.jpg


Here is some good example of HDR photos (high dynamic range):
http://www.stuckincustoms.com/hdr-video/

I would love to get that look in a video!

Here are some HDR videos I found. anyone know how these video were made?
http://vimeo.com/groups/26039/videos/10686983
http://vimeo.com/groups/emgoescrowdsourcing/videos/10543446
http://vimeo.com/groups/emgoescrowdsourcing/videos/10400511
http://vimeo.com/8956900
http://vimeo.com/5176854

OK I found one technique, uses Photoshop and Topaz labs filter.
http://www.vimeo.com/6257512

Any ideas how to do this on the cheap and/or with Sony Vegas?
 
Probably the same way it's done on photos, probably with the same software after exporting a film strip. You see that super high, obnoxiously ugly noise in the video? That's caused from upping the gain multiple stops to create the different resolution images needed for HDR.
 
smartblur would knock this noise out quite a bit without adversely affecting sharp edges. i experimented a bit with hdr footage, not too happy with the results myself but clients are always blown away.
 
those videos are what HDR was NOT created for IMO....i am guilty of over-doing it when i tried HDR, because i liked the surreal HDR stuff, but it got old, quick. the photo in post 1 of the truck?....that's as far as i would ever want to push it...but remember what HDR stands for. unless you'e going for the "In Living Color title sequence look"
 
Well don’t hold back! How did you guys do it? What programs did you use? What were the settings? What’s the process? Any ideas for a Sony Vegas use?
 
The only way I would know to do it would take forever, and still wouldn't deliver great results.

You'd go frame by frame, pulling the images into photoshop. With each image you would create two additional images, say two stops underexposed and two stops over. Make sure each frame is done to the exact same settings. Then use software like photomatix to batch process everything you've done, combining each set of three exposures into new HDR images. Then pull each of those newly created images into a timeline, or use QuickTime and compile them the way you would a timelapse video. That's it.

Just keep in mind what you're actually working with. These aren't RAW photos, so they're not meant to be manipulated quite that much. Most HDR images are actually done by taking multiple images at different exposures to start with, so they will have more detail in highlights and shadows. But you could probably still do it the way I said.
 
You're missing a step. You don't really have to go frame by frame because you can export a still sequence. I don't know how robust the tone-mapping and HDR programs are, but you could just export the straight video as a still sequence, increase the brightness massively, export again, decrease massively, export again, generate HDR.

I agree, though, that this isn't what HDR should be. It isn't being used to show you more detail in an attractive image. I think those videos look terrible. The technique could be used in a subtle way to look good, but for some reason it doesn't happen very often.
 
It'd be nice if you could just do that in camera, or record three streams at three exposures at once anyway...it'd also be nice if Janard would call me up and gift me a RED 'cause I'm such a nice guy.

Actually you could probably get INCREDIBLE results with this process out of RED footage.

You get a similar effect with regular HD footage by layering a clip with itself and setting the layer to the "Hard Light" composite mode if you're in FCP, Motion or AE I think...I've experimented a LOT with composite modes, mostly in Final Cut.
 
I love the picture above - I think that is great.

The video is ugly - it looks like a very cheap filter that used to be available in an old editing package I had that could make images look "drawn" - I wouldn't expect that the footage is treated frame by frame by the editor - he'd just pull it in apply a filter, tweak some values.
 
It's not really possible to get true HDR video yet.

In order to do it, you need several streams of video shot at different exposures. Simply changing levels/curves/etc. in a NLE won't magically create information that wasn't captured in the first place.

That's why you see a lot of HDR videos that are timelapse. It's because they were shot on still cameras.
 
2 cameras recording different exposures placed perpendicular with a beam splitter (one way mirror) at a 45 degree angle where they intersect.

Like a teleprompter: take this image for example
Teleprompter_schematic.jpg

Except where #3 is, put another camera.

That way 2 cameras can record the same exact image. Shoot at different exposures...and then I guess there's some complicated post production process of combining the two. Anyways, that's how these guys did it: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BlcLW2nrHaM
 
Yeah I saw that video recently. I'm not sold yet. It's a great effect to have in your toolbag but I can't think of many practical applications.

I personally think it makes life look like an FMV sequence from a videogame.
 
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