We have an HDR crusade!
Hi folks. If you haven’t read the post below and you’re into HDR photography then make sure you check it out. Now, I’ve known about the plug-in for a couple of weeks, but blog reader Larry Lohrman pointed me to a post on the Photography for Real Estate website. In a nutshell, he wrote Photomatix to ask that the exported image be re-imported back into Lightroom (kinda like Photoshop does automatically when you save). Now, HDRsoft did respond (which is great) but their Lightroom correspondent felt:
“they do not like to have their processed image in the same location as their RAW file, and do not think this is a good thing. They systematically separate both, and thus prefer the ability (as implemented in Photomatix Pro 3.1beta with the option on the Save dialog) to import the final processed image in Lightroom the way they want”.
I don’t know about you but I don’t want to “systematically” have to do anything. I want the software to do it for me. It just makes sense that if we went somewhere from within Lightroom, we want to be right back there automatically when we’re done. It’s the only way to make using plug-ins with Lightroom feel seamless. I think we do indeed want the images back in our catalog so we can manage the processed HDRs with the rest of them (isn’t that why we use Lightroom). I know, I can do this with a checkbox (in Photomatix 3.1 beta) but then it opens the Import dialog and it doesn’t automatically save my image in the right folder, and well, the whole process felt clunky to me.
So here’s what I propose. A crusade if you will, to let the folks at HDRsoft know what we want. I’ve actually talked to them and they’re very nice people with a great product. I think they just need to hear from you that this is the way you want it. Now you could always go to their website and send an email but I’ll make it one step easier. Leave a comment here telling how you feel about the need to automatically re-import the HDR processed image. If there’s enough demand, then early next week, I’ll copy all the comments into an email and send it their way to let them know how we feel. Sound like a deal? Thanks!
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on October 9th, 2008 at 10:08 am
Makes sense to me, Come on HDRSoft - let’s do it! At least make it an option.
on October 9th, 2008 at 10:14 am
Matt, I use their product and agree with you.
on October 9th, 2008 at 10:16 am
I totally agree - it’s a real shame photomatix isn’t more integrated with LR - a plugin would be great.
on October 9th, 2008 at 10:20 am
I’m in. It would be marvelous to see Photomatix well integrated within Lightroom. Actually, when I tried the plugin for the first time, I expected it to exactly do this, so I was left a little disappointed. Oh, and I’m still on LR1. So please, no LR2-only solution…
on October 9th, 2008 at 10:21 am
I have been using Photomatix Pro ever since you introduced it to us and it has been great. Change my whole way of looking at processing images.
One big complaint I have is exactly as you have described. I want it to be part of my Lightroom workflow and I would like it to be transparent.
I can select images within LR 2.0 and then work my way transparently to Photomatix Pro. But the return trip is a pain in the ……
…… Find folder, synchronize folder, make sure keywording etc is correct for present image….once in LR find image again to group with tifs and original RAW images.
I know the guys at HDRsoft must be able to make this better.
Thanks
on October 9th, 2008 at 10:23 am
I agree completely. The benefit of working in Lightroom is the efficient workflow. Having the final image in the catalog is a must. The extra steps required are a bummer.
on October 9th, 2008 at 10:29 am
I use both programs and would find this a great addition1
on October 9th, 2008 at 10:48 am
Totally agree, it is currently the reason why I do not use DxO as much as would want to (they have a clunky way of exporting/importing too).
on October 9th, 2008 at 10:51 am
Are there any other external imaging programs that will process an image and re-insert it back into your Lightroom catalog except Photoshop? I think it would be fantastic to have this option and frankly I find it annoying that Photomatix always wants to insert the HDR files into a new folder. Having a check box is only saving me one mouse click for importing back into Lightroom. I agree with Matt that it would just be better to click File/Save and have it roll right back into the catalog from which it originated. I am not sure of the rational that HDRSoft is using when the say that it’s a bad idea to have RAW files and processed images in the same folder. This is how I store all of my processed HDRs and have never had an issue.
Jeff
on October 9th, 2008 at 11:01 am
I totally agree with you, Matt. I would definitely like to see the Photomatix plug-in work the way you describe. Count me in on the “Crusade!”
on October 9th, 2008 at 11:17 am
HECK YES, we need to be able to get back into LR with our corrected image. I ask, why create the plugin to take us out of LR to work on our image and then us on the street corner? We work almost COMPLETELY in LR, so take us back home, Dorothy!
on October 9th, 2008 at 11:24 am
I’m with you on this Matt. As a user of both Lightroom and Photomax Pro it would be more than nice to have an effortless workflow. Come on you guys at Photomatix how about a few more tweaks to an otherwise excellent application? Thanks.
on October 9th, 2008 at 11:32 am
I’m in as well, seamless integration is definitely the way to go!
on October 9th, 2008 at 11:36 am
Matt, Add my name to your list. I totally agree! It will probably have a different extension (tiff) then the file you started with anyway, but it should end up in the same subdirectory.
on October 9th, 2008 at 11:56 am
Yup - I’m with you Matt on this one. The less I have to click, and the less I have to think about things sits well with me. This non-return-to-Lightroom behaviour reduces Photomatix from being a plug-in to a bolt-on. Isn’t a plug-in surrounded by the thing it plugs into? Whereas a bolt-on sits on the side?
on October 9th, 2008 at 12:04 pm
Round-trip is a natural action. I can’t imagine anyone using Lightroom 2 to feed Photomatix not wanting that result right back where they started from.
on October 9th, 2008 at 12:18 pm
Maybe it’s just me (and the lack of a suitable amount of coffee this AM), but I don’t understand the problem. I’ve been using the latest beta of Photomatix and the plugin for the last few weeks, with no problems for my workflow.
I use the Plug-ins Extras approach with the Photomatix plugin and, once I’m finished processing the tone-mapped image in Photomatix to my satisfaction, I use the Save As… option and store the finished file where I choose. In my case, the tone-mapped image is NOT stored in the same folder as the raw files. (It could be, but that’s not what I want.) Then after the save is completed, Photomatix pops me back to an import file window in Lightroom.
This suits my purposes. What else are you suggesting?
on October 9th, 2008 at 12:21 pm
Have you guys ever heard of Essential HDR? It’s much better than Photomatix in producing more realistic results and much easier to create good looking HDR photos.
on October 9th, 2008 at 12:36 pm
Another request for putting the image back with the original.
Where. It. Belongs.
on October 9th, 2008 at 12:40 pm
Hi Matt -
I use Photomatix and would love to see a seamless integration back into Lightroom. Couldn’t agree with you more! “Clunky” just doesn’t quite cut it. Thanks for an organized place to voice this opinion.
on October 9th, 2008 at 12:45 pm
Yes, yes, yes!!! Any plug in I use for LR should bring my image right back to where I was! If for some reason I want to save it outside of LR, I will use the “Save As….” feature and do so.
on October 9th, 2008 at 12:52 pm
I have been holding off buying Photomatix, waiting until they resolve this problem. Once it’s resolved I will be the first to purchase it!
on October 9th, 2008 at 12:54 pm
Hi Mat,
I agree!
I think that ALL Lightroom plugins should work the same way Photoshop works when it comes to reimporting images we worked on!
At the same time, it will be really nice if Adobe put a button on top of the menu and each time we install a plugin it will be there with one click. Kind of like the filters menu in Photoshop.
Motti
on October 9th, 2008 at 1:04 pm
OK, OK, I’ve had more coffee, and read everyone’s posts. I finally get it. Most (all?) of you want the tonemapped image from Photomatix to automatically get transferred to Lightroom without having to use Save As… or the Import file dialog.
I can see one reason why (besides the convenience) — because of Lightroom’s pecular requirement that all images in a stack HAVE TO BE in the same folder (a restriction I dislike), putting the tone-mapped image in the same place as the raw files means you can create a stack. If — as I do — you store the tone-mapped image in a different location, stacking isn’t possible. (And one last time: I really, really wish Adobe would remove the restriction that stacks can only be made of images that reside in the same folder!!!!)
on October 9th, 2008 at 1:21 pm
I agree. Seamless integration is a great way to go. Photomatix has added a whole new level of fun to my work and it seems only natural to blend to great products in this way. Bring it on!
on October 9th, 2008 at 1:22 pm
…count me in as an hdr-crusader…
on October 9th, 2008 at 1:34 pm
I couldn’t agree more. All plug-ins should work seamlessly. Please dear HDRsoft, please reconsider our suggestion
on October 9th, 2008 at 1:41 pm
Surely the best thing is for there to be an option so that those who want images returned get that behaviour and for those of us who want to keep originals and derivatives in separate folders can do so.
I am keen on the ‘bucket’ philosophy propounded by Peter Krogh (of DAM fame) and would always look to keeping derivatives in a separate location. However, I do appreciate that other people might not want to do this, so let’s have a choice.
Anthony.
on October 9th, 2008 at 1:49 pm
It’s a no-brainer, make re-importing it automatically an option!! Please!!
on October 9th, 2008 at 1:53 pm
Matt- I couldn’t agree more. PM Pro 3.x should allow saving right back to your LR2.0 folder where the NEFs or CR2s were sent from. If you ’send to’ PTLens this is what happens. If you “Open with LR adjustments in PSCS3″ and then ‘SAVE’ this is what happens. Having to re-synchronize each time is a pain.
on October 9th, 2008 at 1:55 pm
Hi Matt!
I use both Lightroom and Photomatix Pro. I would LOVE to see the images back in the same folder for Lightroom to see quickly. It would help speed up the workflow that I currently use without all of the extra steps. Thanks for the helping to move things in that direction!
Larry
on October 9th, 2008 at 1:55 pm
I’m in too! That sounds like a fantastic idea. Please do it!
on October 9th, 2008 at 1:56 pm
Completely agree, I’ve used photomatix trial, but haven’t purchased exactly for these reasons - make it work seamlessly with LR 2.0 (and that means getting the image back into LR when I’m done with the HDR) and I will buy the product!
on October 9th, 2008 at 2:00 pm
Hi Matt,
I totally agree with you and already wrote a mail to photomatix support.
on October 9th, 2008 at 2:05 pm
Sign me up for a put the image back where it belongs!
on October 9th, 2008 at 2:15 pm
This is a great product and re-import to lightroom would be great for workflow!
on October 9th, 2008 at 2:16 pm
Matt,
I’d be happy to join your HDR crusade. I’m a current Photomatix customer and I would love to have a Lightroom plugin which works seemlessly by putting the new image in the catalog in the same folder which contained the source images. If they want to have an option to put it elsewhere, that’s fine, but I want to be able to configure a seamless way to go from Lightroom, to Photomatix and back to Lightroom without extra dialogs, and I want to see my new image in the catalog, not go through some extra import process.
Thanks!
on October 9th, 2008 at 2:19 pm
I agree with Matt. It seems silly to not make it a seamless experience.
on October 9th, 2008 at 2:36 pm
Definitely needs to be able to put the finished HDR back into the same place as the originals came from and to import back into Lightroom. I mean, why create a plug-in to integrate with LR in the first place? Because we want it integrated with our LR workflow of course. Whilst the current plug-in is good, its missing that final bit of polish that will make it great.
on October 9th, 2008 at 2:38 pm
I don’t love crusades, but I totally agree. Thanks Matt for your effort!
on October 9th, 2008 at 2:40 pm
I applaud the the export to lightroom function. i haven’t tried it yet but I’m dieing to get home and give it a spin. Please HDRSoft, make it easy to automatically send the files back to Lightroom. The less steps in the process the better. Thanks for a wonderful product!!!
Travis
http://www.owney.smugmug.com
on October 9th, 2008 at 2:41 pm
Agree with Matt completely. At least give us a choice on the behaviour and to make it seamless so if we want the image back in the catalogue and the placed in the source files directory it does that with no fuss.
Thanks for listening, Mark
on October 9th, 2008 at 2:47 pm
Hi Matt,
I disagree. You may want to put all your files in LR’s catalog, but I find it works better for me to keep my catalog files (all Raw captures) separate from working files (.psds for print, typically).
The Photomatix plug-in is a great workflow enhancer, but I want to keep the resulting tiff separate from my LR catalog. So I would suggest any feature to automatically import back into LR be a user-controlled OPTION, only.
Regards,
John
on October 9th, 2008 at 2:49 pm
I’m just now exploring HDR photograph and have 3.0/3.1. One of the things I don’t like about the workflow is having to go back and manually reimport all of my photos.
on October 9th, 2008 at 2:55 pm
Hey folks,
I wanted to chime in on one more point after reading some comments. I TOTALLY agree that this should be a user option in the software. Let me turn it on or off. Or better yet, give me a checkbox in the save dialog so I can decide on the fly what I want.
Me personally, LR frees me from worrying about file types (RAW, JPEG, TIFF, PSD). In the end, I don’t use folders I use collections. So when mark a file as a keeper it gets put into a collection for that photo shoot. I edit in Photoshop (or where ever), then come back to LR and move it into that collection. Why? Because my collection is where I print from. It’s where I create my website from. It’s where I create a slideshow from. It’s my one-stop-shop to go to get my favorite photos from a specific shoot. That’s why I don’t care about mixing RAW and TIFFs together. I never even look at the name of the file. If it’s a keeper, I want it in Lightroom so I can take advantage of all of the output options LR has.
Again, I’m hoping we get an option to make this happen. If you’re on the other side of the fence I can see how this would drive you bonkers, and you’d definitely want to turn it off.
Thanks for contributing!
Matt K
on October 9th, 2008 at 2:58 pm
I agree. This should be a user selectable option. If I ouput files to another application to edit them, when I’m done, I want the finished product to appear as another file in lgihtroom.
on October 9th, 2008 at 3:03 pm
The only reason I’ve not got too deep into HDR photography is the lack of seamless plugin in Lightroom. So, I do agree; Photomatix could be the answer if it really were seamless.
However, if this way is not wanted by all, it could be an option in the settings.
on October 9th, 2008 at 3:14 pm
I’ve been looking at purchasing Photomatix for well over a year now (my brother RAVES about it), and I can honestly say that one of the reasons that I have been timid to drop the money for it is because of this very issue. Lightroom has completely revolutionized my workflow, and though I really want to get into creating HDRs (in fact, I’ve got a number of images that have sat dormant because I want to create HDR photos from them eventually), I don’t want to add steps into that workflow, only to have to stop several months later and completely change that structure all over again. I want to get it right the first time…
So, HDRsoft: If you make these necessary changes, I will buy your product!!!
on October 9th, 2008 at 3:22 pm
I’m about to purchase Photomatix for some vacation photos I took. Having it re-import the merged file back into Lightroom would save me TONS of time. It’s definitely a feature I want. If they have a different way of doing things, make it a configurable option somehow.
on October 9th, 2008 at 3:27 pm
I may actually buy photomatix if they can get this to work the best way possible.
on October 9th, 2008 at 3:39 pm
Definitely agree and hey how about a GPS plug-in for LR while we are at it !!!
on October 9th, 2008 at 3:43 pm
I agree with you, Matt. I’d like to see the HDR image back in the LR catalog automatically.
on October 9th, 2008 at 3:54 pm
Chalk up another request to send the finished HDR image back to Lightroom! We use it as a workflow management tool, so NOT having this ability makes me wonder why they even bothered making a Lightroom plug-in in the first place… wonder why they thought we’d use it without that?
Thanks so much for leading the charge on this Matt!
Tom
on October 9th, 2008 at 3:55 pm
Time is the one thing we can’t get back, and having to click this, check that, and futz all takes time. I’d rather have it 1 click to send it to Photomatix, work on it, and then exit and have it sitting right where I’m working in LR.
on October 9th, 2008 at 4:01 pm
It only makes sense that HDRSoft return you to Lightroom and place the image in your catalogue. Lightroom provides you with the ability to manage your image as input from the camera to output on paper. HDRSoft has to be plugin in that workflow and not be a separate branch. The process is corrupted if you now have to take your output from HDRSoft and do something differently with it to make it a print.
on October 9th, 2008 at 4:21 pm
I fully agree. I need another standalone program like a hole in the head. So, I have resisted spending money and use the “freebie” HDR processing options. If Photomatix integrates fully with Lightroom then they will have a convert and I’ll willingly shell out for thier program.
on October 9th, 2008 at 4:21 pm
I totally agree with you Matt. The extra step to import it back into Lightroom can take a long time if there are a lot of images in the folder. At the very least, it should be available as an option. The everyone can be happy.
on October 9th, 2008 at 4:22 pm
I fully support the initiative to include the Photomatix HDR creation into the Lightroom workflow in an automatic manner. For years now, I’m using Photomatix as the tool to create HDR images. A seemless integration with Lightroom would help me so much and would save a lot of time.
Thanks in advance HDRsoft,
Rudy
on October 9th, 2008 at 4:56 pm
Matt, I am a firm believer in a seamless plug-in process. I have too many other things on my mind and prefer to have the app take me back “home” to LR with my processed image.
on October 9th, 2008 at 4:58 pm
Add me to the list of people that want Photomatix to automatically re-import the HDR processed image back into Lightroom. That should be one of the requirements for creating a Lightroom plug-in.
on October 9th, 2008 at 5:06 pm
Count me in. Seamless integration like this is what we need. It needs to be like we never left Lightroom but we all know we did!
on October 9th, 2008 at 5:15 pm
Matt,
I agree completely. MAKE IT SEAMLESS. JUST LIKE PHOTOSHOP. We’re photographers not software developers. Keep it simple and we’ll use it. Make it complicated and we’ll use something else. Plain and simple. Dollars and Sense!
Jeff
on October 9th, 2008 at 5:18 pm
Count me in as well. It would be great if they could implement it the way you described.
on October 9th, 2008 at 5:46 pm
I agree with what everyone else is saying, make it seamless and we will use it more often, keep it like it is and someone else will make theirs seamless and we will use that instead. The simpler the better.
on October 9th, 2008 at 6:06 pm
I strongly agree!!! Lightroom has streamlined my workflow alot and anything that disrupts it, such as not having photomatix import back to LR would just be a pain. I LOVE photomatix and it would be great to have a seamless LR plugin. I like to stay in LR as much as possible, and if its too much of a pain to go out of LR and back in again i may just cut photomatix out of the workflow. i often think to myself, i wonder if i can make a good HDR out of these shots, if i cant quickly switch to photomatix to experiment, i may just stop trying. processing images can take a long time and seamless integration into the workflow is KEY. great product!
on October 9th, 2008 at 6:08 pm
I use both products and am in total agreement with you Scott.
on October 9th, 2008 at 6:16 pm
I love Photomatix, but it is a pain to get the processed image back into my Lightroom Catalog. Please HDRsoft, fix it!
Woody
on October 9th, 2008 at 6:19 pm
Count me in… I’d love for it to automatically reimport to lightroom… thanks!
on October 9th, 2008 at 6:35 pm
Auto back into Lightroom please! Software is supposed to do the work, even the workflow work!
This can only make Photomatix even more attractive and stay ahead of the competition as more photographers use lightroom and not bridge in their regular workflow!
on October 9th, 2008 at 6:39 pm
I agree with Matt that the re-import should be automated. If there is a technical problem why leave it to the user to screw up two (LR and HDRSoft) good softwares.
on October 9th, 2008 at 6:50 pm
I am an HDR enthusiast and I agree with Matt on the re import issue. It would certainly (in my humble estimate) make Photomatix even better then it is already.
on October 9th, 2008 at 6:51 pm
This is a must. If you change the behavior of the plug-in so that it automatically gets re-imported upon completion, you just sold another license. I’ve demoed Photomatix Pro before and it’s great but, I didn’t buy because I was waiting for some type of integration with LR. Please correct this.
on October 9th, 2008 at 6:56 pm
I use HDRSoft and like it. LR2, however, is my lifeline. Complete integration of HDRSoft with LR2, similar to CS3-LR2, would really streamline the workflow. What are you guys waiting for?
on October 9th, 2008 at 6:58 pm
hmm can’t you just have lr autoimport it back in? monitor your photomatrix output folder
on October 9th, 2008 at 7:08 pm
Great product Photomatix Pro, it will be even GREATER if seamless integration is included…
on October 9th, 2008 at 7:47 pm
This integration is something that definitely needs to happen.
on October 9th, 2008 at 7:55 pm
Love both LR and Photomatrix so it would just make sense for the file to nicely show back up in LR…just like with PS.
on October 9th, 2008 at 8:02 pm
Hey Matt (and fellow Matt K. blog followers),
I would love to have Photomatix send it back to Lightroom to make the workflow actually flow better! I have been a faithful user of this program for a while now and love it. Feel free to check out my images (if you have a free moment) at:
http://www.mdsimages.com
check out the blog link for more current work
Keep up the great work Matt!
Michael S.
on October 9th, 2008 at 8:11 pm
Great suggestion. This feature will make Photomatix “almost perfect”. Let’s do it!
on October 9th, 2008 at 9:12 pm
Indeed! Any export to a plug-in is minus a primary feature if it doesn’t work with LightRoom for an auto import back into the catalog.
on October 9th, 2008 at 9:54 pm
The announcement of this plugin is something I’ve been hoping for for some time. I don’t have Photomatix but I do have HUNDREDS of bracketed shots sitting in Lightroom, waiting to be processed. I’ll make a deal with HDRsoft: make the round trip from LR to PM to LR seamless and you’ll have new customer!
on October 9th, 2008 at 10:21 pm
I’m with Matt. Start in Lightroom end in Lightroom. RAW and process files should be automatically stacked in a group.
on October 9th, 2008 at 10:25 pm
Yes, I would like to have the roundtrip be seamless and have the finished hdr file put back in the same folder as the originals used to make it.
on October 9th, 2008 at 10:27 pm
I couldn’t agree more. I hope that HDRsoft will address this problem quickly.
on October 9th, 2008 at 10:53 pm
I always end up doing additional processing to my images once they come out of photomatix tonemapped. These images need to be reimported into Lightroom - it only makes sense!
on October 9th, 2008 at 11:37 pm
Ditto-I’m all for it.
on October 10th, 2008 at 12:01 am
I, too, would really like a seamless roundtrip.
on October 10th, 2008 at 12:34 am
Any plugin used to process a group if images should
1. automatically process all of the images from with a selected stack
2. save the resultant image in the same folder as the images
3. reimport the resultant image into Lightroom (and delete any temporary files such as TIFF’s sent to the export plugin)
4. add the resultant image to the top of the original stack.
Furthermore, if I select multiple stacks then it should process each stack in sequence…
on October 10th, 2008 at 12:57 am
Couldn’t agree more Matt. Open the application from lightroom for editing edit image, save and close and back to the edited image where I left from in Lightroom. If I want to move after that I will, but normally I don’t.
on October 10th, 2008 at 1:38 am
Seamless round-tripping is the way to go. Please make it happen, HDRsoft.
on October 10th, 2008 at 1:40 am
Here’s a challenge, integrate it more fully, make it a module within Lightroom… Or isn’t Lightroom quite that friendly yet? Regardless, seemless round trip would make the experience a lot more wholesome.
on October 10th, 2008 at 2:52 am
New to Photomatix but an old hand at LR. It would definitely make life easier even if it is an option.
on October 10th, 2008 at 3:08 am
The function to automaticly import the photos into lightroom should definitely be an option. If some people don’t like at least make it optional so all the people that want to use can.
on October 10th, 2008 at 4:34 am
I agree, the function to automatically import the photos into Lightroom should definitely be an option. I use the Photoshop plug-in for tone mapping today (I merge the pictures to HDR from Lightroom 2.0 into Photoshop and then tone mapping it with the Photomatix plug-in and then save it back to Lightroom) but if this will be implemented I will buy the Pro version for sure. That will make the different to speed up my workflow and keep me organised.
Question: Will it be possible to batchprocess HDR-images from Lightroom???
on October 10th, 2008 at 4:39 am
Agree’d
on October 10th, 2008 at 5:23 am
yep, fully agree with above. so pls make it possible.
on October 10th, 2008 at 5:52 am
Yep, way to go!
Also, make sure that the relevant meta-data make it through to the hdr file. In particular, setting the date fields to, say, the date of the first image from the hdr set will lead to the hdr listed next to the individual image in the default LR view (sorted by data).
PS CS3 HDR tool does *not* do that, and it’s kind of a pain (workaround: sort by file name, but that’s not always convenient).
on October 10th, 2008 at 6:12 am
I bought Photomatix, but use it much less and do less bracketed photography than I would were it fully integrated to Lightroom. LR is the universe I live in for photography, so having to get a visa for some parallel universe of clunky file handling makes no sense to me.
on October 10th, 2008 at 6:16 am
I totally agree.
I purchased Photomatix, but started to use enfuse (with the LR/Enfuse plugin), because the integration with Lightroom is so much better.
I still prefer photomatix, but don’t want to have to re-import the results of my HDR processings one by one.
S’il vous plait HDRSoft, un petit effort!
Merci!
on October 10th, 2008 at 7:29 am
If you believe as I do that the value of Lightroom is the entirety of the digital processing experience, leaving the program is disruptive, to re-import is counter intuitive. Optimally, you should never leave the Lightroom interface while using the Photomatix engine.
Exporting and re-importing is a high hurdle that undermines the value of Lightroom, the consolidation of varied workflows that process images through a variety of programs to develop, print, catalog and archive.
on October 10th, 2008 at 7:49 am
I totally disagree. Lightroom already “systematically” puts any PSD files (for example) you generate into the same folder as the RAW files. This is the single most ANNOYING “feature” (meaning bug) of Lightroom. If you could select where to put it, now that would be an improvement. You need to be talking to Adobe, not HDRSoft.
on October 10th, 2008 at 8:07 am
Don’t need to add anything to your argument!
Yes. We need the ability to reimport the photos automatically!
on October 10th, 2008 at 8:23 am
Matt,
I am with the group. Let’s see the HDR go right back to it’s origin folder.
Brian
on October 10th, 2008 at 8:57 am
I’m with everyone here, it makes absolutely no sense to send a photo to Photomatix and not appear back in lightroom after you finished processing.
on October 10th, 2008 at 8:59 am
Count me in! We have a staff of 4 so do I count as 4?
on October 10th, 2008 at 9:27 am
Please put the HDR back in the orginal folder. It only adds time to my workflow to have to do this manually. It should be the default.
on October 10th, 2008 at 9:33 am
Minutes before I read your post, I was once again working with Photomatix/Lightroom and wondering why it has to be so cumbersome. I’m for a seamless reimport option. Thanks, Matt, for taking this on…
on October 10th, 2008 at 9:35 am
The beauty of Lightroom is the seamless workflow. It is therefore far preferable that a Plug In mirrors that in its functionality. Go on guys get those files back into LR where they belong.
on October 10th, 2008 at 10:35 am
It shouldn’t feel as though I ever actually left lightroom (otherwise I’d use a stand alone application and manually save and import the edited photo!). The use of a plugin needs to be seamless and the way Photomatix is currently implementing their plugin, it isn’t. Common Photomatix, listen to Matt, and the rest of us - we are the photographers that work with the software everyday.
on October 10th, 2008 at 10:43 am
Dear HDRSoft manager,
I’m sure you realized the popularity of Lightroom and the adoption level achieved among photographers (Pro and non-pro).
Receiving feedbacks on the functionality your product should have to make the workflow of the photographers more efficient should be considered as GOLD as the success you may achieve in considering them.
Thanks
on October 10th, 2008 at 12:47 pm
I just get photomatix a couple of days ago, and really like it. And it will be perfect to add that feature. Fast and simple.
on October 10th, 2008 at 1:19 pm
Matt
I totally agree with you! I want to have a check box and I want to put all my files in the same location as I do now manually. I prefer to stack them to ease my work flow and find things later. I love PhotoMatix and I have used it for over a year now. Blows the others away. Please add my voice to the list of people that want the option!
on October 10th, 2008 at 2:57 pm
I concur completely. The whole idea for me is a plug-in that takes me back to where I was working before. I use Lightroom for everything so want my HDR image back in Lightroom please in the same folder.
Thanks Photomatix - I love your software but the addition of the above will make your product so much better.
on October 10th, 2008 at 2:58 pm
I use Photomatix and Lightroom and one of my biggest frustrations is not having a smooth workflow. (I’m also a little frustrated about losing my meta-data, particularly my capture time. If the software could apply the capture time of the first or last image in the series, that would really help so that when the file is re-imported that it shows up in the right location. ) I would certainly like to have the file be automatically saved with the RAW files and then re-imported to Lightroom. I certainly don’t want them separated since I then have to manually go in and move them. My RAW file folders are the folders I work with and backup. I highly support Mat’s suggestion. Please help us keep a simple workflow for working with hdr images.
on October 10th, 2008 at 2:59 pm
Great product HDRSoft but can you add the feature to Photomatix Pro to put the file back into Lightroom pretty please?
on October 10th, 2008 at 3:15 pm
Photomatrrix Pro is a great piece of software; however as it is presently working as a plugin with Lightroom slows down my workflow and at times is frustrating when you are on deadline. Come on guys, let’s make it seemless with Lightroom, we still know it is you that is helping us get the job done.
on October 10th, 2008 at 3:53 pm
Photomatix is a great HDR tool. I use Lightroom for my whole workflow and love the files edited in Photoshop floating back seamlessly. Please, HDRSoft, add this feature to your plugin too! It’d make the workflow a lot easier.
on October 10th, 2008 at 4:36 pm
I love Photomatix and purchased v3.0 on the recommendation of Matt K. It is everything I had hoped for. Please consider making it easier to use with my favorite photoapp, Lightroom by allowing me to go back to lightroom following my HDR processing. Thanks
on October 10th, 2008 at 4:43 pm
Just bought Photomatix, would be excellent if HDR Soft could seamlessly integrate Photomatix with Lightroom, with Lightroom there really is no need anymore to organise raw files and derivatives into seperate folders
on October 10th, 2008 at 6:39 pm
Yes I would love it. There is no other way. Please let them know I would like to have my photos come back into LR. That’s the only way it should be. Thank you very much.
on October 10th, 2008 at 8:03 pm
Complete round-trip integration is not only an act of benevolence, but a real time saver. And any product that is a time saver gets used more often. HDR Soft and LR were made for each other. Let’s arrange the marriage before Valentine’s Day.
on October 10th, 2008 at 8:09 pm
Dear Photomatix,
Providing the ability to save back to the lightroom folder from which the source images came is absolutely nessasary, as a preference in my opinion. Therefore from my perspective I would like the ability to turn on a photomatix / plugin preference which give the ability to automatically save to the source location, or ( when the specific preference is turned off ) to not automatically save and maintain the same behavior as 3.1 beta.
Regards
on October 10th, 2008 at 8:19 pm
Round-trip integration makes a perfect sense to me.
on October 10th, 2008 at 8:32 pm
I use both programs and would find this a great addition to my almost exclusive HDR Photograhy.
on October 10th, 2008 at 8:35 pm
I have an extremely large collection of photos that I’ve shot for the past 30 years. I’ve digitized many of the transparencies and frames of film. I catalog and maintain everything thru Lightroom. I enjoy using Photomatix and would like to continue to use it and recommend it to my students and friends. But just like to Roman Empire, all good things come to an end. Some sooner rather than later. If working with Photmatix complicates my procedures and makes for a cumbersome workflow, maybe it’s time to move on to another software product that is more responsive to the needs of its customers.
on October 11th, 2008 at 12:03 am
I just wanted to express my support for this proposal. Without derivative files being written to the same directory, and the files automatically being made available in the same catalog, this would be extremely disruptive to my workflow.
on October 11th, 2008 at 12:33 am
Hey Matt,
I’d just like the option to say “yes” or “no”. I don’t like auto stuff that just puts your photo somewhere, and you can’t find it when your done. I’d like to see an option to save where I want it, not where they think I want it. I need to be in control.
Thanks
Dennis
on October 11th, 2008 at 1:58 am
Hey,
I have had Photomatix for a while, but today (nicely timed with this post) was the first time that I used it seriously for a client. It was my first time doing any form of architectural shoot, and I’m sure glad I decided to use bracketing and a tripod.
I agree: my workflow could definitely use this enhancement to the plugin. It would definitely speed things up, and help me deal with the clutter that I always accumulate.
Thanks
Josh B
on October 11th, 2008 at 5:52 am
Hi Matt,
i totally agree. I always store the HDR files in the same location as the raw files.
I think that this is the way Lightroom users uses Lightroom. And that should be the way Lightroom plug-ins support Lightroom users.
Hope they will help us to speed up our HDR process.
Then this would be the best HDR application for LR users!
Thanks
Marcus
on October 11th, 2008 at 5:59 am
I would love to have the option to save my HDR photos from Photomatix directly back to Lightroom. It would certainly be a time saver.
on October 11th, 2008 at 6:32 am
absolutely…
i find it necessary to keep my processed edits along with the original RAWs… lightroom is good like that. i’m not fond of hdr, but if i were i definitely wouldn’t consider a plug-in that wasn’t fully integrated as you suggest it should be.
on October 11th, 2008 at 8:09 am
I couldn’t agree with you more Matt. Part of the reason I use Lightroom is because it simplifies my work flow. To now be told that I have to add another step to my work flow to me defeats the purpose.
To me the HDR processed file is still a source file and may be modified further before the final output. Therefore it should be stored with the rest of my source files.
on October 11th, 2008 at 9:09 am
I agree completely. I use lightroom to manage and process my photographs. For me to use a plugin it need to operation in the same manner as photoshop. I can’t have one workflow for photoshop and another for HDR.
on October 11th, 2008 at 10:20 am
You are correct, this is the way to go.
I found myself writing different scripts and tools to fill that capability where it is missing, however i would like to see this available out of the box.
on October 11th, 2008 at 10:48 am
Matt,
Just started using Photomatix and love it. I try to stay out of Photoshop as much as possible and do ninety-five per cent of my work in Lightroom. For those of us with this workflow process, it only stands to reason that we would want to automatically export from Photomatix back to Lightroom. Thanks for taking the lead on this.
on October 11th, 2008 at 11:41 am
Hi Matt,
Great initiative. I own both products and I really like to have Photomatix integrated into LR seamlessly.
Joop
on October 11th, 2008 at 12:00 pm
Matt, I’m with you on this one. I always stack my raw and processed images in LR as part of my standard workflow… with Photoshop images the workflow is fairly seamless. I’m using the Photomatix photoshop plug-in to get close the the workflow I want, but I’m holding off on Photomatix Pro until I can get an equivalent workflow.
on October 11th, 2008 at 12:29 pm
I agree that we need real two way integration.
I would also like the option to be able to select what merge technique I use. I generally use the batch process to create the HDR and then pick the one that I like best. With this plugin, I cannot select the batch option.
on October 11th, 2008 at 12:43 pm
Matt,
Another vote from me on this issue. Plug ins need to take the image perform the relevant operation(s) and plonk the new version right back into Lightroom as seamless as possible.
Chris
on October 11th, 2008 at 3:04 pm
I agree that the final processed image should be returned to Lightroom.
on October 11th, 2008 at 3:29 pm
I’m in. They can make it an option, but should not force their opinion on file locations on us.
on October 11th, 2008 at 3:59 pm
Yes, yes! It would be great to see Photomatix well integrated within Lightroom.
on October 11th, 2008 at 5:42 pm
I actually use my photomatix less because it doesn’t auto save back into lightroom. Please allow us to do so!
on October 11th, 2008 at 8:06 pm
This is a no-brainer… I completely agree that it would be much more seamless to have the image returned to the LR catalog when you’re done.
on October 12th, 2008 at 12:29 am
Fully agree. I don’t see why this is even a discussion, feels like a no brainer to me.
on October 12th, 2008 at 7:50 am
Gotta agree.
Export Plugins now have an Add to Catalog function (not in older versions of Lightroom though), so it’s not a difficult task really.
on October 12th, 2008 at 8:54 am
Lightroom 2 is such a smooth piece of pleasure…
I’m about to spend 2 weeks in the 4 Corners shooting HDR panos of ancient Anasazi ruins. That will mean hundreds of images and many sets of keepers.
Any extra time spent on doing a ’seamless’ step is time spent NOT getting that challenging dawn shot when we hike in either several miles or climb into a remote site.
Please, Matt, convince the nice folks at HDRSoft to get on this bandwagon…
on October 12th, 2008 at 9:01 am
Back into Lightroom is the only way to fly. It’s an anti-workflow to do it any other way. Manage less and shoot more.
Thanks for this topic Matt.
on October 12th, 2008 at 10:58 am
I absolutely agree! It should be available in LR immediately for further processing.
on October 12th, 2008 at 11:12 am
Please give us what we want..what a revolutionary product by the way. You are turning photography upside down. Thanks for listening.
on October 12th, 2008 at 1:25 pm
Hello Matt,
I totally agree, I always store the HDR files in the same location as the raw files. So I hope Photomatix will implement the option for having HDR photos from Photomatix directly back to Lightroom.
on October 12th, 2008 at 1:34 pm
Hallo Matt,
I agree!
I think that allLightroom plugins should work the same way Photoshop works when it comes to reimporting images we worked on!
on October 12th, 2008 at 1:50 pm
Matt, I agree. Isn’t that what a plug-in typically supposed to do, bring you back to where you were. Sign me up.
on October 12th, 2008 at 2:04 pm
Matt;
Right on Matt… HDRsoft needs to realize that more steps is not better.
They got a great product which I would use more offen if the was seemlist
I vote for it !! Come’on HDRsoft !!!
on October 12th, 2008 at 2:46 pm
I totally agree with you, Matt. Back into Lightroom is very important to do a good and fast Workflow.
The time is gold!, we haven´t got to lose it.
on October 12th, 2008 at 5:18 pm
HDR,
I’m a big fan of your product and a heavy user of LR. It would be great if the two were fully integrated.
Bill
on October 12th, 2008 at 6:10 pm
I think that the folks at HDRsoft have it backwards. Most people would obviously rather have this be a seamless experience and that makes so much more sense. I would suggest to them that they make their backward approach an option one and that there be a permanent selection that gets the user whichever work flow they want. Obviously all of the pieces are pretty much in place to do this, they will need to do some refinement on the final product.
HDRSoft - don’t take this badly, this is why you do beta’s! To get user feedback and refine the product!!
on October 12th, 2008 at 6:12 pm
I have Photomatix and I would use HDR a lot more if it was properly integrated. Count me in!
on October 13th, 2008 at 1:05 am
please make it loop back automatically. I don’t want to do it manually.
on October 13th, 2008 at 2:56 am
Yes, I agree. The pictures belong together.
on October 13th, 2008 at 3:16 am
Yep, add me to the list as well
on October 13th, 2008 at 5:40 am
Hi everyone!
Count me in. I think the automatic re-import should be an option! Come on HDRSoft, let’s do it!
on October 13th, 2008 at 7:22 am
Makes total sense to me, why stop with the LR plugin. Finish the job shove it back into to Photomatix.
Please do it HDRSoft.
on October 13th, 2008 at 8:17 am
I’ve played with the PM demo and use LR extensively for my workflow and processing. I haven’t used PM that much only because it’s not as integrated as I would like. What Matt is suggesting would convince me to purchase PM.
on October 13th, 2008 at 3:57 pm
Matt:
I totally agree—without the round-trip option, this is WAY to clunky. Here’s hoping HDRSoft responds to this feedback with a round-trip option in a free update.
-Scott Kelby
FOM
on October 13th, 2008 at 11:46 pm
Hey, Matt,
If I wanted to end up with a “stand-alone” end photo, why would I bother to buy the Lightroom plug-in?
It makes absolutely no sense to isolate me from Lightroom after the finished product is created. When I get to it from Lightroom, I want to be back in Lightroom when I’m done and have access to the new image via my regular Lightroom folder and catalog.
I’m with you, Matt.
Photomatix folks… please develop your Lightroom plug-in so it actually works within Lightroom.
When you do, I’ll be in line to buy your program.
on October 14th, 2008 at 12:14 am
Hi Matt:
Add me to the list of those wanting Photomatix to create the ability to re-import HDRs from Photomatix back to Lightroom. I love Lightroom and use it daily, and I hear Photomatix is terrific, but I really want software that will make my life easier. Many thanks.
on October 14th, 2008 at 9:02 am
I guess I don’t quite get it. I can see using an export plugin if I don’t want to come back into Lightroom or if I want to have the output in a different folder. However, if I want to process an image in an external program - Photoshop, Photomatix, whatever - and have the result stored in the same folder, shouldn’t I be using the “Edit In …” process? That’s what would seem natural to me. It doesn’t feel right to use Export if I want the result to stay in Lightroom.
on October 14th, 2008 at 11:03 am
I like Lightroom for its seamless workflow… that’s why I would prefer if any 3rd-party programs like photomatix integrate as seamless as possible…
Matt, thanks for your initiative
Cheers, Tomi
on October 14th, 2008 at 10:19 pm
Count me in on your HDR crusade. Currently a Photomatix 3.0 Pro customer who is unhappy with the work flow. We need to have a Lightroom plug-in which works seamlessly by putting the new images in the catalog in the same folder which contained the source images. As stated above if they want to have an option to put it elsewhere, that’s fine, but I want to be able to configure a seamless way to go from Lightroom, to Photomatix and back to Lightroom without extra dialogs, and I want to see my new image in the same folder/catalog where the original images are.
on October 16th, 2008 at 4:02 am
Shall I say, ME TOO! Don’t like saving one place and then having to re-find file in another app. Would very much like to have an automatic return to Lightroom after tone mapping. Count me in!
on October 22nd, 2008 at 8:30 pm
yeah.. what these other million people said….
Photomatix… don’t make me come over there!
love your product.. give us the love back…
on October 24th, 2008 at 8:02 am
It makes sense to me, if I’m in Lightroom and want to process my images in Photomatix, that when finishing the HDR process I am returned to where I left off with the processed image in the catalog. I can then make further adjustments, or edit in Photoshop if I want to.
Makes the workflow seemless and efficient.
Come on HDRsoft listen to the people who PAY for your product, it’s what they want. So give it to them!
on October 25th, 2008 at 5:33 pm
Interesting that you put the blame on the plugins or external editors.
Originally, on export LR only allowed saving an export file to the same folder or a save as. It has since added the capability to save to a user-named subfolder of the source folder. If LR added this capability to the plugins, etc. it would solve the needs of most anyone’s orginization setup…..and could be made seamless.
on October 28th, 2008 at 2:40 pm
It is a MUST to have seamless integration not a systematic painful process to work with or even remember.
on October 29th, 2008 at 8:58 am
I agree with you. And also, I would like to have a french version of the plug-in… I would be so grateful !
on November 3rd, 2008 at 2:27 am
I think it should just get saved back into lightroom seamlessly with as little interaction as possible. The way CS3 does it works for me. Thanks for the help in getting this feature fine tuned Matt.
on November 7th, 2008 at 10:20 pm
I recently purchased Photomatix Pro 3.1 and am new to the HDR scene. I have one problem…I’m not sure if Lightroom is creating the problem, If I’m causing the problem or if Photomatix is causing the problem. Wherever there are color changes on a wall (two different colors of paint with a perfect line) or with wood trim I get very thin blue lines along those edges. The guys over at hdrsoft say that they have never heard of this before…Has anyone here? If so, how do I fix it?
Thanks
on November 9th, 2008 at 5:58 pm
We would like to automatically re-import the HDR processed image back into LR2 making the whole process seamless with less to remember!
on November 18th, 2008 at 2:14 am
I agree. I use Lightroom for all my art and naturally look for plugins that keep my workflow simple and unnoticeable. It would be a sure winner if we had the image come back into Lightroom like it does with photoshop. It is just one less thing to worry about and Lord knows there is plenty to worry about.