Existing users, log in.  New users, create a free account.  Lost password?

Mac OS X  |  Design / Graphics  |  Image Edit / Optimize / Convert  |  Hydra

Hydra

Hydra - 2.1

Create hdr photographs, interactively and with no tripod.

All Time: (5.0)
Version 2.1: Not rated (0.0)
Selected Version: 2.1
Release Date: 2009-03-11
License: Update
Downloads (version 2.1): 780
Downloads (all versions): 9,074
Price: $59.95

Information Related to Version:

Broken Link? Newer Version? Tell us!

Product Description:

Hydra uses a number of regular photographs (up to four) with different exposures (darker and lighter) to create a superior one which is much closer to what one's eye can see. This is because a single photograph cannot represent the full gamut of light because of physical limitations in the sensor. This process is also known as a high dynamic range, or HDR, imaging. See the screencast tutorials for more information on how to acquire such images with your camera.
The output produced by Hydra is much closer to what your eye actually sees. You don't have to choose whether to have a beautiful sky or buildings, take 2 photos (or more) with perfect parameters for each of them, then combine them with Hydra.
The images that Hydra uses are not required to be taken with a tripod, as it is usually the case with HDR software. Hydra uses the same warping algorithm as Morph Age, which permits the alignment of images with offsets above a few pixels. This is a unique feature that means you can take photos anywhere without a tripod to later blend them in Hydra. This will change your way of making HDRs.

What's new in this version:

  • New feature: Source image thumbs can now be clicked for smooth overlay. This makes it easier to compare the tone mapping output with any source image, or to compare source images together.
  • New feature: Accurate dual histogram display (LDR/HDR). The HDR histogram represents the merged, 32-bit image before tone mapping in a logarithmic scale (EV). The LDR histogram represents the currently displayed preview, it is a regular 8-bit histogram with a 0-255 scale. Histograms are computed in a separate thread to keep overall interactivity.
  • Improved: Faster rendering pipeline when previewing (up to 5x), especially true for RAW input images.
  • Improved: Incremental rendering as tiles is implemented.
  • Improved: Changing GPU setting in the preferences does not require Hydra relaunch anymore.
  • Improved: Faster window resizing.
  • Improved: Cancel rendering is now immediate when not using GPU acceleration.
  • Improved: The sharpen filter is now scale invariant, meaning that the preview rendering accurately demonstrates the effect as it appears in the full resolution output.
  • Improved: Automatic update is now signed for improved security.
  • Improved: Import progress sheet for images is displayed.
  • Aperture Plug-In: Fixed cancel import problem.
  • Aperture Plug-In: Fixed hang when exporting back to Aperture.
  • Aperture Plug-In: Smart Aperture projects do not cause a hang anymore, option to save to the Pictures folder when project is read only.
  • Aperture Plug-In: 16-bit TIFF rendering is now supported, 32-bit removed (use stand alone Hydra if OpenEXR format is needed).
  • Aperture Plug-In: Shift key can be used to import modified versions of images into Hydra. This way, any modification in color temperature, contrast, etc. is made available to Hydra Plug-in. This remains an optional behavior as it has an impact on rendered image, and it can make the initial import process longer.
  • Aperture Plug-In: Auto updating of the Plug-in when a new version is posted.
  • Fixed bug: Importing images of different pixel sizes does not cause a crash anymore.
  • Fixed bug: Removing/adding images now resets reference points.
  • Fixed bug: About panel now scrolls properly.

Operating System Requirements:

This product is designed to run on the following operating systems:

  • Mac OS X 10.5 Intel
  • Mac OS X 10.5 PPC

Screenshots:

Download Links:

Download Links:

Your Installed Versions:


 

Feedback Summary:

Version 2.1:
Overall Rating: Not rated (0.0) Features: Not rated (0.0) Support: Not rated (0.0)
Ease of Use: Not rated (0.0) Quality / Stability: Not rated (0.0) Price: Not rated (0.0)
Add Your Feedback

Key to Types of Feedback:

ReviewsReviews   TroubleshootingTroubleshooting   Usage TipsUsage Tips   Developer NotesDeveloper Notes   CommentaryCommentary   Featured ReviewsFeatured Reviews

Hydra CommentaryWrong Price - Version: 2.1, 5/9/2009 03:25PM PST

RJ PhotoVideo
The price is $79.95
Post a commentAlert Admin

Hydra CommentaryGood upgrade - 16 bit would be excellent - Version: 1.0.2, 2/4/2008 12:00AM PST

Martin Turner--2008
The addition of Tiff as an output format is a good upgrade to this application.
It's still only 8 bit, and would benefit from 16 bit tiff, though.
Post a commentAlert Admin

Hydra CommentaryName? - Version: 1.0.2, 2/4/2008 12:00AM PST

(3 of 3 users found this comment useful)

Tyaris Major
Just one note, not actually about the software itself...

The kids from Coding Monkeys originally called their product Hydra, but ran into legal issues, which resulted in it becoming SubEthaEdit. Unless the landscape has changed, I can see this happening to this Hydra as well.

http://versiontracker.com/dyn/moreinfo/macosx/18956&vid=114342&mode=info
Post a commentAlert Admin