High-Dynamic-Range Imaging for Artists

Friday, 18 December | 5:30 AM - 9:15 AM | Level 5 - Auditorium

An introduction and overview of the practical applications and uses of high-dynamic-range imaging (HDRI) from a production point of view.  The course begins with a brief overview of HDRI and pre-production, production, and post-production techniques. Topics include:  RAW converters, bit depths, RAW vs JPEG, the pros and cons of various panoramic HDR stitching applications, panoramic heads, shooting and working with chrome balls, creating Radiance files, and tips on shooting, tonemapping, cgi-HDR creation, semi-automating shooting, and post-postproduction techniques.  The final section of the course presents practical examples of how HDRI is used in the motion picture and broadcast industries.

Level

Intermediate

Presentation Language

Presented in English

Prerequisites

Familiarity with basic techniques in digital photography and/or basic computer graphics modeling and rendering. Familiarity with specific image-editing and 3D modeling and rendering packages would be helpful. Experience with basic compositing would also be helpful, but it is not required. Prior knowledge of HDRI techniques and terms would be beneficial.

Instructor(s)

Christian Bloch 
Eden FX

Kirt Witte 
Savannah College of Art and Design

Instructor Bio(s)

Kirt Witte
Kirt Witte is a professor of visual effects at the Savannah College of Art and Design in Savannah, Georgia USA.  He received his BS in photography in 1991 and his MFA in computer art in 2005.  He is also a member of the International VR Photography Association. Since 1995, he has been teaching a course in high-dynamic-range imaging at the Savannah College of Art and Design. In 2006, he won 1st Place (Abstract Category) in the International Color Photography Awards.  He has worked in the advertising, internet, and videogame industries, and continues to do freelance work. 
Christian Bloch
Christian Bloch is a visual-effects artist at EdenFX in Hollywood, California USA. Ove the past 20 years, he has created effects for "StarTrek: Enterprise", "Lost", "24", "Chuck", and several movies. He has been a pioneer in the practical application of HDRI in post-production, specifically under the budgetary and time restraints of TV production. He is the author of the HDRI Handbook, in which he shares all his knowledge about shooting, stitching, and using panoramic HDR images. He also runs HDRLabs.com, a buzzing hub of HDR-related software projects from several enthusiasts.