To blend multiple exposures manually in Photoshop, stack your bracketed photos as layers, align them, and use layer masks to reveal the best-exposed parts of each one. Manual blending gives you more control than automatic HDR merging and tends to look more natural.
What You Need
You need two or more photos of the same scene taken at different exposures, ideally on a tripod. A typical set has a dark frame that keeps the sky detail, a middle frame and a bright frame that shows shadow detail. Shoot raw if you can, and keep the aperture the same across the set so depth of field matches.
Step by Step
- Open the images as layers in a single document. In Photoshop you can load files into a stack from the File menu under Scripts.
- Select all layers and use the Auto-Align Layers command to correct small shifts, especially if you shot handheld.
- Put the middle exposure at the bottom as your base layer.
- Place the darker frame above it. Click the Add Layer Mask button at the bottom of the Layers panel.
- Choose the Gradient Tool, set it to black to white, and drag across the area you want to reveal, such as the sky. White in the mask shows the layer, black hides it.
- Refine the edges with a soft brush at low opacity, brushing black or white on the mask as needed.
- Repeat with the brighter frame for shadows, such as foreground areas.
- Zoom in to 100 percent and look for halos along edges like horizons and trees.
Better Masks
- Use a soft brush with roughly 20 to 40 percent opacity so changes build up gradually.
- Try Select Sky or Select Subject, then turn the selection into a mask. Check the edge by hand afterward.
- Use a luminosity mask, which selects tones by brightness, for smooth transitions along irregular edges.
- Feather the mask slightly if the blend looks harsh. The Properties panel has a Feather slider.
Keep It Natural
Resist the urge to make the shadows as bright as the highlights. Natural images keep some contrast between light and dark areas. After blending, adjust overall contrast with a Curves or Levels adjustment layer, then check the histogram to confirm you have not lost the black or white points.
Handle Moving Subjects
Water, clouds and people can move between exposures. Pick the best version of the moving element and mask out the rest, so only one layer shows in that area. This avoids double edges and ghosting.
FAQ
Is manual blending better than automatic HDR?
It depends on the goal. Automatic merging is faster and works well on many scenes. Manual blending takes longer but allows precise control, which helps in scenes with movement or tricky edges.
Can I blend from a single raw file?
Yes. Export the same raw file at different exposure settings and treat the results as separate layers. The range will be limited by what the single file captured.
The Short Version
Stack and align your exposures, add layer masks and brush in the best tones from each frame. Refine edges, keep contrast believable and check at full size for halos.
