Merge to HDR in CS4 from LR2.1 not working

Question

I searched for this problem and did not find anything. I have created several virtual copies and varied the exposure from -2 to +2 EV in LR2.1. I then with all copies selected, then I chose Edit in CS4->Merge to HDR. When it goes into CS4, only one of the images is worked on times the number of copies selected in LR!?!? Am I doing something wrong??

Answer 1

Unfortunately I can't answer your question, I can only tell you what the
Adobe programmers have said about no being able to use a single raw image
for an HDR. I can also tell you two things...
1) A true HDR is about dynamic range over the entire image. A fake HDR is
more about how to have for example a proper sky with a proper foreground,
not about bringing out every possible bit of detail in both of those areas.
2) If you look at a true HDR image that has been processed correctly and
compare that to a fake HDR there is a rather large difference in the images.
I will also tell you that both forms real and fake have their uses and that
in my opinion by and large I tend to like the fake ones better as the image
still looks like a photo where nearly 99.9% of the true HDR images that I
have seen have looked more like paintings. I think this is for two reasons.
1) The true HDR aren't processed correctly by the people very well. 2) Human
beings for as long as there has been photography are conditioned to have
images that have areas that are light and dark to the point that we don't
see any or very much detail, HDR is specifically about having all areas have
detail that can be clearly seen. No real dark, no real light just a
perfectly even perfect exposure. To our minds this isn't a photograph it is
more painting or artwork than photo. This isn't to say that I haven't seen
true HDR that I didn't like, I have it just doesn't happen often, mostly I
suspect do to poor processing, but even the ones with what I would consider
proper processing (no halos, or overly vivid colors) still look more
painting than photo.
In the end it all comes down to creativity or to each artists tastes. If you
like the "fake" HDR then by all means use it. I do. I have a technique that
I use that I have not seen mentioned any place else that I will share. I
will do a video these things are so visual that doing it in text just
doesn't work well in my opinion. I will post a link to the video in a few
days. Maybe someone will like it.
Robert