GtkpfsGUI is a simple and lightweight Graphical User Interface for pfstools, a set of programs used for HDR image creation and manipulation.
With its help you can create digital images which can save greater luminance ranges. Dark and bright areas of the image appear more natural.
After you have created a HDR image you can tonemap it to an LDR image (such as JPEG or PNG images) by using one of the six implemented
tonemappers.
Furthermore GtkpfsGUI is able to manipulate HDR images. Functions such as gamma and brightness correction, resizing and cutting are included.
You can convert between different image formats (.jpg, .png etc.) and even create a movie from HDR images. Surely this is just a little gimmick
but however funny when rendering with a 3D Modeling Software, set the output to HDR images, tonemap all these images and cut them together.
First of all you need a good camera and a nice scene you whish to photograph. Preferably the scene is an outdoor scene which great brightness
differences, like a bright sun and dark shadows. Then you have to take three (or more) photos of this scene: one photo very dark, one photo
very bright and a normal photo. Newer cameras support this option so you don not have to adjust the brightness manually. Please hold the camera
straight and try to avoid any shakings. Alternatively use a tripod.
Now you have to create the actual HDR image by using GtkpfsGUI or another HDR tool. The result will be a 10 to 60 MB large file with the ending
.hdr or .exr. You can view this file with GtkpfsGUI, but not with your favourite image viewer. To convert the HDR to a readable LDR image,
use a tonemapper (only .hdr files can be tonemapped, not .exr files!). A tonemapper reduces the contrast range of the HDR image and procudes an
.jpg, .png, etc. output.
Note that the result may not look like the HDR image. Every tonemapper procudes a different result, sometimes more beautiful,
sometimes less beautiful.
GtkpfsGUI was successful compiled on the following systems:
You will need the following packages to compile GtkpfsGUI 0.4. Most package managers provide them:
Maybe you have to compile the newest version of pfstools on your own.
Don't worry if you do not know if you have installed all this stuff. Before every startup, GtkpfsGUI will check for missing files.
For details please read the README and / or the Manual, which is included in the tarball. Alternatively download it here.
GtkpfsGUI is that what you call Open Source Software. That means, its absolutely free. You can even it, copy it or whatever you want.
For more information, please read the
GPL v3 or take a look in the COPYING file.