Advanced image alignment
Photomatix requires differently exposed source images that are perfectly aligned, i.e. images that register exactly if superposed one upon another. For digital capture, the best way to ensure image alignment is to use a tripod when taking the bracketed exposures. This may not always be possible though, and even with a tripod, mis-registration can accidently occur if the tripod shifts slightly. Moreover, in the case of scanned films, alignment is almost never ensured.
Photomatix offers an automatic alignment option for HDR image generation and all combination methods. The automatic alignment option is robust and fast. However, it only corrects for horizontal and vertical translation shifts and not for potential rotational shifts. If you have checked the option Align images and still notice some misalignment problems on the resulting image, then it is worth trying the semi-manual advanced alignment tool under the menu "Utilities->Advanced Align".
To use the semi-manual advanced alignment tool:
1. | If not already done, open all images belonging to the same scene. If you have already opened images of another scene, you will need to close them.
2. | On the Utilities menu, click on Advanced Align and then Semi manual.
3. | Select the first control point. To do this, locate a detail which has not moved between the shots. Click on the detail in the left image, and then click on the same detail in the right image.
4. | Select the second control point. To do this, locate another detail which has not moved between the shots and that is not too close from the detail clicked in step 3 (you can use the horizontal and vertical sliders to move in the image). Click on this other detail in the left image, then click on the same detail on the right image.
5. | If there are moving objects in your scene, it is recommended to remove them from the alignment computation. To do this, press the CTRL key and drag a rectangle around the objects which moved in the right image.
6. | Once both control points are selected, click on the Align button to launch the alignment.
7. | If you have opened more than two images, a message will prompt you to align the remaining images. Once all images are aligned, you can directly generate an HDR image or combine your images with one of the "Highlights & Shadows" methods. Due to the alignment, you may have to crop the resulting image produced by Photomatix. However, you do not need to crop the source images before combining them.
Note: Once you are familiar with the alignment process, you can deactivate the balloon tips and explanation text that shows by default. To do this, go to the View menu and click on Default Options.

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