If you're looking to really add that wow factor to your desktop and you're finding that regular wallpapers just aren't cutting it, it's time to check out HDR wallpaper. If you haven't seen any HDR images before you will be amazed how eye-catching they are.
HDR (high dynamic range) imaging has really grown in popularity over the last few years, with discussion groups and websites devoted to techniques and critiquing the results. This process, when applied carefully and correctly, results in incredibly vivid, often hyper-realistic images with amazing detail from shadows to highlights, and everywhere in between. And because HDR images are so striking and visually rich they make stunning desktop wallpapers for your computer.
The human eye is capable of taking in a vastly wider range of color and light information than can be captured by a digital camera in a single photograph. The intention of HDR imaging is to accurately represent the wide range of intensity levels found in real scenes ranging from direct sunlight to shadows. In essence, HDR imaging attempts to recreate the feeling and ambiance of the scene and produce images closer to what the human eye can see.
HDR images are created by taking multiple photos of the same scene with a range of different exposures (normally one properly exposed, one underexposed by one stop, and one overexposed by one stop) and then merging them into a single image using image processing software, such as Photomatix or Photoshop, and tone-mapping. The result is an image with more dynamic range - in other words, the brights are brighter, the darks darker, and there's much more variance in between. And depending on your taste, and your artistic ability, the image can be processed to look photo-realistic, surreal or somewhere in between.
All in all, HDR images certainly make for some extraordinary high-quality desktop wallpaper. And there are a number of sites on the Web that are a good source of free HDR wallpaper.
HDRwalls.com and Flickr are two of the larger sites where you can find free HDR wallpaper. HDRwalls.com offers hundreds of free desktop backgrounds in five different categories in widescreen and standard format for use with all operating systems. The site is constantly updating with new HDR images and also allows you to download the free wallpapers for the Blackberry, iPhone, iPod, and PSP. Flickr also has hundreds of HDR wallpapers created by members of the site's photo-sharing community. Plus, there are countless groups within the site that feature HDR images that can be downloaded as desktop wallpaper or you can find images by running a search for "HDR."
A couple of smaller websites where you can find really nice HDR wallpapers and HDR images include GetAWallpaper.com, Raym's Fotosite, The Wallpaper Database and HDRCreme. GetAWallpaper.com has about 50 or so HDR wallpapers of landscapes and cityscapes. Raym's Fotosite features a small selection of HDR wallpapers of architecture, nature, castles and more, created by a photographer from Netherlands. The Wallpaper Database is an easy-to-navigate site that offers about 20+ free HDR wallpapers among its high-resolution wallpaper offerings. HDRcreme features a gallery of HDR photos submitted by visitors to the site.
So if you're looking for something more interesting and eye-catching than the same old wallpapers of cute puppies or beach scenes that everyone else has, give HDR wallpapers a try. With these crisp, vibrantly colored, finely detailed images as your wallpaper, your desktop will be the envy of your friends, family and co-workers.
Mark Grayson is a freelance writer and marketing consultant.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Mark_Grayson
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