HDR and Tone Mapping Quiz: Exposure Fusion and Ghosting

Create HDR images that look natural, not overcooked. This quiz covers the differences between HDR merging and exposure fusion, common tone mapping artifacts, and techniques for realistic high dynamic range results.

Quiz 40: HDR, Exposure Fusion, and Tone Mapping Pitfalls

HDR merging is most useful when:

Scene fits sensor dynamic range

Scene exceeds sensor dynamic range

Only studio portraits

Only flash

Exposure fusion differs from HDR tone mapping by:

Fusion blends exposures more directly, often more natural

Fusion requires JPEG only

Fusion increases noise always

Fusion changes focal length

HDR ghosting is caused by:

Too much overlap

Subject movement between frames

Low ISO

Wide aperture

Bracketing increments are often:

0.1 EV

1 to 2 EV

5 EV

10 EV

Tone mapping can create:

Noise reduction

Halos and unnatural local contrast

Better autofocus

Global shutter

To minimize HDR artifacts, you can:

Use fewer brackets and align carefully

Random WB per frame

Over sharpen before merge

Use electronic shutter in flicker light

A tripod helps HDR because:

Increases ISO

Improves alignment and reduces motion

Changes WB

Changes color space

If you must handheld bracket, best help is:

Slow shutter

Fast burst and stable stance

f/22 only

Manual focus only

Local contrast overuse often shows as:

Smooth gradients

Crunchy textures and halos

Better skin tones

Less noise

HDR is not a substitute for:

Correct exposure

Good composition

Both a and b

White balance

Graduated ND vs HDR:

ND modifies capture optically, HDR merges exposures digitally

ND increases dynamic range

HDR reduces dynamic range

They are identical

The most natural looking HDR often:

Preserves believable contrast

Flattens everything

Maxes saturation

Clips highlights

If sky edges glow, common cause:

Correct WB

Haloing from tone mapping/local contrast

Proper sharpening

Low ISO

HDR workflows often require:

Consistent WB across frames

Random WB

JPEG only

Flash only

Best HDR practice emphasizes:

Maximum effect

Subtlety and realism unless stylization is intentional

No alignment

No RAW

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HDR and Tone Mapping Quiz: Exposure Fusion and Ghosting

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