To patch the nadir or zenith of your spherical HDRI map (or any equirectangular projection panorama) directly in Photoshop, you need to install a paid plugin called Flexify 2 by Flaming Pear Software. It costs around $50 and is totally worth the investment. Before purchasing the plugin, I suggest downloading and using the free trial version, which works without limitations for many days.

Steps to Patch the Nadir Using Flexify 2

Prepare Your HDRI Map

Before getting started, ensure that your HDRI map is properly masked before exporting from PTGui. In the image below, I masked two captured nadir shots, removing the panoramic head extension arm and my own leg.

Open the HDRI Panorama in Photoshop

• Open your HDRI panorama in Photoshop.
• Duplicate the layer (CTRL + J).

Open Flexify 2

• Select the duplicated layer.
• Open Flexify 2: Go to Filter > Flaming Pear > Flexify 2.

Adjust Flexify 2 Settings

• Set Input type to Equirectangular.
• Set Output type to Zenith & Nadir (press Z twice to find it among the available transformations).
• Click OK.
• Tip: When working with large HDRI files, the preview window in Flexify 2 can slow down your workflow. To avoid this, I recommend recording the process as a Photoshop action. This way, you can apply the transformation automatically next time without opening the Flexify 2 window.

Select the Tripod or Empty Area

• Use Photoshop’s Lasso Tool to select the empty area created by masking in PTGui.

Content-Aware Fill window

• Go to Edit > Content-Aware Fill. A new window will appear.
• Warning: The Content-Aware Fill method may not work well on complex patterned floors. In such cases, use the Clone Stamp Tool instead. However, for more generic surfaces like grass, sand, asphalt, snow, or soil, Content-Aware Fill usually works fine.
• The green area in the preview represents the region from which Photoshop will sample to fill the selection. Adjust it as needed using the “Add to Overlay Area” or “Subtract from Overlay Area” brush.

Adjust Content-Aware Fill Settings

• Expand the Content-Aware Fill panel.
• In Fill Settings, set Color Adaptation to None.

Preview and Apply the Fill

• Expand the Preview window to better assess the results.
• If you are satisfied with the result, ensure Output is set to Current Layer, then click OK.
• If the result is unsatisfactory, adjust the overlay area and try again.

Refine the Patch

• Content-Aware Fill will generate the patch in a few seconds. While it does a decent job, it is not perfect.
• Use the Clone Stamp Tool to fix any blurred or imperfect areas.

Convert Back to Equirectangular Projection

• Once the nadir patching is complete, open Flexify 2 again and convert the patched layer back to Equirectangular Projection.

Merge and Save the Final Image

• Merge the patched layer with the base layer (CTRL + E).
• Save the final image as a 32-bit OpenEXR file using the Exr-IO plugin.

The post Patching HDRI Nadir in Photoshop Using Flexify 2 appeared first on HDRMAPS™.

Here’s a comparison table between 16-bit half-float and 32-bit float OpenEXR formats:

Photoshop and 32-bit OpenEXR: A Common Challenge

One notable limitation is that Adobe Photoshop does not natively support 32-bit OpenEXR files. This can be a significant hurdle for artists and professionals working with high-precision EXR files. However, there’s a free plugin called Exr-IO for Photoshop that resolves this issue. By installing this plugin, you can seamlessly open and save 32-bit OpenEXR files in Photoshop, unlocking the full potential of this format.

Limited Tool Availability: Some Photoshop tools and filters may not be compatible with 32-bit images. This is because 32-bit images contain a vast amount of data, and some tools might not be designed to handle that level of information. When editing or patching hdris you will be limited to simple Stamp tool, Content Aware fill (which works great in most scenarios), and for color correction to Adjustment layers: Hue/Saturation, Channel Mixer, Exposure, Color Lookup, Photo Filter.

Affinity Photo and 32-bit

Affinity Photo provides full 32-bit OpenEXR support, preserving the high dynamic range and color precision needed for HDRI maps and VFX work. It maintains a linear workflow, ensuring accurate blending and lighting without clipping or unwanted tone shifts. The Live Equirectangular Preview allows seamless editing of HDR environment maps, letting users paint, retouch, and adjust directly in a 360° projection without distortion. Essential corrections like white balance adjustments can be applied non-destructively, ensuring accurate color calibration. The clone stamp, patch, and inpainting tools help remove artifacts or seams in HDR panoramas, while full layer support for OpenEXR files enables complex compositing with masks and blending modes. These features make Affinity Photo a powerful tool for professional HDRI and CGI workflows.

While Affinity Photo excels in many areas, exporting or editing very large files (e.g., 30K HDRI maps) is significantly less efficient than in Photoshop, which handles massive datasets more smoothly.

How to check if my OpenEXR is float 32-bit or half float 16-bit ?

You can easily check your OpenEXR file’s bit depth using several tools:

Nuke (Non-Commercial Version): Add a Read node, load your .exr file, and check the Metadata tab for the key “input/bitsperchannel” to see whether it’s 32-bit float or 16-bit half-float.

GIMP (Free): Open the .exr file, press Alt + Return to access Image Properties, and find the “Precision” key for bit-depth details.

3ds Max: Load the .exr file into a Bitmap node, and the bit-depth will be displayed automatically.

These methods ensure quick and accurate verification of your OpenEXR file format.

The post 16-bit half float vs 32-float OpenEXR appeared first on HDRMAPS™.

Some of the hdri maps are really poor quality, taking for instance 3 exposures 2EV apart doesn’t guarantee that you will achieve sharp shadows in your renderings. In situations like this, you can add direct light matching hdri sun position or just simply paint on hdri map with Photoshop. Please watch the video tutorial to get more information about the process.

The post Tweaking hdri in Photoshop appeared first on HDRMAPS™.