HDR photos with the GIMP

Step 5 Add dark layer

Open the dark image in a new window. Copy the contents, then go back to your original image (from now I will refer to this as the composite, and the other photos as the stock). Create a new layer, with Layer -> New Layer, rename it something sensible like "Dark layer"- the initial colour settings are unimportant. Paste the dark stock into it, and hit Anchor. You should now have the middle image on the background layer, and a new layer with the dark stock in it above that- the window holding the composite image will now show just the dark layer.

Comments

[endolith]

Just use File --> Open as Layers and select all the pictures at once

[pr3tard]

You can also open as layers the three photos that will make up the composite.  My camera (Canon Rebel DSLR) takes the pictures in the order of 0, -2, +2 so they open with the Original as Background layer, the Dark one as the next, and the Light one as top most layer.

[caffeinebump]

What's the fill type for this layer?

[PKM]

It doesn't matter, as you are going to paste a non-transparent image straight into it as soon as you create it so the initial fill colour is unimportant.

[setjahat]

"Paste the dark stock into it" <--- how do we do it..?

[setjahat]

got it.. :)

[helenst]

You can "Open as Layer" in the middle image to import the dark image directly into the layer.