Name: Hydra
Price: 49.99 $
Rating: 3.5877 (31 reviews)

Hydra overview

Hydra lets you create beautiful high-dynamic-range (HDR) images by merging multiple exposures, effectively capturing both dark and bright subjects to make it more natural, or to enhance scene drama. A single photo cannot represent the entire dynamic range of light in a scene, due to the physical limitations of the sensor. The picture is either too dark or too bright, or both. Hydra allows you to overcome this limitation by merging a number of photos with different exposure settings, and to create a natural image that is much closer to what your eyes actually see. Alternatively, Hydra can also artistically push contrasts to increase drama and emotion in your pictures beyond reality. This new release of Hydra has been optimized for latest macOS enhancements, and it provides native Metal support with maximum performance, in addition to a more modern and simpler user interface.

New and Improved Features

Optimized for Metal
Elegant and easy-to-use translucent user interface
Automatic or manual image alignment with high-precision live positioning and fine-tuning
Manual removal of ghosting artefacts using region delineation tool and per-region output contribution
High-precision, 128-bit internal format
Much improved tone mapping including presets, and live, full-resolution preview
Advanced comparison tool of result against original pictures
Single or multiple input photos of various formats (JPEG, RAW, HDR, EXR)
Blazingly fast rendering to various output file types (JPG, TIFF, HDR, EXR) and color spaces (sRGB, Pro Photo, AdobeRGB...)
Accurate color processing, including support for Deep and Wide Color displays (30-bit, DCI-P3 display of latest iMac 27’)
Integration with Apple Photos app (input / output)

What’s new in version 4.5

Updated on Jan 13 2021

Version 4.5:

Hydra has been rebuilt to take advantage of Apple Silicon CPU & GPU capabilities, and to deliver optimal performance in image processing (Metal), and more.

Fixed a crash that could occur when processing a project with image alignment enabled.

Information

License

Shareware

Size

31.6 MB

Developer’s website

https://creaceed.com/hydra

Downloads

48646

App requirements

Intel 64
Apple Silicon
macOS 10.12.0 or later

0.0

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There are no reviews yet

DanielaPaletti5904

Oct 19 2020

4.3.1

2.0

Version: 4.3.1

Some time ago I bought version 4.2 but on my iMac i3 it just doesn't work, after uploading the photos for the HDR process everything appears black, I tried version 4.3 hoping that in the meantime the problems were solved but apparently not. I must say it was a wrong purchase.

Maurizio-G

Sep 1 2016

4.0.3

Version: 4.0.3

Too overpriced app with a bad support service. I've written many times about a problem but I didnt 'receive a satisfactory service. I 'm sorry I bought it but I unistall it.

Staps Fanny

Aug 17 2016

4.0

Version: 4.0

Well overpriced app that has many issue regarding the UI They claim it is fast with Metal, but to be honest it is dreadful slow on my MBPr i7 It crashes at random adding large image files and is slow reacting when changing some effects. This just doesn't work for me. Sorry.

StrictlyBagel

Dec 22 2013

3.2

Version: 3.2

I've installed the latest plug-in from the developer's website… but still get the following error when using it in Aperture: "Hydra plugin is too old to be used with this version of Hydra. Please update the plugin from our website." Wrote to developer… no reply. I'm running the latest version 3.2.

IloveBurma

Jul 25 2013

3.1.1

5.0

Version: 3.1.1

FYI: 20% off Hydra on the Mac AppStore this summer. Nice deal

anonymous-swan-6206

Jan 18 2013

4.5

Very easy app to learn. Produces impressive HDR Photo results. The interface is clean and very Mac like. Outstanding alignment tools, I was producing images in no time. Highly recommended.

limies

Nov 23 2012

3.0

I prefer Photomatix - it's a classic soft !

Clint007

Aug 24 2012

3.0.2

3.5

Version: 3.0.2

I've bought the Hydra Pro last year, I have the version 3.0.1 But it is another person who receive the note from Apple to get it upgrade and the link is on my eMail. That person never bought Hydro Pro. !- Is my version 3.0.1 is up-to date? 2. Hydra doesn't have eMail address, same for Creaceed!! 3. How do I get my correct eMail with Apple concerning that notice about Up-to-date.

iBernard

Aug 1 2012

I am NOT upgrading to Lion or Mountain Lion as most of my software is NOT COMPATIBLE with either...and it seems like the latest version of HydraPro is one of them. I paid for it, I have a legit registration key for it, and would like to USE WHAT I PAID FOR. What's the scoop here?

Cowicide

Jun 22 2012

Someone should let this developer know that only 40 percent of Mac users are currently using Lion and that's straight from what Apple said at the WWDC keynote a few weeks ago. Alienating people using 10.6.8 at this stage of the game is simply bad business.

Roger-Kelley

Feb 5 2012

Given that Lightroom 4, now in Beta, seems to have enhanced HDR features, one wonders whether Hydra Pro for $50 will be a cost effective purchase. The ratings stars below are purely arbitrary. http://lightroomkillertips.com/2012/new-lightroom-4-preset-the-hdr-look/

benoit311080

Jan 23 2012

I upgraded last week to the new 3.0 version. I'm glad to see that the developers continue to improve Hydra. It's my favorite app to render HDR pictures. The new UI is really nice. The tool to remove ghost effects is a killing feature. PS : If the developers read this thread, I would like to have Quick Look implemented on the document files.

Jan 3 2012

I am glad it is now localized in Italian as well. :-) Ciao!

Marilou53

Version 3 is a huge step forward! I was already satisfied with version 2 but they improved the application even further. Keep on the good work, I really appreciate!

I really like Hydra 3. It processes HDR images much faster than any other HDR software.

Steph26

Dec 6 2011

3.0.1

Version: 3.0.1

Je possédais la version précédente 2.0 et elle me convenait parfaitement. Etant passée sous « lion » le changement fut obligatoire. Je peux vous dire que cette nouvelle version a été revue totalement, ergonomie plus fluide, fonction plein écran, richesse des préréglages et réglages, facilité d’utilisation et en final un résultat époustouflant que ce soit avec une ou plusieurs photos. Du HDR de haut niveau ! Cerise sur le gâteau toujours la possibilité de contacter les gens de Creeaced qui sont à l’écoute des utilisateurs que nous sommes……. Stéphy26

Peterpan23

Nov 3 2011

And the winner is... ...also not version 3.0.1 !! Exactly the same habit (1,5 GB RAM used, Core2Duo on 10.7.2 gets blocked totally, crash with bigger files) like the previous version. And still NO AMSWER from the DEV. Just as a reminder: I did send the Dev an exact description with URL of my test files.

Oct 13 2011

Version: 3.0

I did a re-test on the new 10.7.2 with exactly the same results like on the developer previews of Lion and on SnowLeo: Finally I can say without any exaggeration, that Hydra Pro 3.0 is a RAM-eating monster who even "beats" Photoshop easily (over 1,2 GB with midsize JPEGS around 8 Mpix. With JPEGs over 20 Mpixel Hydra hangs immediately after starting HDR-processing. I did send a summery of my tests to the developer more than a week ago. Still no answer!!

Surfspirit

Oct 10 2011

It uses huge amounts of RAM, it's intel 64Bits only and is not compatible with some graphic cards, I see the benefits of 64 bits and Graphic Card acceleration but making an app so restricted and just for HDR is pushing system requirements too much!

Wolf01

Oct 7 2011

Très Bonne app pour le HDR . L'interface est une réussite et son intégration avec Lion et Aperture est vraiment bonne. Les améliorations avec cette mise à jour sont nombreuses, bien pensées et efficaces. L'application est stable (je n'ai pour le moment pas rencontrer de bug). Bref une MàJ vraiment intéressante et qui rends cette application encore plus prometteuse. Je l'a recommande à tous les photographes amateur et pro qui se lancent dans le HDR. Bravo à Creaceed.