RAWBlend - Camera Raw Interpolation
RAWBlend is a powerful tool for blending from one frame to another seamlessly in timelapse photographs. Process just the first and last images, and let RAWBlend interpolate the settings for the rest.

"RAWBlend - a method of 'interpreting' between images of a timelapse to smooth out issues with exposure, contrast, white balance, etc. across multiple frames." - planet5D

RAWBlend Interface. Notice how AutoExposure adjusts exposure when the camera settings change.

Features
RAWBlend smoothly blends between RAW or JPG images, interpolating settings like exposure, contrast, color balance, vibrance, highlights, shadows, etc.,
  • Animate RAW settings. Interpolate your photo's metadata settings across multiple frames like exposure, contrast, white-balance, vibrance, saturation, fill, shadows, and more.
  • Autoexposure and the "Holy Grail" Shoot at any setting and let AutoExposure tune your exposure by analyzing aperture, shutter-speed, and ISO from the file metadata. No matter what camera setting you're at, your exposure will be perfect.
  • RAW and JPG. Works with RAW or JPG files. Use RAWBlend in a non-destructive workflow.
  • Supports Lightroom and Photoshop. If you're using Lightroom or Photoshop, RAWBlend will match your workflow.
AutoExposure and the "Holy Grail"
The "Holy Grail timelapse" may be one of the most difficult to do right. It's the timelapse across sunrise or sunset, in which the light changes so much that you need to adjust the camera's settings every few minutes just to keep the image properly exposed. The challenge of processing such a timelapse is blending these photographs with different settings in different light into one smooth video.

AutoExposure comes into effect when your camera settings change. It analyzes the differences in light (from aperture, shutter-speed, and ISO in your image's metadata) and tunes exposure accordingly. Shoot at any setting and get perfect exposure every frame.

Autoexposure takes into account aperture, shutter-speed, and ISO while animating your exposure.

Various interpolation modes
Use either Linear or Smooth (cubic polynomial) interpolation for your keyframe values.
Linear Interpolation
Smooth (cubic) Interpolation

Download now
RAWBlend comes packaged with Panolapse.
Instructions
RAWBlend works with Adobe Lightroom or Photoshop, and accepts RAW or JPG images.

Basic Tutorial: Interpolating between the first and last frames.
  • In Lightroom or Photoshop, process the first image of your timelapse.
  • Synchronize settings from the first image to all of your other images. RAWBlend only interpolates certain adjustment settings, so this step is necessary to get all of your images to the same base settings.
    • For Lightroom: Select all images, and Synchronize Settings.
    • For Photoshop: In Camera Raw, select all images and Synchronize Settings.
  • Process your last image.
  • Save metadata on all of your images. Lightroom generally stores your settings in its own catalog file, so saving it makes your image adjustments readable by Panolapse.
    • For Lightroom: Select all images. Right-click and Save Metadata.
    • For Photoshop: Click Done.
  • Open RAWBlend and import your images. Set your first and last images as keyframes by selecting the Key checkbox. You should see new interpolated values for the rest of your images. Click Save All Metadata.
  • In Lightroom or Photoshop again, load the new metadata for all of your images.
    • For Lightroom: Select all images, right-click, and Read Metadata.
    • For Photoshop: Open the files again in Camera Raw. You should see the new adjustment settings made by Panolapse.
  • (Optional) If you like, start another pass to add further adjustments.
  • Export your images as JPG.
    • For Lightroom: Select your images and click Export.
    • For Photoshop: Click Save Images at the bottom left.

Tips for maximizing quality with AutoExposure.
  • AutoExposure works based on theoretical values. For instance, your lens may say it's at f/2.8, but in practice, it could actually be at f/2.83 or some slightly different value. So, AutoExposure can get very close to your proper exposure value, although not always exact. Apply the deflicker filter in Panolapse to smoothen out any minor discrepancies.
  • If you wish to hand-tune, simply process the two neighboring frames where the camera settings changed and mark them as keyframes.
Comments, bug reports, and feedback
Please feel free to email contact@panolapse360.com.