Installing Aurora HDR 2019 as a Plugin

While Aurora HDR is a full featured stand-alone application, some users also choose to install and run it as a plugin for other popular photo editing software. Here's how (the instructions below do not apply to the AppStore version):

1. Make sure Aurora HDR is open.
2. On a Mac, simply choose Aurora HDR 2019 > Install Plugins… On a PC choose File > Install Plugins….
3. A new dialog box appears to show you which supported host applications are currently installed on your computer.
   
   The host applications supported by Aurora HDR 2019 are:
   • Adobe Photoshop®️
   • Adobe Photoshop Lightroom®️ Classic CC
   • Adobe Photoshop Elements®️ (Mac-only)
   • Apple Aperture®️ (Mac-only)
4. Click the Install/Uninstall button for the apps in which you’d like Aurora HDR 2019 to run.
5. When finished, click Done to close the installer window.

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TIP

For Mac-users, (though it’s not listed in the plugin dialog box), Aurora HDR can operate as an editing extension in Photos for Mac. This will allow you to use it on your computer as an additional editor within the Photos for Mac application.

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NOTE

For best results, quit the host application, (such as Photoshop) before you install the plugin. You may be prompted to enter your Administrator password to complete the installation.

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Using Aurora HDR 2019 with Adobe Photoshop / Adobe Photoshop Elements

Aurora HDR is a powerful addition to Adobe Photoshop and Photoshop Elements. To apply Aurora HDR as a filter, follow these steps:

1. Make sure Adobe Photoshop or Adobe Photoshop Elements is open.
2. Open an image you’d like to enhance.
3. Choose Filter > Skylum Software > Aurora HDR 2019…
   
   
4. A new dialog box appears to indicate that Aurora HDR is running.
5. Click the Create HDR button to process the image in Aurora HDR 2019.
6. Make any edits or adjustments as needed in Aurora HDR.  You can use Aurora HDR Looks to speed up your editing workflow.
7. When done, click the Apply button to send the adjusted image back to Photoshop.
   

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NOTE

Aurora HDR 2019 can operate as a Smart Filter in Photoshop. If you designate a Photoshop layer as a Smart Filter, then launch the Aurora HDR 2019 plugin as normal to make edits. When you return to Photoshop you can always double-click on the layer and return to Aurora HDR 2019 with all edits intact.

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Using Aurora HDR 2019 with Adobe Lightroom Classic CC

Images in Adobe Photoshop Lightroom Classic CC can be easily handed off for editing in Aurora HDR 2019. To transfer a file from Lightroom Classic CC to Aurora HDR 2019, follow these steps:

1. Make sure Adobe Photoshop Lightroom Classic CC is open.
2. Choose your image(s) in Lightroom Classic CC from the Develop module that you want to work on in Aurora HDR 2019.
3. Choose File > Export with Preset and choose from one of two options.
   • Open Source Files. This option sends a 16-bit TIFF file from Lightroom to Aurora HDR 2019 and removes any adjustments that were applied in Lightroom first.
     
   • Edit a Copy with Lightroom adjustments. This option sends a 16-bit TIFF file from Lightroom to Aurora HDR 2019 and includes any adjustments that were made in Lightroom to the transferred file.
4. A new dialog box appears to indicate that Aurora HDR 2019 is running.
   
   
5. Click the Create HDR button to process the image in Aurora HDR 2019.
6. Make any edits or adjustments as needed in Aurora HDR 2019.  You can use Aurora HDR Looks to speed up your editing workflow.
7. When done, click the Apply button to send the adjusted image back to Lightroom. A new file is added to your Library and stacked with the original.
   

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NOTE

If you want to apply Aurora HDR to a single image, you can also access it from the Photo > Edit In > Aurora HDR 2019… menu item.  The processed image will be returned to your library.

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Using Aurora HDR 2019 with Apple Aperture

Working with Aurora HDR 2019 through Aperture is very similar to the way it interacts with Lightroom. To transfer a file from Aperture to Aurora HDR 2019, follow these steps:

1. Make sure Apple Aperture is open.
2. Choose your image(s) in Aperture from the Library that you want to work on with Aurora HDR 2019.
3. Choose Photos > Edit with Plug-in > Aurora HDR 2019… or right-click the Image and select Edit with Plug-in > Aurora HDR 2019.…
4. A new dialog box appears to indicate that Aurora HDR 2019 is running.
   
   
5. Click the Create HDR button to process the image in Aurora HDR 2019.
6. Make any edits or adjustments as needed in Aurora HDR 2019.  You can use Aurora HDR Looks to speed up your editing workflow.
7. When done, click the Apply button to send the adjusted image back to Aperture. A new file is added to your Library and stacked with the original.

Using Aurora HDR 2019 as a Photos for Mac Extension

If the version of the macOS®️ system on your Mac is newer than 10.11, you can use Aurora HDR 2019 as an extension to Photos for Mac®️. Here’s how to activate the extension.

1. Choose  > System Preferences.
2. Choose Extensions.
3. Choose Photos Editing.
   
   
4. Select the extensions that you'd like to use.
5. Launch Photos for Mac from your Applications folder.
6. Choose an image to edit in your Photos library.
7. Click the Edit Photo button.
8. Click the Extensions button and choose Aurora HDR 2019.
9. Make any edits or adjustments as needed in Aurora HDR 2019.  Use Aurora HDR Looks to speed up your editing workflow.
10. When done, click the Save Changes button to send the adjusted image back to Photos for Mac.