This tutorial will show you how to use the AI HDR Studio plugin for PaintShop Pro and CorelDRAW Graphics Suite to create high-quality HDR images. With these unique AI-powered presets, your photos will be transformed from simple to spectacular in 4 easy steps: choose a style, preview the style on your photo, adjust the strength, then apply. You can experiment with a variety of styles to enhance the finest details and bring out the best in all types of photography, from close-up portraiture to scenic landscapes.

The AI HDR Studio plugin is compatible with PaintShop Pro 2019 and higher, and CorelDRAW Graphics Suite 2019 and higher.

Thanks for watching! We hope you found this tutorial helpful and we would love to hear your feedback in the Comments section at the bottom of the page. You will find a written version of this tutorial below, and a printable PDF copy to download on the Download Resources tab above.

See what’s new in PaintShop Pro!

Download your FREE 30-day trial and make every shot your best shot with PaintShop Pro, your all-in-one photo editing and design software.

Download these free resources:

Written Tutorial (PDF, 1.1 MB)

PaintShop Pro resources
Keyboard shortcuts (PDF, 173 KB)
PaintShop Pro User Guides

Partner and User websites
PaintShop Pro User Forum
Scrapbook Campus (Tips and tricks, workshops, master classes, and more)
Creation Cassel (Scripts, picture tubes, and other PaintShop Pro tools, plus weekly freebies)
PaintShop Pro Maniacs (Facebook group)
PaintShop Pro (Facebook group)


Featured products


How to Use the AI HDR Studio Plugin

This tutorial provides a quick demonstration of how to use the AI HDR Studio plugin to transform your photos into spectacular HDR images in 4 easy steps.

Launching the Plugin

For this tutorial, we are using PaintShop Pro 2021 Ultimate to demonstrate the plugin, but you can also use the plugin with any version of PaintShop Pro 2019 and higher, and CorelDRAW Graphics Suite 2019 and higher.

You must have your photo already open to be able to use the plugin. Otherwise, the plugin menu command will be greyed out if there are no photos open or loaded.

  • To launch the plugin from PaintShop Pro, go to Effects > Plugins > AI HDR Studio.
  • To launch the plugin from CorelDRAW, go to Bitmaps > Plugins > AI HDR Studio.
  • To launch the plugin from Corel PHOTO-PAINT, go to Effects > AI HDR Studio.

Once you have launched AI HDR Studio, the process will be the same regardless of which program you launched it from.

The plugin will open in its own window and has an easy 4-step process to add HDR effects to your photo.

How to Use AI HDR Studio

Step 1: Choose a Style

Along the bottom of the interface, there are 15 different styles that you can scroll through to find one that will suit your photo. Once you have found one you like, click on it to preview.

Step 2: Preview Style

Click the Preview Style button to preview how your photo will look once the style is applied. If you’re not satisfied with the effect, you can always click Reset to revert to your original image and go back to Step 1 to choose a different style.

Step 3: Adjust Strength

Adjust the Strength slider to increase or decrease the intensity of the preset.

Step 4: Confirm Style

Once you’re happy with your chosen style and the amount of strength, click Send and Close to send your updated image back into PaintShop Pro (or CorelDRAW or PHOTO-PAINT) where you can make any other edits you want.

Using Duplicate Layers

It’s a good idea to duplicate your photo layer first and then launch the plugin with the duplicated layer active. This will preserve the original photo on its own layer so you can later compare it with the new version of the photo created with the AI HDR Studio Plugin.

  • To duplicate a photo layer in PaintShop Pro, simply right-click on the layer in the Layers palette and select Duplicate.
  • In CorelDRAW, select the photo with the Pick tool and go to Edit > Duplicate (or use Ctrl + D). In the Objects docker (Window > Dockers > Objects) you can create a new layer if you wish by clicking on the New Layer icon at the bottom of the docker. Then drag the duplicated photo onto the new layer.
  • In PHOTO-PAINT, right-click on the photo in the Objects docker (Window > Dockers > Object) and select Duplicate (or use Ctrl + D).

Now you can run the plugin on the active duplicated layer and follow the 4-step process to apply an HDR effect. After you have clicked Send and Close to return to PaintShop Pro (or CorelDRAW or PHOTO-PAINT), you can use the Visibility (eye) icon to toggle the layer on and off to see how it compares with the original image.

You can create several duplicate layers to experiment with different presets, using the Visibility icon to toggle on and off and see which one you like the most.

For advanced users, you can also use the duplicate layers to experiment with different blend modes and effects.

TIP: It is helpful to rename each layer to keep track of which preset you have used on each image.

It’s just that easy to completely transform your photos using the AI HDR Studio plugin!

See what’s new in PaintShop Pro!

Download your FREE 30-day trial and make every shot your best shot with PaintShop Pro, your all-in-one photo editing and design software.

Comments (4)

Reader Interactions

Comments

    • gilliandarby says

      Hi Tom,

      The AI HDR plugin is $49.99 and currently on sale for $24.99 (USD) in the Store section of the welcome screen inside PaintShop Pro.

      Thanks,
      The Discovery Center team

  1. Nol Baarschers says

    I have ordered AI HDR Studio 3.o via Paint Shop Pro and paid € 46, but I have received nothing. Can you help me please. Can I download the free trial?

    Nol Baarschers

    • gilliandarby says

      Hi Nol,

      You should find AI HDR Studio in the My Library section of the Welcome screen in PaintShop Pro.
      My Library

      Click on the Install button and an installation wizard will open, walking you through the steps to install the plugin.
      install

      Hope this helps!
      The Discovery Center team