"Walter, ACR doesn't have the capability of handling 32 bit files so adjusting WB in ACR isn't possible. "
--I realize that. The way I did it was to change the WB settings in the individual RAW files prior to merging to HDR. It does work, although the results in the 32-bit merged file are not always what I had hoped for.
"I find the WB adjustments in Photomatix and other HDR apps to be pretty clunky. The one that seems to work reasonably well is HDR PhotoStudio."
--In Photomatix, I usually leave the WB slider on "0," only changing it for a warming or cooling effect. I agree that HDR PhotoStudio gives more control. I am stil having problems mastering the HDR PhotoStudio controls because of their complexity, especially the interaction with their Radius sliders. I do feel, though, that their attempt to separate the color from tonality (something like LAB channels, I suppose) ultimately gives better control over both.
"What you can do (and this worked in previous versions of PS to CS3 Extended) is perform 'soft tonemapping' on the 32 bit file. You can apply some adjustment layers, H/S being one, and use that to colour balance the 32 bit file (which is essentially what WB is). You noted that in your last response. I don't fine the H/S adjustment approach to be as 'not pretty' as you do. You can also apply the Photo Filter adjustment which can act as a global warming or cooling effect. Apply it on a layer with adjusted Opacity, Blend Mode and masking out certain areas if desired and you can get a more customised result. If you want to save that 32 bit file with layers intact (you have to merge layers when invoking the tonemapping operators) to come back to in the future, you can save the file as a PSD (EXR and HDR don't support layers). PSD (since, I think, CS2) supports 32 bit files."
--The "soft tonemapping" approach does work, and I have tried the Photo Filter adjustment with satisfactory results. I hadn't thought of saving the file as a PSD to retain the 32-bit file with layers intact.
"I wrote a
review on HDR Pro recently and though there are some things I'd like to see improved, it's a big step up from what Adobe's had before and while there are still things that could be better, that's true of all HDR apps."
--Very nice review of both HDR Pro and Photomatix. I'd love to see what you do in your HDR PhotoStudio review. This is a program that shows great promise, and seems to be much less known by HDR devotees than it should be.