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Lightroom isn’t just for editing single photos—it also gives you powerful tools to merge multiple shots into HDR images and panoramas. These features help you capture more detail, dynamic range, and perspective than a single shot can provide.

What is HDR Merging?

HDR (High Dynamic Range) merging combines multiple exposures of the same scene—usually one underexposed, one correctly exposed, and one overexposed—into a single image.

Benefits:

• Preserves details in both highlights and shadows.
• Creates balanced, realistic photos in challenging lighting.
• Perfect for landscapes, interiors, and sunrise/sunset shots.

What is Panorama Merging?

Panorama merging stitches several overlapping photos together into one wide or tall image.

Benefits:

• Capture ultra-wide landscapes.
• Create vertical cityscape or architecture photos.
• Maintain RAW file flexibility for full editing control.

Step-by-Step: How to Merge HDR Photos in Lightroom

1. Select your bracketed exposures in Library or Develop module.
2. Right-click → Photo Merge → HDR.
3. Check Auto Align (for handheld shots) and Auto Settings (for a quick start).
4. Adjust Deghosting if moving objects cause ghost effects.
5. Click Merge → Lightroom creates a new HDR DNG file.

Step-by-Step: How to Merge Panoramas in Lightroom

1. Select your overlapping sequence of photos.
2. Right-click → Photo Merge → Panorama.
3. Choose a projection type:
   • Spherical → for 360° and wide panoramas.
   • Cylindrical → for landscapes with wide horizontal views.
   • Perspective → for architecture with straight lines.
4. Enable Auto Crop to remove blank edges.
5. Click Merge → Lightroom generates a new Panorama DNG.

Pro Tips for Better Results

• Shoot on a tripod for alignment accuracy.
• Overlap panorama shots by 30%.
• For HDR, use 3–5 exposures spaced 1–2 stops apart.
• Always shoot in RAW for maximum flexibility.

Final Thoughts

With Lightroom’s HDR and Panorama tools, you can create breathtaking images that go beyond the limits of your camera sensor. Best of all, Lightroom keeps the results in DNG format, so you can edit them just like any other RAW photo.

✅ Want to try HDR and Panorama merging yourself?
Start your free trial of Adobe Lightroom today and see how easily you can combine photos into stunning wide shots and dynamic images.

👉 Get Adobe Lightroom Free Trial