NOW AVAILABLE!

Aurora HDR 2018 is the newest version of Skylum's hugely popular HDR editing program used by both enthusiasts and pros, and now available for Mac's & PC's.

Learn how to edit your photos in the best HDR program available in my comprehensive step-by-step online course. This is the most complete HDR training video available for HDR photography and post processing with Aurora HDR 2018!

This course features all new recordings and has more videos and more content than my Aurora 2017 course.

It is the most complete training video available for Skylum's Aurora HDR 2018!

Save 10% on Aurora HDR 2018 here by using Coupon Code: MATTSUESS

Main Features

Some of the Highlights of My Course

  • 90+ Videos, 8+ Hrs of Content

    There are over 90 videos and over 8 hours of content in this course all recorded in HD 1080p, covering everything from tips on shooting HDR to in-depth post processing with Aurora HDR 2018

  • 27 Course Photos

    There are 27 course photos included so you can follow along step-by-step with me during lessons.

  • Got Questions?

    Have any questions during the course? There is a Discussions tab on the left side of the online course player to ask away!

Course Features


  • Over 90 videos!!
  • Over 8 hours of content
  • The Most Complete Aurora HDR Online Course Available
  • Video available in HD 1080p
  • Course photos are included so you can follow along and practice
  • Workflow options for using with other programs like Lightroom, Capture One Pro, Luminar, ON1 Photo, Photoshop, Affinity Photo, and more.
  • Videos on using Layers and Masks and the tools to create them
  • Videos explaining each of the 14 Filters in Aurora plus Lens Corrections and Transform - great to return to for quick review
  • Available in Streaming Only AND Downloadable Versions
  • Watch the videos as often as you like
  • A set of FREE Presets I created are included
  • The online course features access to a private group on my website to ask questions where I and other students can answer
  • And much, much more!

Course Curriculum

Explore What's in My Course

  • 01
    Chapter 1 - Download Course Photos & Presets
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    • Free Course Photos
    • Free Course Presets
  • 02
    Chapter 2 - Some Basics First - 31:56
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  • 03
    Chapter 3 - Lets Talk About HDR - 20:40
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    • 01 - What is HDR? - 01:56 FREE PREVIEW
    • 02 - When HDR Goes Bad - 03:57
    • 03 - When and How to Shoot HDR - 03:36
    • 04 - Check Your Histogram - 04:03
    • 05 - What About Flat Days? - 01:49
    • 06 - Tips on getting the best HDR shots - 02:55
    • 07 - What About Split Neutral Density Filters? - 02:24
  • 04
    Chapter 4 - Getting Files Ready For Aurora - 17:17
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    • 01 - Using RAW Files With Aurora - 02:19
    • 02 - Pre-Process RAW Files First Before Aurora - 06:14
    • 03 - Should I Use RAW or Pre-Processed Files? - 03:27
    • 04 - Using Single Exposures - 02:03
    • 05 - Single Exposure RAW Processed Into Multiple Exposures - 03:14
  • 05
    Chapter 5 - Sending Photos From Other Programs To Aurora And Back - 24:26
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    • 01 - Installing Aurora as a Plugin - 01:45 FREE PREVIEW
    • 02 - From Photoshop to Aurora - 03:55
    • 03 - Lightroom to Aurora And Back - 05:30
    • 04 - Capture One Pro to Aurora And Back - 02:41
    • 05 - ON1 Photo RAW 2018 to Aurora And Back - 03:25
    • 06 - Luminar to Aurora - 02:01
    • 07 - Affinity Photo to Aurora - 02:37
    • 08 - Apple's Photos to Aurora And Back - 02:32
  • 06
    Chapter 6 - The Interface - 31:55
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    • 01 - Opening Images - 02:22
    • 02 - Interface Overview - 05:25
    • 03 - Aurora HDR 2018 Menu (Mac Only) - 02:05
    • 04 - File Menu - 05:06
    • 05 - Edit & Image Menus - 01:50
    • 06 - Layers Menu - 04:31
    • 07 - Filters & Tools Menus - 02:21
    • 08 - Plugins Menu (Mac Only) - 01:01
    • 09 - Mask Menu (Mac Only) - 01:58
    • 10 - View Menu (Mac Only) - 02:12
    • 11 - Window, Macphun Account, & Help Menus - 03:04
  • 07
    Chapter 07 - The Filters - 61:11
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    • 01 - Intro to Filters - 03:08 FREE PREVIEW
    • 02 - Transform - 02:22
    • 03 - Lens Correction - 02:16
    • 04 - HDR Basic - 07:37
    • 05 - Color - 02:49
    • 06 - HDR Structure - 03:23
    • 07 - HDR Denoise - 02:41
    • 08 - Image Radiance - 02:56
    • 09 - Polarizing Filter - 01:40
    • 10 - HDR Details Boost - 03:44
    • 11 - Glow - 01:31
    • 12 - Top & Bottom Tuning - 04:32
    • 13 - Tone Curve - 04:30
    • 14 - HSL - 04:03
    • 15 - Color Toning - 03:17
    • 16 - Dodge & Burn - 07:02
    • 17 - Vignette - 03:40
  • 08
    Chapter 08 - Enhancing Photos - Part 1 - the Basics - 45:05
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    • 01 - Opening Image Dialog Including Ghost Reduction, CA Removal, Color Denoise, & Alignment - 07:42
    • 02 - All About Presets - 10:56
    • 03 - Importing your Aurora 2017 presets into Aurora 2018 - 04:24
    • 04 - Starting With a Preset - 07:02
    • 05 - Cropping - 04:03
    • 06 - Saving & Exporting Photos (Mac only) - 07:58
    • 07 - Saving & Exporting Photos (Windows only) - 03:00
  • 09
    09 - Enhancing Photos - Part 2 - Layers & Masking - 61:53
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    • 01 - Layers and Masks - a Primer - 11:23
    • 02 - Brush Mask - 12:00
    • 03 - Radial Mask - 06:29
    • 04 - Gradient Mask - 03:54
    • 05 - Luminosity Mask - 04:39
    • 06 - Adding a New Adjustment Layer - 08:50
    • 07 - Add a New Original Image Layer - 02:48
    • 08 - Add a New HDR Bracket Layer - 01:45
    • 09 - Adding a New Image Layer - 01:59
    • 10 - Blend Modes - 08:06
  • 10
    Chapter 10 - Enhancing Photos - Part 3 - Keeping Things Real - 28:25
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    • 01 - Keeping Things Real - Landscape Photo - Part 1 - 06:27
    • 02 - Keeping Things Real - Landscape Photo - Part 2 - 08:28
    • 03 - Keeping Things Real - Landscape Photo - Part 3 - 13:30
  • 11
    Chapter 11 - Enhancing Photos - Part 4 - Using Grunge Effectively - 24:04
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    • 01 - Using Grunge Effectively - Part 1 - 9:06
    • 02 - Using Grunge Effectively - Part 2 - 9:25
    • 03 - Using Grunge Effectively - Part 3 - 5:33
  • 12
    Chapter 12 - Black & White and Other Creative Enhancements - 35:12
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    • 01 - Black & White - 12:26
    • 02 - Advanced Black & White - 06:52
    • 03 - Color Toning - 05:11
    • 04 - Selective Coloring - 04:50
    • 05 - Texture Blending & Layer Blending Modes - 05:53
  • 13
    Chapter 13 - Correcting Problems - 25:23
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    • 01 - Tips on Dealing With Too Much Noise in the Sky - 07:08
    • 02 - Fixing Blown Out Highlights With an Original Source File - 04:25
    • 03 - Dealing with Halos - 02:45
    • 04 - Replacing Skies - 11:05
  • 14
    14 - Final Tidbits & Conclusion - 22:26
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    • 01 - Batch Processing - 08:13
    • 02 - HDR Panoramas - 06:23
    • 03 - Using Macphun Plugins Inside Aurora - 03:58
    • 04 - Printing - 02:33
    • 05 - Conclusion - 01:19
  • 15
    15 BONUS: Deconstructing a Few of My Photos
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    • FREE Bonus Videos Coming Later this Summer
  • 16
    16 - BONUS - Additional Videos - 35:08
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Enroll Today!!

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  • Matt Suess

    Your Course Instructor:

    Matt has been a full-time professional photographer for almost 30 years and has quickly become one of the leading fine art photographers & educators in the United States. Matt is a digital photography pioneer and began teaching digital photography to photojournalists in the late 90's. His passion for sharing and teaching what he has learned in his impressive and long career is evident in his down-to-earth and encouraging approach with his students. You can see his work at fine art exhibitions such as the prestigious Celebration of Fine Art in Scottsdale in addition to other select juried events. In addition Matt teaches field & classroom workshops in at least 5 different states each year, offers online classes, one-on-one instruction, provides FREE webinars & education for ON1 and Skylum Software, and still finds time to spend with his Fiancee & fine art painter Whitney M Hall as well as his companion & Best Friend Scrappy. Matt is currently based in Scottsdale, AZ and Bozeman, MT where he sells his fine art photography and teaches photo workshops and classes.

    Matt Suess

    Fine Art Photographer & Educator

Disclosure about product links and affiliations: Some of the links I provide are affiliate links which means I get a small commission, with no additional cost to you, if you click it and end up buying something. It helps me provide free educational resources and articles. So if you use them, thank you! My affiliations however never influence my opinions on any products/services and I am only affiliated with companies whose products/services I personally use.