It is a collection of techniques that allow a wider dynamic range of luminances between the lightest and darkest areas of an image.
The human eye can adapt to luminances from 0.000,000,1 cd/m² up to 1,000,000 cd/m², and can cope with a luminance range of 1:1000.
However, computer displays only offer a contrast of approximately 300:1.
This means that the luminance offered by a computer monitor falls significantly short to what the human eye can actually process.
HDR software allows computer graphics to offer the full real world levels of illumination, with darker darks and brighter lights, while at the same time increasing the amount of lighting detail displayed in all areas of the image.
While standard image formats utilizes 8, 16 or 24 bits with applied gamma and color space, the HDR image format extends the bit depth up to 96 bit in a linear color space.
Additionally, HDR images can be photometrically correct.
HDR images are normally generated by combining multiple normal images of the same scene taken with different intensity levels, or as the result of creating a global illumination rendering.
To provide an insight into the quality of software that is available, we have compiled a list of 6 top quality open source HDR applications.
Hopefully, there will be something of interest for anyone interested in HDR imagery.
Now, let's explore the 6 HDR tools at hand. For each title we have compiled its own portal page, a full description with an in-depth analysis of its features, a screenshot of the software in action, together with links to relevant resources and reviews.
| HDR Imaging Software | |
| Luminance HDR | Provides a workflow for HDR imaging (previously known as Qtpfsgui) |
| Hugin | Panorama photo stitching program |
| CinePaint | Works with 16-bit and floating point pixels for HDR imaging |
| pfstools | Command line HDR manipulation programs |
| OpenEXR | HDR image file format and HDR utilities |
| Radiance | Lighting simulation and rendering system |
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