Prepare for the Future!
High Dynamic Range (HDR) images are of much higher quality than Standard Dynamic Range (SDR). These are different from the typical JPG files generated by your phone camera (even with "Ultra HDR" mode). Below are some of the biggest advantages of HDR images:
Wider color gamut: displays many more of the visible colors that our eyes can see, making the images more vibrant and natural.
Billions of colors: improved accuracy, realism, and gradients from light to dark.
Brightness and contrast: retain more details in the darkest and brightest parts of the image while enjoying a much greater difference between highlights and shadows.
Billions of colors: improved accuracy, realism, and gradients from light to dark.
Brightness and contrast: retain more details in the darkest and brightest parts of the image while enjoying a much greater difference between highlights and shadows.
HDR images should not be confused with HDR photography (combining multiple photos), although they do complement each other.
Requirements and Usage
To create high quality HDR images, HDR must be incorporated into the entire workflow, with specialized equipment, shooting techniques, software, and capable displays. The photos can only be viewed on supported devices and platforms too. Most modern iPhones and Android phones have HDR screens, as well as many new TVs and computer monitors.
Instagram and Threads allow sharing and viewing HDR images, but other social media sites like Facebook and X/Twitter are still working on it. As of April 2025, web browsers like Google Chrome and Microsoft Edge support HDR, but others do not.
HDR images are not useful for printing. If your primary goal is to only print your photos, SDR is more than adequate. Also, the enhanced highlights of HDR may not be as noticeable in photos taken in dimly lit rooms, although the other advantages still apply.
Why Use HDR Today?
HDR images may be on the cutting edge right now, but it won't be long before they are mainstream and we view SDR the same way as VHS tapes. Using the best technology available today ensures that your memories will be preserved in the best possible way for the future. This is especially true for important events like weddings or childhood moments that will never come again.