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Luminance HDR
What it is
Luminance HDR is a graphical application for creating and working with high dynamic range images on Linux, macOS, and Windows. It can combine JPEG, TIFF, or RAW photos of the same scene taken at different exposures to create HDR files. Supported HDR formats include OpenEXR, Radiance RGBE, 16-bit and 32-bit TIFF, RAW, and PFS; supported LDR formats include JPEG, PNG, PPM, PBM, TIFF, and FITS. Users can load and save HDR files, rotate and resize them, apply tone mapping and projective transformations, and copy EXIF data between image sets. RAW images are treated as HDR through the LibRAW library. The listed workflow includes multiple tone-mapping operators, batch HDR merging, batch tone mapping, a command-line interface, and color management. The software is distributed under GNU GPL version 2.0, and prebuilt installation options are documented for all three desktop platforms. Version 2.6.0 adds four tone-mapping operators, an HDR Wizard preview, post-processing gamma and saturation, speed improvements, and bug fixes.
For and against
For
- Available for Linux, macOS, and Windows
- Creates HDR files from differently exposed image sets
- Supports RAW images through LibRAW
- Includes batch HDR merging and tone mapping
- Offers multiple tone-mapping operators
Against
- Compilation can require several development dependencies
- Distributed under GNU GPL version 2.0
The verdict
Luminance HDR provides image merging, tone mapping, and batch tools across three desktop platforms. Users building it from source should account for the listed compilation dependencies.
Who it suits
Luminance HDR suits desktop users who want to combine differently exposed JPEG, TIFF, or RAW images and work with HDR files. Its batch tools, command-line interface, and color-managed workflow may also fit users handling multiple images or structured processing tasks.
Plans and prices
Free
Open-source desktop HDR imaging · no watermarks · no subscription fees
Read 15 Oct 2026 · luminancehdr.com
Free and open-source
GPLv2 license · desktop HDR imaging software
Read 30 Sep 2026 · github.com
On the record
- API and SDK
- The public repository documents a desktop GUI and build process but does not list a public web API or SDK.github.com · read 15 Oct 2026
- Batch processing
- The manual documents batch tone mapping and batch-oriented HDR workflows.luminancehdr.readthedocs.io · read 15 Oct 2026
- Build and self-hosting
- Developers can clone the source, configure it with CMake, compile with make and install to a chosen prefix.github.com · read 15 Oct 2026
- Build dependencies
- Compilation uses Qt5, Exiv2, Little CMS, JPEG, TIFF, PNG, LibRaw, OpenEXR, FFTW, Boost, GSL and Eigen3, with CFITSIO optional.github.com · read 15 Oct 2026
- Developer community
- In a 2012 SourceForge interview, the project described its developer group as three people.sourceforge.net · read 15 Oct 2026
- Documentation
- The Read the Docs manual covers HDR creation, alignment, anti-ghosting, tone mapping, resizing, batch processing, EXIF copying and preferences.luminancehdr.readthedocs.io · read 15 Oct 2026
- Editing features
- Supported operations include saving and loading HDR files, rotating and resizing HDR files, tone mapping, projective transformations, and copying EXIF data between image sets.github.com · read 30 Sep 2026
- EXIF handling
- A dedicated tool copies EXIF metadata one-to-one between image sets when exposure metadata is missing.luminancehdr.readthedocs.io · read 15 Oct 2026
- Flatpak packaging
- Flathub provides an unverified, community-maintained desktop package with x86_64 and aarch64 builds.flathub.org · read 15 Oct 2026
- HDR creation
- Users can merge JPEG, TIFF or RAW exposures of the same scene into an HDR file.github.com · read 15 Oct 2026
- HDR formats
- It supports OpenEXR, Radiance RGBE, 16-bit and 32-bit TIFF, RAW, and PFS formats.github.com · read 30 Sep 2026
- HDR input formats
- The project supports OpenEXR, Radiance RGBE, 16/32-bit and LogLuv TIFF, RAW and PFS files.github.com · read 15 Oct 2026
- Homebrew availability
- Homebrew lists Luminance HDR 2.6.0 as an Intel macOS cask and says Apple Silicon requires Rosetta 2.formulae.brew.sh · read 15 Oct 2026
- Image transforms
- Built-in tools rotate, resize and apply projective transformations to HDR images.github.com · read 15 Oct 2026
- Latest release
- GitHub lists version 2.6.0 as the latest release, adding four tone-mapping operators, HDR Wizard preview, post-processing gamma and saturation, speed improvements, and bug fixes.github.com · read 30 Sep 2026
- LDR formats
- It supports JPEG, PNG, PPM, PBM, TIFF, and FITS formats.github.com · read 30 Sep 2026
- LDR output formats
- Supported low-dynamic-range formats include JPEG, PNG, PPM, PBM, TIFF and FITS.github.com · read 15 Oct 2026
- Licence
- The repository identifies the software as GPL-2.0 licensed, and the manual says modified distributed versions must share their source.github.com · read 15 Oct 2026
