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rawhdr
What it is
rawhdr is a free command-line utility for combining multiple RAW photographs into one high-dynamic-range image. It also supports focus stacking from a series of images. The documentation says RAW input can use any format recognized by the rawpy library, while output can use HDR formats known to imageio. The generated HDR exposure follows the first RAW file supplied. Installation is documented through pip install rawhdr, and a Python API is provided for both exposure merging and focus stacking. Its exposure-scaling helper omits extremely bright pixels that could be saturated and very dark pixels that could be noisy. Creating OpenEXR output may require the additional freeimage library through imageio. The package requires Python 3.7 or newer, is classified as OS Independent on PyPI, and lists Linux and API among its platforms. It is licensed under GNU General Public License v2 or later. PyPI identifies Felix Thaler as the author and one maintainer.
For and against
For
- Merges multiple RAW files into HDR images
- Supports focus stacking
- Accepts RAW formats known to rawpy
- Provides command-line and Python interfaces
- Free GPL v2-or-later package
Against
- Requires Python 3.7 or newer
- OpenEXR writing may need freeimage
- Command-line installation is required
The verdict
rawhdr is a compact option for RAW-based HDR merging and focus stacking, with both shell and Python access. Its requirements and possible freeimage dependency matter for users setting up OpenEXR output.
Who it suits
It suits photographers and developers comfortable with command-line or Python workflows for RAW merging and focus stacking. Users need Python 3.7 or newer.
On the record
- Command line
- The project provides a command-line tool that can be installed with pip.github.com · read 8 Oct 2026
- Command-line install
- The documented installation command is pip install rawhdr.fthaler.github.io · read 8 Oct 2026
- Exposure behavior
- The generated HDR image exposure matches the first RAW image supplied.fthaler.github.io · read 8 Oct 2026
- Exposure scaling
- Its exposure scaling helper ignores very bright, potentially saturated pixels and very dark, potentially noisy pixels.fthaler.github.io · read 8 Oct 2026
- Focus stacking
- rawhdr also supports focus stacking from multiple images.github.com · read 8 Oct 2026
- HDR merging
- The command-line tool merges multiple RAW images into a high-dynamic-range image.github.com · read 8 Oct 2026
- HDR output support
- The documentation says it supports any HDR file format known by imageio as output.fthaler.github.io · read 8 Oct 2026
- License
- The project is licensed under GNU GPL version 2 or any later version.github.com · read 8 Oct 2026
- Maintainer
- PyPI lists Felix Thaler as the author and one maintainer.pypi.org · read 8 Oct 2026
- OpenEXR requirement
- Writing OpenEXR may require installing the additional freeimage library through imageio.github.com · read 8 Oct 2026
- Operating system
- The package is classified as OS Independent on PyPI.pypi.org · read 8 Oct 2026
- Output formats
- The documentation says it supports HDR output formats known by imageio.fthaler.github.io · read 8 Oct 2026
- Purpose
- rawhdr is a simple HDR image merger that converts multiple RAW files into a single HDR image.github.com · read 8 Oct 2026
- Python API
- The documentation provides a Python API for exposure merging and focus stacking.fthaler.github.io · read 8 Oct 2026
- Python requirement
- The package requires Python 3.7 or newer.pypi.org · read 8 Oct 2026
- RAW input support
- The documentation says it supports any RAW format known by the rawpy library.fthaler.github.io · read 8 Oct 2026
- Runtime requirement
- The PyPI project page lists Python 3.7 or later as required.pypi.org · read 8 Oct 2026
