How can I convert an HDR or OpenEXR image to HEIF/AVIF while preserving HDR for Instagram?
Asked 11/24/2024
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2 answers
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I have an HDR image exported from Affinity Photo as either Radiance .hdr or OpenEXR. On my Mac, both formats display correctly, but when I try to prepare the image for Instagram, I run into problems: iOS doesn’t handle .hdr well, OpenEXR display is inconsistent, and simple exports end up as SDR or clipped/overblown.
Since iOS and Instagram can display HDR in HEIF/AVIF files, what software or workflow can convert a .hdr or .exr image into a proper HDR-capable HEIF/AVIF file without losing highlight detail?
Originally by Vladislav Ivanov. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Vladislav Ivanov
1y ago
2 Answers
2
I was able to convert an OpenEXR file containing an HDR picture into an AVIF file with Rec.2020 profile and retain highlights, using PhotoShop (2024, v25.9.0) as follows:
- Open the image in PhotoShop. It will load as a 32-bit image.
- Open the Camera RAW filter, and adjust exposure as desired. Make sure it's in HDR mode.
- In the Camera RAW filter, use the "Convert and save image" button on the top right toolbar (third from the right).
- Select your desired export format, which for Instagram I believe is AVIF (according to this post)
- Use the HDR Output option and select the Rec.2020 color space if it's not preselected
- Save the image from within the Camera RAW filter.
I started experimenting with converting my Canon RAW images using Adobe Camera RAW as soon as it became experimental. I stored them as OpenEXR because that's what I could demonstrate on my 2021 16" M1 MacBook Pro. Now that the feature has become mainstream I'm just using Lightroom and exporting to JPEG XL or JPEG with gain maps.
I don't use Instagram so I can't test it myself.
Originally by Dave Van den Eynde. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Dave Van den Eynde
1y ago
0
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Based on the answers, Photoshop is the only confirmed off-the-shelf tool mentioned that can do this reliably.
Working method:
- Open the OpenEXR image in Photoshop; it loads as a 32-bit image.
- Open Camera Raw Filter and keep the workflow in HDR mode.
- Adjust exposure as needed.
- In Camera Raw, use the “Convert and save image” button.
- Export as AVIF with HDR Output enabled, using Rec.2020 if available.
That workflow reportedly preserves HDR highlights and produces a file suitable for Instagram.
No standard ImageMagick-based solution was confirmed in the answers. One responder said they could not find another ready-made tool and instead wrote a custom program to convert Radiance HDR to HEIC while preserving HDR, but noted it was a rough, unreliable hack rather than a polished general solution.
So the practical answer is: use Photoshop/Camera Raw and export HDR AVIF (or HEIF if your software supports true HDR HEIF correctly). If starting from Affinity output, OpenEXR appears to be the better interchange format for this workflow.
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