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High Dynamic Range (HDR) is a technology that enhances the contrast and color accuracy of digital images and videos by expanding the range between the darkest and brightest areas. Traditional imaging techniques often struggle to represent the full spectrum of real-world lighting conditions, leading to loss of detail in shadows and highlights. HDR addresses this limitation by capturing and displaying a broader range of luminance levels, resulting in more realistic and visually rich content.
HDR images are typically stored in specialized file formats that preserve extended brightness and color information. Common formats include OpenEXR, Radiance HDR (RGBE), and TIFF with HDR encoding. OpenEXR, developed by Industrial Light & Magic, is widely used in visual effects and professional imaging due to its high precision and support for multiple channels. Radiance HDR, originally designed for lighting simulations, employs a compressed representation of floating-point color values. TIFF, when configured for HDR, can store high-bit-depth data suitable for professional photography and scientific applications.
These formats enable accurate tone mapping and post-processing adjustments without compromising image fidelity. Unlike standard formats such as JPEG or PNG, which use limited bit-depths, HDR formats retain a greater range of color and brightness, making them essential for applications in film production, gaming, and advanced display technologies. By leveraging HDR, digital content creators can achieve superior visual quality, ensuring that images and videos maintain depth and realism across various viewing environments.