Drag and drop or click to upload a JPG, PNG, or WEBP file. The HDR effect is applied immediately at strength 3.
HDR Effect
Give your photo a dramatic HDR look — boosted saturation, enhanced local contrast, and deep shadow detail. Adjust strength and download. Free, no signup.
How to Apply an HDR Effect to a Photo
Use the slider to dial in the intensity — from a subtle detail boost at 1 to a full dramatic HDR look at 5. The preview updates when you release the slider.
Click Download to save the result as a PNG at the original pixel dimensions, with no watermark.
How the HDR effect works
The tool applies three stages of pixel manipulation using the browser canvas API. First, saturation boosting — each pixel is converted to HSL and its saturation is multiplied by a factor proportional to the chosen strength, making colours richer and more vivid. Second, unsharp masking for local contrast — a blurred copy of the image is created using three passes of a box blur, then the difference between the original and the blur is amplified and added back. This sharpens edges and midtone detail without increasing global contrast in a flat way. Third, tone mapping — pixels in the shadow range (below 80) are lifted to reveal dark detail, while pixels in the highlight range (above 200) are slightly compressed to prevent clipping. Together, these steps recreate the characteristic look of HDR-processed photography.
Common uses
Landscape and architecture photography — HDR was originally developed to handle high-contrast outdoor scenes; it brings out cloud texture, building detail, and ground shadow simultaneously. Real estate photos — interior shots often have bright windows and dark corners; HDR balances both. Travel photography — add drama and depth to photos of monuments, streets, and natural vistas. Product photography — enhance material texture and surface detail. Social media content — the vivid, hyperreal look of HDR stands out in image feeds.