ColorForge Free plan 9.0 Visit Luminance HDR
github.com
What it is
Luminance HDR is a graphical application for creating and editing high dynamic range images on Linux, macOS, and Windows. It can merge JPEG, TIFF, or RAW photos of the same scene taken at different exposures. Supported HDR formats include OpenEXR, Radiance RGBE, 16-bit and 32-bit TIFF, RAW, and PFS; it also handles JPEG, PNG, PPM, PBM, TIFF, and FITS.
The workflow includes loading and saving HDR files, rotation, resizing, tone mapping, projective transformations, and copying EXIF data between image sets. RAW processing uses the LibRAW library. Other listed features include multiple tone-mapping operators, batch HDR merging, batch tone mapping, a command-line interface, and color management. The software is free and distributed under the GNU General Public License version 2.0. Prebuilt installation options are documented for all three desktop platforms. Building from source can require dependencies including Qt5, Exiv2, Little CMS, and LibRaw.
Spec sheet
- What it does
- Luminance HDR is a Qt5 graphical workflow for creating, editing and tone-mapping high-dynamic-range photographs.Read 15 Oct 2026 · github.com
- Purpose
- Luminance HDR is a graphical user interface that provides a complete workflow for HDR imaging.Read 30 Sep 2026 · github.com
- Free plan
- YesRead 20 Sep 2026 · github.com
- Support
- The README directs users to the BUGS file for bugs, issues, and feature requests, and the installation guide lists a Pixls.us forum.Read 30 Sep 2026 · github.com
- License
- The software is distributed under the GNU General Public License version 2.0.Read 30 Sep 2026 · github.com
- API and SDK
- The public repository documents a desktop GUI and build process but does not list a public web API or SDK.Read 15 Oct 2026 · github.com
- Batch processing
- The manual documents batch tone mapping and batch-oriented HDR workflows.Read 15 Oct 2026 · luminancehdr.readthedocs.io
- Build and self-hosting
- Developers can clone the source, configure it with CMake, compile with make and install to a chosen prefix.Read 15 Oct 2026 · github.com
- Build dependencies
- Compilation uses Qt5, Exiv2, Little CMS, JPEG, TIFF, PNG, LibRaw, OpenEXR, FFTW, Boost, GSL and Eigen3, with CFITSIO optional.Read 15 Oct 2026 · github.com
- Developer community
- In a 2012 SourceForge interview, the project described its developer group as three people.Read 15 Oct 2026 · sourceforge.net
- Documentation
- The Read the Docs manual covers HDR creation, alignment, anti-ghosting, tone mapping, resizing, batch processing, EXIF copying and preferences.Read 15 Oct 2026 · luminancehdr.readthedocs.io
- 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.Read 30 Sep 2026 · github.com
- EXIF handling
- A dedicated tool copies EXIF metadata one-to-one between image sets when exposure metadata is missing.Read 15 Oct 2026 · luminancehdr.readthedocs.io
- Flatpak packaging
- Flathub provides an unverified, community-maintained desktop package with x86_64 and aarch64 builds.Read 15 Oct 2026 · flathub.org
- HDR creation
- Users can merge JPEG, TIFF or RAW exposures of the same scene into an HDR file.Read 15 Oct 2026 · github.com
- HDR formats
- It supports OpenEXR, Radiance RGBE, 16-bit and 32-bit TIFF, RAW, and PFS formats.Read 30 Sep 2026 · github.com
- HDR input formats
- The project supports OpenEXR, Radiance RGBE, 16/32-bit and LogLuv TIFF, RAW and PFS files.Read 15 Oct 2026 · github.com
- Homebrew availability
- Homebrew lists Luminance HDR 2.6.0 as an Intel macOS cask and says Apple Silicon requires Rosetta 2.Read 15 Oct 2026 · formulae.brew.sh
- Image transforms
- Built-in tools rotate, resize and apply projective transformations to HDR images.Read 15 Oct 2026 · github.com
- 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.Read 30 Sep 2026 · github.com
- LDR formats
- It supports JPEG, PNG, PPM, PBM, TIFF, and FITS formats.Read 30 Sep 2026 · github.com
- LDR output formats
- Supported low-dynamic-range formats include JPEG, PNG, PPM, PBM, TIFF and FITS.Read 15 Oct 2026 · github.com
- Licence
- The repository identifies the software as GPL-2.0 licensed, and the manual says modified distributed versions must share their source.Read 15 Oct 2026 · github.com
- Limit: basic editing
- Clubic said final-image editing is limited to basic operations such as rotation and resizing, requiring another editor for source-image adjustments.Read 15 Oct 2026 · clubic.com
- Limit: build complexity
- A SourceForge reviewer called Linux installation a nightmare because of dependency and build errors.Read 15 Oct 2026 · sourceforge.net
- Limit: dated and difficult UI
- Clubic cited an initial learning curve, limited performance on large files and an somewhat dated interface.Read 15 Oct 2026 · clubic.com
- Limit: highlight artifacts
- A Pixls.us discussion described highlight artifacts and irrecoverable clipping during tone mapping in version 2.5.0.Read 15 Oct 2026 · discuss.pixls.us
- Limit: instability
- Filmora reported that enabling alignment and deghosting could crash the application.Read 15 Oct 2026 · filmora.wondershare.com
- Linux installation
- The project recommends Flatpak or an Ubuntu/Debian PPA for Linux installation.Read 15 Oct 2026 · luminancehdr.com
- macOS signing
- The macOS build is not Apple-signed, so Gatekeeper may require users to choose Open Anyway.Read 15 Oct 2026 · luminancehdr.com
- Notable news
- SourceForge named Luminance HDR its Project of the Month for May 2012.Read 15 Oct 2026 · sourceforge.net
- Praise: free and capable
- SourceForge reviewers repeatedly praised the software as free, effective, fast and capable of producing impressive HDR images.Read 15 Oct 2026 · sourceforge.net
- Praise: image quality
- A camera-club guide reported that Luminance HDR can produce very effective HDR images and supports many RAW inputs and tone-mapping choices.Read 15 Oct 2026 · marlboroughcameraclub.org.nz
- Praise: interface and algorithms
- Clubic highlighted a simple interface, multiple HDR formats and numerous tone-mapping algorithms.Read 15 Oct 2026 · clubic.com
- Project founding
- SourceForge lists the Luminance HDR project as founded in 2006.Read 15 Oct 2026 · sourceforge.net
- Rating on Clubic
- 6.6 out of 10 from 71 reviews.Read 15 Oct 2026 · clubic.com
- Rating on SourceForge
- 4.6 out of 5 from 55 reviews.Read 15 Oct 2026 · sourceforge.net
- RAW processing
- RAW images are supported and treated as HDR through the LibRAW library.Read 30 Sep 2026 · github.com
- RAW support
- RAW files are handled through the LibRaw library and treated as HDR inputs.Read 15 Oct 2026 · github.com
- Release 2.6.0
- The 2.6.0 release added four tone-mapping operators, HDR-wizard previews, post-processing gamma and saturation, and speed and memory improvements.Read 15 Oct 2026 · github.com
- Security signal
- Clubic reported that its ClamAV scan found no virus, malware or spyware in the Windows installer.Read 15 Oct 2026 · clubic.com
- Supported operating systems
- The project distributes builds or installation paths for Windows, macOS and Linux.Read 15 Oct 2026 · luminancehdr.com
- Supported platforms
- The project documentation provides prebuilt installation options for Windows, Linux, and macOS.Read 30 Sep 2026 · github.com
- System requirements
- The download page recommends Windows 10/11, macOS 10.13 or newer, Linux, a multi-core i5/Ryzen 5-class CPU, 8 GB RAM and a 1920×1080 display.Read 15 Oct 2026 · luminancehdr.com
- Tone mapping
- The application converts HDR images to displayable LDR images using tone-mapping operators.Read 15 Oct 2026 · luminancehdr.readthedocs.io
- Workflow features
- The project lists multiple tone-mapping operators, batch tone mapping, batch HDR merging, a command-line interface, and a color-managed workflow.Read 30 Sep 2026 · sourceforge.net
Plans and prices
Free Free Open-source desktop HDR imaging · no watermarks · no subscription fees Read 15 Oct 2026 · luminancehdr.com
Free and open-source Free GPLv2 license · desktop HDR imaging software Read 30 Sep 2026 · github.com
Strong points and limits
Strong points
- Available for Linux, macOS, and Windows.
- Creates HDR files from JPEG, TIFF, or RAW sets.
- Includes batch merging and tone mapping.
- Supports multiple HDR and LDR formats.
- Free under GPL version 2.0.
Limits
- Source builds can require numerous dependencies.
- RAW processing relies on the LibRAW library.
Who it suits
It suits photographers and other users who want a desktop workflow for merging differently exposed images and processing HDR files. Users who build software from source should account for its listed dependencies.
Verdict
Luminance HDR provides image merging, tone mapping, and batch tools across three desktop platforms. It is free, though building it from source may involve several dependencies.
Where Specifiction places it
- HDR Software#3 of 218.4
- Photo Editing Software#27 of 1608.7
