Luminance HDR vs SNS-HDR
Luminance HDR
github.comSNS-HDR
sns-hdr.comSide by side
| Figure | Luminance HDR | SNS-HDR |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | Free | €30/mo |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Free trial | — | Yes |
| Open source | Yes | — |
| Windows | Yes | Yes |
| macOS | Yes | Yes |
| Linux | Yes | — |
| Self-hosted | Yes | — |
| Plans published | 2 | 5 |
| Spec score · HDR Software | 8.4 (#3) | 7.8 (#8) |
| Spec score · Photo Editing Software | 8.7 (#26) | 8.0 (#85) |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Purpose | Luminance HDR is a graphical user interface that provides a complete workflow for HDR imaging. | SNS-HDR processes images with HDR techniques, creating HDR images from photo sequences and processing single images. |
| RAW support | RAW files are handled through the LibRaw library and treated as HDR inputs. | Yes |
| Support | The README directs users to the BUGS file for bugs, issues, and feature requests, and the installation guide lists a Pixls.us forum. | The maker provides a user forum with discussion, help, tutorials, and bug-report sections. |
Plans
SNS-HDR
- SNS-HDR Home€30 a month
- SNS-HDR Professional€85 a month
- SNS-HDR LiteFree
- SNS-HDR Home€30, paid once
- SNS-HDR Professional€85, paid once
In their own words
Luminance HDR
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.
SNS-HDR
SNS-HDR processes photo sequences into HDR images and can also process single images. It reads JPEG, TIFF, RAW files including DNG, OpenEXR, and Radiance HDR. For sequences, it can align source exposures and reduce ghosting and chromatic aberration. Editing tools include masks, presets, project saving and restoration, and batch processing; the software also supports 360° panorama processing. Its controls and presets are intended to produce natural-looking results. Listed outputs include JPEG, TIFF, TIFF-8, TIFF-16, SNSX, HEIC, and HEIC-10, with HEIC output available on macOS. It runs on Windows and macOS, requiring Windows 10 64-bit or newer, or macOS 14 or newer on Apple Silicon. It integrates with Adobe Lightroom Classic as a plug-in or external editor, but not cloud-based Lightroom. SNS-HDR Lite is freeware with a commercial license. Home costs €30 a month for a non-commercial license; Professional costs €85 a month for a commercial license. The Home Lightroom plug-in handles one series at a time, while Professional adds series splitting and quiet mode; batch processing is a Pro feature. A Pro demo is available to try before purchase.