HDR

High Dynamic Range

A technique used in photography and imaging to enhance the difference between the lightest and darkest elements of an image. Traditional photography often fails to capture a scene’s full spectrum of light, leading to overexposed (too bright) or underexposed (too dark) areas. HDR aims to overcome this limitation by combining multiple photographs taken at different exposure levels into a single image. This results in a photo that more accurately represents the range of intensities found in real scenes.

In HDR photography, three or more photos of the same subject are typically taken at varying exposure levels: one correctly exposed, one underexposed, and one overexposed. These images, which capture details in the shadows, midtones, and highlights, are blended using specialized software to create a composite image with enhanced detail and color depth.

In addition to its use in photography, HDR technology is employed in video and television to improve picture quality by increasing contrast and color accuracy. This results in more vivid, lifelike images, and closer to how the human eye perceives the real world. HDR technology in displays and content requires compatible hardware and media to produce and process a wider range of brightness and color.

• Abbreviation: HDR