A camera cannot hold a bright sky and a dark foreground in one exposure the way your eyes can. The HDR look narrows that gap after the fact: shadows are lifted, bright areas held back, and contrast is increased locally so that texture stands out everywhere.
Used gently it rescues a flat or backlit photo. Pushed hard it gives the dramatic, gritty style popular for architecture, cars and landscapes.
How to use the HDR Effect tool
- Choose a photo.
- Raise local contrast and lift the shadows to taste.
- Download the result.
Popular uses
- Backlit scenes with a dark foreground
- Landscapes, buildings and interiors
- Adding punch to flat, hazy pictures
Tips for the best result
- Stop when halos appear around buildings against the sky.
- Lift shadows before adding contrast; noise in dark areas is amplified by both.
Quick facts
| Price | Free |
|---|---|
| Works with | JPG, PNG, WebP |
| Where it runs | In your browser, on your device |
| Account | Not needed |