HDR Photo Converter
Turn a normal photo into an HDR photo that shows brighter on HDR phones in Instagram and Threads. Free, in your browser.
About this tool
Pick a photo, choose how much brighter the highlights may go and where the boost starts, and download two files. The Ultra HDR JPEG is a normal JPEG with a gain map inside, for Instagram, Threads and Google Photos. The HDR PNG is 16-bit with a PQ colour signal, for LinkedIn company pages. On a normal screen both look like the original; on an HDR phone the bright parts glow. Everything runs on your device and nothing is uploaded.
FAQ
What is an Ultra HDR photo?
A JPEG with a second, smaller image inside it called a gain map. Screens that support HDR read the gain map and make each area brighter by the amount it says. Screens that do not simply show the normal JPEG, so the file works everywhere. The format is published by Android and also carries ISO 21496-1 metadata.
Why does my photo look the same after converting?
Because your screen is not showing HDR. The extra brightness only appears on an HDR display, such as a recent iPhone, Pixel or Galaxy phone, or a MacBook Pro, and only in apps that support it. Turn on "Show which areas get brighter" to see where the boost goes.
Does Instagram keep the HDR?
For feed posts, yes, as long as Instagram does not have to re-edit the photo. Posting from a computer or an Android phone keeps it best; uploading from the iPhone app lowers quality, and adding text or filters inside Instagram removes the HDR. Stories do not show HDR photos.
Which file should I use for LinkedIn?
The HDR PNG. In published tests an Ultra HDR JPEG lost its brightness on LinkedIn while a PNG with a PQ signal kept it, on company page logos and uploaded images. Personal profile photos are converted by LinkedIn and lose it either way.
Do X and TikTok show HDR photos?
TikTok photo posts: we found no sign that they keep HDR. X is reported to show gain map photos on iPhone and on the web since late 2025, but not in its Android app; we have not confirmed that ourselves, so test one post first.
Is my photo uploaded anywhere?
No. The photo is decoded, processed and encoded in your browser. Large photos are scaled to 2560 pixels on the long edge, which is still larger than any feed displays.
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