# RAW2HDR — A RAW to HDR HEIC converter

> RAW to HDR HEIC converter with advanced photo editing tools. (iPhone/iPad app by Chris chi-fu HUANG.)

- Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/raw2hdr/id6758991441 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`)
- Developer: [Chris chi-fu HUANG](https://appshunter.io/developer/1856042342)
- Category: Photo & Video, Graphics & Design
- Price: Free with in-app purchases
- Rating: 4.50/5 from 4 App Store ratings · 3 written reviews indexed
- Age rating: 4+
- Requires: iOS 13.0 · 183 MB
- Languages: American English
- Released: 2026-02-17
- Data updated: 2026-08-11
- Monetization: free with in-app purchases
- User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/raw2hdr/id6758991441/reviews.md

## What is RAW2HDR?

Unlock the True Potential of Your Photos :

raw2hdr transforms your camera's RAW files into stunning 10-bit HDR images that bring your photography to life. Whether you're shooting with a Sony, Fujifilm, Canon, or Leica, this app unlocks the full dynamic range hiding in your RAW files.

What is 10-bit HDR?

Standard photos are limited to 8-bit color (16 million colors). 10-bit HDR images contain over 1 billion colors — that's 64 times more color information! This means:

* Brighter whites that truly shine without washing out
* Deeper shadows with visible detail instead of pure black
* Richer colors that match what your eyes actually saw
* Glowing highlights in sunsets, city lights, and reflections
Think of it like viewing your photos through a professional slide projector instead of looking at a print — everything has depth, luminance, and presence that jumps off the screen.

The HDR Difference You Can See

When you view HDR images on modern iPhones, iPads, or HDR-enabled displays, you'll notice:

* Sunsets actually glow with warm radiance
* City lights sparkle like real life
* Black & white photos show brilliant whites that feel illuminated from within
* Picture frames make your images pop off the screen with dimensional depth

Perfect for Social Media - Share your HDR masterpieces where they'll shine:

* Instagram - HDR photos stand out in feeds with eye-catching vibrancy
* Threads - Your HDR images will stop the scroll
* iMessage - Send HDR photos that look stunning on recipients' HDR screens
* iPhone Photos - Full HDR viewing with the HDR badge

Professional Editing Tools :

* Histogram, Crop mode, Exposure, Contrast, Black Point, White Balance, Shadow Recovery, Lens Correction, Noise Reduction

Black & White Conversion :

* Transform your photos into luminous black & white images where whites actually glow brighter than standard photos. In HDR, monochrome photography reaches a new level — imagine viewing Ansel Adams prints with a backlight.

Picture Frames & Borders :

* Borders in any size with any colors
* Custom aspect ratios (65:24 x-pan, 16:9, 4:3, 3:2, 1:1, or original)
* Flexible alignment
* HDR frames create a gallery presentation effect — like matted prints in a professional exhibition

Simulations & LUTs:

* Adding styles into your images in both SDR / HDR from ranges of 50+ styles

Universal RAW Support - Apple's CIRAWFilter for professional-grade RAW processing

Works with RAW files from major camera brands:

* Sony (ARW)
* Fujifilm (RAF) — including X-Trans sensors
* Canon (CR2, CR3)
* Leica, Apple, DJI, Google, Sigma, Ricoh (DNG)
* Panasonic (RAW, RW2)
* Hasselblad (3FR)
* Olympus (ORF)
* Pentax (PEF)
* Nikon (NEF)
* And many more...


The Value of Converting to HDR :

Your camera captures far more light information than what standard 8-bit photos can display. RAW files contain this "hidden" data, but you need HDR to actually see it.

Standard Photo: Clipped highlights, crushed shadows, compressed colors HDR Conversion: Full dynamic range, glowing lights, rich shadows, true-to-life colors

It's like the difference between looking through a dirty window vs. standing outside — suddenly everything is vivid, dimensional, and real.

How It Works :
1. Import your RAW photos from anywhere
2. Convert to 10-bit HDR HEIC with a single tap
3. Editing with adjustments, add elegant frames, experimenting with film simulations
4. Share to Instagram, Threads, or save to Photos
5. Experience your photos in stunning HDR on compatible displays

See the Difference :

The difference between standard photos and HDR is impossible to describe — you have to see it. Once you experience HDR images on an HDR display, standard photos will feel flat and lifeless by comparison.

## Key features

- RAW to 10-bit HDR conversion
- Enhanced color depth and dynamic range
- Professional editing tools
- Black & white conversion
- Customizable picture frames and borders
- LUT and style simulations
- Universal RAW file support

## Pricing and in-app purchases

Base price: Free.

**One-time purchases**

| Purchase | Price | Type |
| --- | --- | --- |
| raw2hdr Pro Unlimited | $2.99 | one-time |


## Recent user reviews (3 of 3)

All indexed reviews: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/raw2hdr/id6758991441/reviews.md

### 5/5 — Cool app for confusing UX

*2026-06-13*

The idea is really cool and the implementation of the algorithm and the LUTs work well. However, the UX is so confusing that I still don’t quite know what the right workflow is to generate the right images without cluttering the library.

**Developer response:** Hi,

Thank you for your kind words about RAW2HDR and for taking the time to share your feedback.

One of the shortcomings we have come to recognize is that RAW2HDR was originally designed as a simple, one-click solution for converting RAW images to HDR. As the app evolved, we gradually introduced additional capabilities such as RAW editing tools and LUT-based color adjustments. While these features expanded the app's functionality, they also led to a more cluttered interface than we initially intended.

In particular, our decision to combine batch processing and single-photo editing into the same screen has created confusion for some users. We understand this has affected the overall user experience, and we sincerely apologize for that.

To address these concerns, we are making significant UI improvements in an upcoming iPhone release, building upon the design changes we recently introduced on iPad. Users will be able to choose between Editor Mode and Batch Processing Mode separately, creating a more intuitive and streamlined workflow.

Our team is committed to continuously improving the user experience, and we greatly value the feedback we receive from our users. We will continue investing time and effort into refining the interface and reducing friction points to make RAW2HDR easier and more enjoyable to use.

Thank you again for your support and for helping us make the app better.

### 3/5 — Does not allow export HEIF to local finder

*2026-05-22*

It does work, but only export to photos app, which export jpeg to finder. It does not allow export HEIF to local finder.

**Developer response:** Hello,

The original design was intended primarily for iPhone users, where exported files are automatically saved to the Photos app album.

We apologize for the inconvenience. In a future release, we plan to improve the export functionality to allow saving files to directories outside of the currently provided path.

Thank you for your feedback and patience.

### 5/5 — Simple. Great!

*2026-05-18*

- Handles mirrorless camera formats I tried.

- Applies lens corrections, ISO NR

- Functional adjustments, like exposure.

- Proper HDR exports.

- No fuss. No ads. Works fine.

- No subscription, one time purchase!

It’s great way to pull HDR files out of cameras that only support SDR JPEGs normally. This is a very complex process, and the dev does a great job.

But my feedback:

- …Generally, “expert” users will seek this out, so give us more granular encoding. Options for compression beyond resolution, or 4:2:2 encoding, for example.

- JXL or AVIF export (as a non default option of course).

These are nitpicks though. This is a gem, like the old iOS days. I like it so much I plan to gift it to others.

**Developer response:** Hello,

Thank you for your feedback!

Support for AVIF and JXL requires a completely different graphics engine, which is currently only available through open-source implementations. Unfortunately, integrating those libraries would conflict with Apple’s developer policies regarding third-party embedded frameworks.

That said, we are continuously improving the app and will keep exploring possible ways to support JXL in the future while remaining compatible with Apple’s ecosystem.

We appreciate your support and suggestions.

## Frequently asked questions about RAW2HDR

### What is RAW2HDR?

RAW2HDR is a mobile application designed to convert your camera's RAW image files into 10-bit HDR HEIC images. This process unlocks a significantly wider range of colors and dynamic range compared to standard 8-bit photos.

### What are the benefits of 10-bit HDR images created by RAW2HDR?

10-bit HDR images offer over a billion colors, resulting in brighter whites, deeper shadows with visible detail, and richer colors that more closely match what the human eye perceives. This adds depth and presence to your photographs.

### Does RAW2HDR support RAW files from various camera brands?

Yes, RAW2HDR supports a wide range of RAW file formats from major camera brands including Sony (ARW), Fujifilm (RAF), Canon (CR2, CR3), Leica, Apple, DJI, Google, Sigma, Ricoh (DNG), and many others.

### What editing tools are available in RAW2HDR?

RAW2HDR provides professional editing tools such as histogram, crop mode, exposure, contrast, black point, white balance, shadow recovery, lens correction, and noise reduction to further refine your images.

### Can I add frames or borders to my photos with RAW2HDR?

Yes, RAW2HDR allows you to add borders of any size and color, with custom aspect ratios and flexible alignment. HDR frames can create a professional gallery presentation effect for your images.

### How does RAW2HDR handle black and white conversions?

RAW2HDR can transform your photos into luminous black and white images where whites appear brighter than in standard photos. This HDR conversion elevates monochrome photography by adding a glowing effect to the whites.

### Is RAW2HDR available on all devices?

RAW2HDR is currently supported on iPhone and iPad devices. It is designed to work with Apple's CIRAWFilter for professional-grade RAW processing.

### What is the update frequency for RAW2HDR?

The latest version of RAW2HDR was released on May 28, 2026, indicating active development. While specific update frequency isn't detailed, the recent update suggests ongoing support and improvements.

## Version history (last 5 releases)

### 0.3.10 — 2026-08-05

- iPad Library-first workflow, tap to edit in iphone
- one-time boarding tutorial
- edge-to-edge preview (flash to the screen)
- On-device photo analysis
- Log profile color improvements (allow to finely adjust contrast and saturation)
- Radar LUT analysis
- upscaler high-resolution export
- Chromatic aberration correction

### 0.3.0 — 2026-06-13

- "My Styles" now can in favor of the LUT you choose
- You can now upload a LUT file through the LUT manager
- Redesigned the iPad UI for better editing on bigger screen
- iPad UI now has "Select multiple photos"
- Now user can save exported files to anywhere on the device, even on cloud services

### 0.2.2 — 2026-05-28

- Re-engineered colour pipeline to be 16bit end-to-end, allows broarder of color spectrum for editing, more color accuracy, finer shadow / highlight recovery.
- Updated RAW engine supports extended RAW formats : Fujifilm compressed RAW and Nikon RAW.
- Accurate White Balance profiles
- "My Styles" custom setting presets - save your favorite settings and apply to multiple files during batch process
- UI redesign for more informative, better display, function rich experiences
- Fixed infinited loop caching issues when provided cache size is less than actual previews

### 0.2.0 — 2026-04-04

# Changelog v0.2.0

## Editor — Major UI Overhaul

- **Three-tab workflow** — The editor is reorganised into three tabs: **Develop**, **Creative**, and **Export**, giving each stage of the editing pipeline its own dedicated space
- **Library navigation** — The editor is now accessed from "Library" instead of "Album" for clearer organisation
- **Split-screen before/after** — A draggable split-compare overlay lets you swipe between the original and edited image directly on the preview; histogram and detail loupe are automatically hidden while split-compare is active
- **Detail loupe** — Tap-and-hold enlargement loupe on the main preview image for pixel-level inspection; double-tap to zoom in/out to 100 %

## Image Adjustments

- **Contrast**, **Black Point**, **White Point**, **Crop & Rotate**

## Camera Profiles & LUTs

- **Varies of manufactures' LUTs & Film Stock LUTs**
- **Luma-dependent highlight rolloff** — Automatic per-pixel luminance rolloff applied to all sRGB-input LUTs, preventing hard clipping in highlights and emulating the smooth shoulder of Pentax/Ricoh in-camera processing

## Colour Science

- **Color Chrome FX** — Warm Chrome effect (Weak / Strong) deepens reds, oranges et al. with selective saturation boost, inspired by Fujifilm Color Chrome Effect
- **Blue Chrome FX** — Cool Chrome effect (Weak / Strong) intensifies blues and cyans for richer skies and water tones, inspired by Fujifilm Color Chrome FX Blue

## Black & White

- **B&W colour filters** — When B&W mode is active, choose from classic darkroom colour filters (Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue) that re-weight the R/G/B channel mix before desaturation, giving tonal control over how colours map to grey

## Noise Reduction

- **NR comparison loupe sync** — The before/after comparison loupe now always reflects the current LUT and adjustments on both sides; previously the "before" pane could show stale colours after changing film simulation
- **Auto-NR loupe capture** — When NR is auto-enabled for high-ISO images, expanding the NR panel now correctly captures the "before" snapshot so the left pane is never a blank spinner

## Filmic F/X *(Pro)*

- **Film Grain comparison loupe** — Side-by-side before/after loupe for the film grain effect, matching the NR comparison loupe UX
- **Film Grain loupe sync** — The grain comparison loupe stays in sync with LUT changes, same as the NR loupe fix above
- **Random Filmic F/X** — Randomise seeds for all Filmic F/X simultaneously for quick creative exploration

### 0.1.8 — 2026-03-18

# Changelog v0.1.8

## Noise Reduction

- **Auto NR suggestions** — The app analyses the RAW and recommends a noise-reduction strength automatically
- **NR preview Loupe** — A magnified loupe overlay lets you inspect the effect of noise reduction at full pixel level before committing
- Moveable Loupe window with zoom in/out controls; double-click to toggle edge-detection view

## Editor

- **Auto exposure** — One-tap auto-exposure adjustment in the image editor
- **Histogram** — Live histogram displayed in both image-preview and edit modes; updates in real time as sliders are moved
- **Auto-rotate on thumbnails** — Gallery thumbnails now honour the EXIF orientation flag
- **Real-time LUT preview** — Film simulation previews in the editor are now rendered live with a cached linear-RGB handle, eliminating the need to re-decode the RAW on every adjustment
- **LUT thumbnail strip** — Scrollable thumbnail row showing each film simulation applied at the current exposure, refreshing whenever the exposure changes

## Camera Profiles

- **Fujifilm** - Improved accuracy across PROVIA, Velvia, Classic Chrome, and ACROS profiles
- **Leica** — New Leica LUT pack added
- **Panasonic** — New Panasonic V-Log LUT pack added

## RAW Decoding Engine

- **Lens correction database** — Initial lens correction database integrated for geometric distortion and vignetting correction

## Apps similar to RAW2HDR

| App | Rating | Price | Category |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| [Fuji Recipes - Film simulation](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/fuji-recipes-film-simulation/id6761905712) | 4.7 (40) | Free | Photo & Video |
| [toHDR](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/tohdr/id6746218392) | — | Free | Photo & Video |
| [Wholegrain](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/wholegrain/id6744264137) | 4.9 (8) | Free | Photo & Video |
| [Layerlight - HDR Photo Editor](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/layerlight-hdr-photo-editor/id6756343255) | 5.0 (1) | Free | Photo & Video |
| [HDR Easy](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hdr-easy/id6745524653) | 4.5 (2) | Free | Photo & Video |
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*Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-08-11.*