Aurora HDR is a joint project between Skylum and Trey Ratcliff to produce the most powerful, simple and fast HDR photo editing software in the world for Mac and PC. Using Trey’s vast experience with the current tools in the market, and advanced technology from Skylum, Aurora HDR is state-of-the-art software to help photographers of all skill.

Whether you are a pro or novice photographer, all of us want a perfect picture. A perfect picture can be achieved by either clicking a photo at a correct angle and edit it a little or click an average photo and edit it to make it better. In both the cases, you need an HDR software. A software which is simple to use and has an intuitive interface.

The HDR software can help you practice photography and help you get practical knowledge.

Also, you get to know how to not overprocess your images.

A photographer shooting static images in High Contrast surroundings will get benefit from HDR. Landscape photographers could get an advantage to capture perfectly exposed wide angle HDR sunset and like it. It could help photographers of other fields as well.

So, if you want to manage the professional shots with ease, then you must have HDR software handy. In this post, we have listed some of the best HDR software for Windows 10.

1. Aurora HDR

Aurora HDR is one of the best HDR software for Windows 10 as it amplifies your images with HDR image processing tools. Skylum has already announced Aurora HDR 2019. The new version of the software uses Quantum HDR Engine. It is been revamped and has different HDR algorithm along with AI. Let’s take a look at the features of Aurora HDR:

• It enables you to get flawless HDR images without any ghosting, chromatic aberration and halos.
• It merges bracketed images instantaneously to produce balanced HDR with sharper details.
• It has Advanced tone-mapping technology and advanced image processing engine.
• It comes with HDR enhancer and multiplies layers & blend modes.

Aurora HDR comes with Adobe Photoshop plug-in along with Adobe Lightroom plug-in. It also has lens correction and Transform tool to enhance the images to look more natural. The layers, masking and brushes along with various filters to help you create a perfect image.

2. EasyHDR

EasyHDR is an HDR image processing software for both Windows and Mac OSx which gives us High Dynamic Range (HDR) images. It can import various image formats such as JPEG, TIFF, FITS, PNG or RAW photos. It supports Radiance RGBE (*.hdr), OpenEXR (*.exr), and 32-bit floating point TIFF HDR images. Let’s take a look at the features of EasyHDR:

• It comes with Lens Distortion and chromatic aberration correction along with Retina (High DPI) display support.
• It also has Free Adobe Lightroom plugin installed.
• It reduces noise with noise removal filters. You can reduce noise either before or after the image is tone mapped.
• It also has a feature called unique manual Image Alignment which enables you to process photos captured without a tripod.

EasyHDR has automatic and manual Ghost Removal feature assures that moving things won’t defile the ultimate photo. You can process photos in a batch which saves a lot of time when you have a lot of photos to edit
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3. Photomatix Pro

Photomatix Pro is one of the best batch processing HDR software available for Windows and Mac. It provides you with an option for automatic image alignment for the images taken without a tripod. It offers two ways for Tone Mapping one being Details Enhancer, based on a local operator, and other is Tone Compressor, based on a global operator. Let’s take a look at the features of Photomatix Pro:

• It offers a selective deghosting tool for effective removal of “ghosts” in dynamic scenes. You can also use the lasso tool to select the ghosted areas and make changes on an image. It also has automatic ghost removal tool.
• There are four ways available to use Exposure Fusion: Fusion/Natural, Fusion/Auto, Fusion/Intensive, and Fusion/2 images
• If you are processing images in batch, then you can use Fusion/Realistic, an additional method which provides natural looking interiors with bright windows.
• Give a finishing touch to your image, when a photo has been treated with tone mapping, the Finishing Touch panel enables a user to increase the contrast of the image, adjust the saturation of individual colours and sharpen it.

Photomatix Pro can load and process images from a certain location and once processed, could save the outcome in the defined output location. The tool supports 8 bits/channel or 16 bits/channel images, or Raw/DNG files. If you have taken a RAW format image, the software offers to adjust output colour and White Balance.

4. Oloneo HDR

One of the best HDR software for Windows 10, Oloneo HDR is a RAW and HDR image processing software, which gives you High Dynamics Range output with ease. It offers total control over light and exposure in real time to digital photographers. Oloneo HDR comes with Lightroom plug-in and also allows to export to different image processing applications directly such as Photoshop. Let’s take a look at the features of Oloneo HDR:

• The software is real-time High Dynamic Range (HDR), 32-bit floating point per channel, full resolution and non-destructive image-editing engine and ultra-wide gamut.
• Despite colour shifting and clipping, the software ensures that no image data is lost while the HDR process.
• It offers the best HDR and RAW image processing for both amateur and professional photographers.
• It is useful when it comes to different photography styles such as architecture, landscape, advertising, real estate, panorama and catalogue and more.

Oloneo HDR is a combination of easy to use, intuitive user interface, and image controls, operate in full real-time at a rate of 1/20 second.

5. HDR Projects

HDR Projects enables you to get the best professional shots as it is great when shooting in low light, capture portraits without flash, romantic candlelight portrait or any other site. It lets you select suitable look for 5 photo moods or styles and HDR projects 2018 will apply to all 155 presets. Let’s take a look at the features of HDR Projects:

• The software comes with automatic ghost image correction along with sensitive selective drawing tool.
• If you have paid version of the app, then you can process images in batch, and also get Photoshop plug-in, and Lightroom plug-in.
• The software also has a 1:1 comparison window including zoom function.
• With the paid version, the software provides you with all the editing functions of a RAW converter.

HDR Projects supports both Windows and Mac computer and also lets you make changes to a 4K photos. A new composing function is added which lets you provide image components customizable textures.

6. Machinery HDR

Machinery HDR is yet another best HDR software for Windows 10 which uses HDR technology to get you mesmerizing & breathtaking images. Whether you are professional or novice, you can add amazing effects to a single JPG format photo. Machinery HDR comes with a simple and intuitive interface. Let’s take a look at the features of Machinery HDR:

• The software has a set of predefined settings which enables users to get HDR effects like a pro with a single click.
• MAchinery HDR provides you with a lot of tools so that you can edit the photo and get finishing touch.
• It also includes an Adobe Lightroom Plugin for a smooth workflow.
• The software runs parallel on multicore processors, by using NVIDIA accelerators and there is also a 64-bit version available to use the power of the computer.

Machinery HDR is available to be used on Windows and Android as well. The software supports almost all formats such as 8- and 16-bit files including PNG, TIFF, JPG, BMP, along with RAW format CR2, ARW, DCR, DNG and more.

7. SNS-HDR

SNS-HDR is a tool used for processing photos with the help of HDR technique. It enables users to produce HDR images from both series of photos or a single photo. It comes with a lot of tools which makes your processed images look natural. The software is available in three versions Professional, Lite, and Home. Let’s take a look at the features of SNS HDR:

• It supports all the reading images in popular formats, along with RAW, radiance HDR and open EXR images.
• It comes with the option to align images, reduce ghosts and allows you to edit further without great image editing tools.
• It also has inbuilt preset to edit the image in a single click.
• It gives you the option to save images in TIFF and JPG formats.

SNS HDR can merge various photos into HDR in a few clicks. You can process both images in batch and individual. The software is compatible with Windows.

8. HDR Darkroom

HDR Darkroom is a simple tool with intuitive interface which is compatible with Windows and Mac. It comes with cutting-edge tone mapping technology with advanced alignment and ghost reduction technology. You can process images in a batch and control light and colour. It also useful in image alignment and colour space management. Let’s check out the features of HDR Darkroom:

• It uses local Tone mapping technology to provide realistic images in a few seconds.
• With great photo editing tools, you can control the exposure, saturation and contrast along with advanced editing such as lens correction and curves.
• It comes with an improved alignment algorithm which fixes the issues when your camera moves imperceptibly between the bracketed frames.
• You can adjust and apply styles to images in batch.

Almost all the processing tools in the software act in real-time, which is why HDR Darkroom 3 is the fastest processing High Dynamic Range software available. It supports all RAW files from 150 + camera models, Nikon, Canon, Sony, Panasonic included.

9. PaintShop Pro

PaintShop Pro is one of the best HDR software for Windows 10 which comes with intuitive tools to make your photos stunning. With the advanced set of tools, you can edit photos like a professional. You can resize, enhance, retouch, straighten crop and more to make corrections to the image. Let’s take a look at the features of PaintShop Pro:

• You can design with brushes, text, drawing and painting tools to create stunning designs on your images.
• It comes with a lot of filters and fun effects make your photos look amazing.
• It helps you get rid of undesired photo elements, be it an object or whole background.

Paint shop Pro works by combining multiple exposures of the same scene to get a single, stunning HDR photo. With this HDR photo editing tool, you can also add different colour gradient effects to the photos to get a graduated filter effect.

10. Dynamic-Photo HDR

Dynamic Photo HDR is an advanced HDR image processing software developed by Mediachance for Windows computers. It can create and tone map HDR photos by using numerous JPG and RAW camera images captured in different exposures. Let’s take a look at the features of Dynamic Photo HDR:

• It lets you add layers, textures and masks while editing the images.
• You can apply the changes to both single and batch images.
• It comes with Ghost removal tool, custom presets, full EXIF copy, plugin SDK and more.
• The software has a simple and intuitive interface.

Dynamic Photo HDR is a tool which can also be used to enhance out of focus photos. Also, it improves the clarity of your blurry photos. It removes distortions and focuses problems in a flash.

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So, these are some of the best HDR software available on Windows 10. Check the article and download the app that you find suitable for editing images.

Hallstatt in Austria. Edited in Aurora HDR 2018. 0% Photoshop used and 1% Lightroom used.

Initially, when Aurora HDR came out two years ago I was very intrigued by the software. No doubt the makers of Aurora MacPhun have put themselves in a good position, by allying themselves with one of the HDR giants Trey Ratcliff. But, after the first initial rush of interest, I was deeply disappointed.

I did go into the software with a very open mind. I am a software addict and I love to use new software. However, I instantly ran into trouble. It was Mac only, I had Windows. I did have a 4-year-old MacBook Air. The biggest 2011 model, 4 Gb ram and i7 CPU. Powerful enough to run Photoshop, Photomatix, and Lightroom. Not the fastest car on the highway, but certainly working.

But, starting the first version of Aurora HDR with a 36-megapixel image was impossible. I then downscaled the images to about 12 megapixels and I was able to start the application, but I ended up waiting until I got a MacBook Pro.

On my fully loaded, top of the line, all maxed out MacBook Pro I still found Aurora HDR was extremely slow. Whenever I did anything it took seconds and some operations took up to a minute. I timed it and filmed it.

I did make a couple of OK-ish images and I did a review while still biased by the hype. But, as soon as the smoke did clear I was not overly happy to work with the tool. It was far too slow and the results were not always satisfying.

What? Do I have to buy a new version? Not just an update? All of my other tools for Photoshop come with free updates. That didn’t feel right. Particularly, because the first version was more of a Beta than an actual working tool. And looking at all of the praise on the internet and feeling the hype, I thought “This is the Emperors New Clothes”. They were selling a turd as if it was the greatest pumpkin pie ever made.

Anyway, I bought 2017 reluctantly. The speed issues were mostly gone, which was good. A new luminosity feature had arrived, not very fast though, but most things were snappy enough.

I tested the quality of the tool, but I was deeply disappointed by the tool itself. It generated halos no matter what I did and I could not really get rid of them. The brush left strong edges between the layers, making it even harder to work with.

Once in a while, I have tried to process a photo in Aurora 2017 just to be sure, but I never liked what came out of it and I simply stopped using it.

The hype was still going on. To me, Aurora HDR 2017 seemed just as much The Emporers New Clothes as the first version.

I almost didn’t buy it.

Come on, make a subscription out of it! It is ridiculous to buy a new version every year!

Being so disappointed with the two initial versions I had almost given up on it. But being the software addict that I am, I bought it and in short, I was deeply impressed.

Let’s begin with a screenshot:

This is a 5 exposure bracketed image series and I have merged the 5 images and nothing else. I have touched no sliders. This is the clean HDR merge that Aurora HDR does. Notice the very strong dark halos on the left, which is the 2017 version. It is that type of halos that torments almost any image in Aurora 2017, almost no matter what you do.

I have tried to make counteractions to get rid of the halos or try to hide them, but it shouldn’t be that way. Almost all tools can generate halos if you go over the top, but not out of the box. This is what Aurora HDR is put in the world to do. Merge exposure bracketed photos to something decent.

Almost all tools can generate halos if you go over the top, but not out of the box. This is what Aurora HDR is put in the world to do. Merge exposure bracketed photos to something decent.

On the right there is you can see the new Aurora HDR 2018 merge and not only, does it not have the nasty halos, it also does a very clean and nice merge. That has changed my mind entirely on Aurora HDR. At least the software now does, what it is supposed to do.

Edit: To be very strict the merge in Aurora HDR 2018 is not 100% perfect. Halos are just so soft and big, that you have to look for them and it is very easy to work with. I don’t believe in “press a button processing”. I believe what comes out of any HDR tool has to be blended with the original photos to achieve a perfect HDR photo. There is no silver bullet.

A few other very nice new details that I like:

• The speed has improved even more. I would go so far as to call it very snappy and responsive in most respects, even on my 42-megapixel images. They have certainly worked on optimizing the speed. It does get slower as you add more layers, but then again so does Photoshop. I have triggered something that requires heavy calculating, but mostly it is snappy.
• There are the necessary tools to finalize a photo in Aurora HDR 2018. You have:
  • Transform features to correct perspectives. However, this feature is only available at certain times which makes it very confusing to figure out. A good beginning, but there is room for improvement.
  • Crop tool.
  • The Heal tool is an external tool that requires an additional license, but it is accessible from Aurora. You can also just remove the spots when you bring the photo back to Lightroom.

Other improvements that I like

• The brush is soft enough to make nice blends between layers. In 2017 clear edges appeared around the brush, which was another reason not to use Aurora 2017.
• Original images are not apart of the new file format, which I guess is fine if you don’t need them. You can load them if you need them. Edit: This has been fixed in a later update.

What I don’t like

• The merge is very clean and the halos are super soft, if there at all. The images do tend to be a bit flat. That is normal behavior for HDR software and you will have to process the image more, to add depth back into the image. The best way to achieve this is by blending in the original images.
• Minor things that I find annoying, like:
  • There is no “Save as…” feature – but why not?
  • Some features are located in strange places, like for instance the Transform.
  • No preview from Finder or Bridge. A small thing, but it just would make it easier to handle Aurora HDR files in a workflow.
• Call it a software subscription instead of a new paid version every year. I don’t mind paying for a subscription, at least I know it’s a subscription.

When you begin to use a tool, that does a lot automatically, like Aurora HDR 2018 does, you also have to accept that it has a distinct and recognizable style.

Aurora HDR has a distinct style and you have to do some work, to get rid of it, just like you would with any other tool. That doesn’t make it a bad tool if you like what you get out of it.

Aurora HDR is capable of producing high-quality HDR photos, without the nasty halos the first two versions created. It is packed with a lot various effect tools, like Radiance, Glow, HSL panel, Split toning panel, various HDR structure sliders, vignette tool as well as old plain contrast, highlights shadows and white and black sliders. You also have the Luminosity masks available. In short, it is a pretty full package.

So, who is this tool for? Anyone how likes to shoot HDR photos and who might feel that dancing with Photoshop is too difficult, but Lightroom is not enough.

Aurora HDR 2018 is finally ready for real use and it is a full package, that can produce final images, maybe with the exception of removing dust spots.

Will this be my tool of choice? For some things, absolutely, but not solely. Why? Because I love to work in Photoshop and some of the highly advanced things I like to do in Photoshop, are not available in Aurora HDR. I love to post-process the images. I don’t necessarily want the fastest route through the forest. That is just how I am. You may feel different.

–Jacob