An HDR container adds no captured range
This stores display pixels in RGBE; it does not create new HDR detail.
Convert BMP to HDR
- In your browser
- No upload
- Private by design
What happens when you convert BMP to HDR?
Opaque output
Transparency is replaced with white by default. Change the background in Advanced options.
Lossless sample storage
RLE preserves stored RGBE bytes; RGBE quantization is not exact storage of arbitrary float RGB. The .hdr format is distinct from the general concept of HDR photography. HDR can store its supported image samples without lossy compression. This applies after rendering and sample conversion: it does not guarantee preservation of source precision, colour space or document structure, and cannot undo earlier losses.
BMP
Source
BMP
Windows Bitmap
Compression: Depends on variantTransparency: YesMetadata: DIB header, ICC (V5)
Windows raster storage with several DIB header versions. Simple uncompressed pixels are common, but alpha and compression vary.
Explore BMP format →HDR
Target
HDR
Radiance HDR / RGBE
Compression: LosslessTransparency: NoMetadata: Radiance header, EXPOSURE, FORMAT
Radiance pictures with a shared exponent for high-dynamic-range lighting values.
Explore HDR format →Is BMP → HDR right for you?
Good choice when
- HDR fits your delivery use: Lighting environments & radiometry.
- You need an image in an HDR-capable working pipeline.
- An opaque image is acceptable for your destination.
- You need lossless storage of the rendered samples supported by HDR.
Probably not when
- You expect new highlight or shadow detail from a container change.
- You need cutouts or translucent edges for compositing.
- You expect lossless encoding to restore lost details or editing structure.
- You require identical samples without a defined colour and precision policy.
BMP to HDR conversion details
- An HDR container adds no captured range
- This stores display pixels in RGBE; it does not create new HDR detail.
- Opaque output
- Transparency is replaced with white by default. Change the background in Advanced options.
- Lossless sample storage
- RLE preserves stored RGBE bytes; RGBE quantization is not exact storage of arbitrary float RGB. The .hdr format is distinct from the general concept of HDR photography. HDR can store its supported image samples without lossy compression. This applies after rendering and sample conversion: it does not guarantee preservation of source precision, colour space or document structure, and cannot undo earlier losses.
- Sample precision & colour
- Pixel conversion only. Original EXIF, GPS, XMP and ICC profiles are not copied; processing uses 8-bit display pixels.
- Metadata & colour
- Pixel conversion only. Original EXIF, GPS, XMP and ICC profiles are not copied; processing uses 8-bit display pixels.
- Compression
- BMP: Depends on variant → HDR: Lossless BMP: BMP may be uncompressed or use a header-selected encoding. Alpha is header-dependent; 32 bits alone do not establish transparency support in the receiving application. HDR: RLE preserves stored RGBE bytes; RGBE quantization is not exact storage of arbitrary float RGB. The .hdr format is distinct from the general concept of HDR photography.
- Transparency
- Transparency is replaced with white by default. Change the background in Advanced options.
- Colour depth
- BMP: 1 / 4 / 8 / 16 / 24 / 32 bpp → HDR: 32-bit RGBE / XYZE pixel
- HDR
- HDR: Radiometric values
- Dimensions
- Rendered image dimensions are retained within the converter limits; this tool does not offer resizing. Orientation handling depends on the source decoder.
- Metadata
- Pixel conversion only. Original EXIF, GPS, XMP and ICC profiles are not copied; processing uses 8-bit display pixels.
Common questions
Can HDR recover clipped highlights?
This stores display pixels in RGBE; it does not create new HDR detail.
What happens to transparent areas?
Transparency is replaced with white by default. Change the background in Advanced options.
Does lossless output mean an unchanged source?
RLE preserves stored RGBE bytes; RGBE quantization is not exact storage of arbitrary float RGB. The .hdr format is distinct from the general concept of HDR photography. HDR can store its supported image samples without lossy compression. This applies after rendering and sample conversion: it does not guarantee preservation of source precision, colour space or document structure, and cannot undo earlier losses.
Are bit depth and colour values guaranteed to match?
Pixel conversion only. Original EXIF, GPS, XMP and ICC profiles are not copied; processing uses 8-bit display pixels.
Will metadata and colour profiles be retained?
Pixel conversion only. Original EXIF, GPS, XMP and ICC profiles are not copied; processing uses 8-bit display pixels.