Convert PBM to HDR

In your browser
No upload
Private by design

What happens when you convert PBM to HDR?

Multiple source images

Only one image is decoded; a concatenated image sequence is not exported as a complete set.

No new colour information

The source stores grayscale or bitonal values. A colour-capable HDR can represent these tones, but conversion cannot infer original scene colours or recover missing intermediate shades. Colourisation would be a separate image-editing operation.

An HDR container adds no captured range

This stores display pixels in RGBE; it does not create new HDR detail.

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.

PBM

Source

PBM

Portable Bitmap

Compression: UncompressedTransparency: NoMetadata: Header, Comments

Portable Bitmap: simple uncompressed raster samples for image-processing pipelines.

Explore PBM 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 PBM → HDR right for you?

Good choice when

HDR fits your delivery use: Lighting environments & radiometry.
You can choose the source image or part needed for delivery.
You need the existing gray or binary image in a compatible delivery format.
You need an image in an HDR-capable working pipeline.

Probably not when

You require a complete collection, page set or multipart round trip.
You expect automatic colourisation or reconstruction of absent tones.
You expect new highlight or shadow detail from a container change.
You expect lossless encoding to restore lost details or editing structure.

PBM to HDR conversion details

Multiple source images: Only one image is decoded; a concatenated image sequence is not exported as a complete set.
No new colour information: The source stores grayscale or bitonal values. A colour-capable HDR can represent these tones, but conversion cannot infer original scene colours or recover missing intermediate shades. Colourisation would be a separate image-editing operation.
An HDR container adds no captured range: This stores display pixels in RGBE; it does not create new HDR detail.
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: PBM: Uncompressed → HDR: Lossless PBM: Netpbm stores these samples without compression. Reducing colour, thresholding or changing maxval can still lose information before storage; text and binary representations change the layout, not its image meaning. 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.
Colour depth: PBM: 1 bit/pixel → 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

Will every source image be exported?

Only one image is decoded; a concatenated image sequence is not exported as a complete set.

Can conversion restore colour or missing shades?

Can HDR recover clipped highlights?

This stores display pixels in RGBE; it does not create new HDR detail.

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?