Creator media glossary
What is HDR video?
Short answer
High dynamic range video: brighter highlights, deeper shadows and more colors than standard (SDR) video, recorded and graded with a wider color standard and HDR metadata.
Key takeaways
- HDR video stores brighter highlights, deeper shadows and wider color than SDR, using 10-bit color, Rec. 2020 and a PQ or HLG curve.
- HDR10, HDR10+, Dolby Vision and HLG are the main formats.
- iPhones record Dolby Vision HDR; mixing it with SDR causes washed-out or over-bright results.
- YouTube accepts HDR and makes an SDR version automatically.
HDR video explained
HDR video uses the Rec. 2020 color space, 10-bit or 12-bit color and an HDR transfer curve, PQ or HLG. Many iPhones record Dolby Vision HDR when HDR Video is on (Settings, Camera, Record Video), which is one reason phone clips can look different from the rest of an edit or after upload.
For YouTube, an HDR file needs HDR metadata and a grade in Rec. 2020 with PQ or HLG; YouTube makes an SDR version for viewers without HDR screens. If you do not grade for HDR, turn HDR recording off or convert to SDR before editing so the colors stay predictable.
What makes video HDR
- Brightness range: SDR is mastered for about 100 nits; HDR can describe highlights up to 1,000 nits and beyond (the PQ curve goes to 10,000).
- Bit depth: 10 or 12 bits per channel, so gradients do not band across the wider range.
- Wider color: Rec. 2020 primaries instead of Rec. 709.
- A new transfer curve: PQ (SMPTE ST 2084) or HLG instead of the SDR gamma curve.
- Metadata that tells the screen how to map the picture to what it can show.
HDR formats compared
| Format | Curve | Metadata | Who uses it |
|---|---|---|---|
| HDR10 | PQ | Static (one setting for the whole video) | Open standard; nearly every HDR TV, YouTube, streaming |
| HDR10+ | PQ | Dynamic (scene by scene) | Samsung and partners; royalty-free; some Android phones record it |
| Dolby Vision | PQ or HLG | Dynamic, up to 12-bit | Licensed by Dolby; iPhones record it; Netflix, Apple TV+ |
| HLG | Hybrid log-gamma | None needed | BBC and NHK design for broadcast; plays reasonably on SDR screens |
YouTube HDR upload requirements
| Setting | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Resolution | 720p, 1080p, 1440p or 2160p (UHD widths rather than DCI) |
| Frame rate | 23.976, 24, 25, 29.97, 30, 48, 50, 59.94 or 60 |
| Color depth | 10 or 12 bits |
| Color primaries and matrix | Rec. 2020 (non-constant luminance matrix) |
| Transfer (EOTF) | PQ or HLG (Rec. 2100) |
| Codec | VP9 Profile 2, AV1 or HEVC recommended; ProRes works at very high bitrates |
| Container | MOV, MP4 or MKV |
How to convert HDR to SDR
- iPhone: to avoid the problem, turn off HDR Video before recording; to convert clips you already have, use an editor with an SDR (Rec. 709) output.
- Final Cut Pro and DaVinci Resolve: set an SDR Rec. 709 timeline or output and apply HDR to SDR tone mapping.
- Premiere Pro: use a Rec. 709 sequence; recent versions tone-map HDR clips automatically.
- FFmpeg:
ffmpeg -i in.mov -vf zscale=t=linear:npl=100,format=gbrpf32le,zscale=p=bt709,tonemap=hable,zscale=t=bt709:m=bt709:r=tv,format=yuv420p -c:v libx264 -crf 18 -c:a copy out.mp4
HDR on phones
- iPhone 12 and later record Dolby Vision HDR (built on HLG) when Settings > Camera > Record Video > HDR Video is on.
- Many Android phones record HDR10+ or HLG, usually as an option in the camera's video settings.
- Sharing HDR to apps that do not handle it, or editing it alongside SDR clips, is the most common cause of over-bright, washed-out or oddly colored video.
- If you do not grade for HDR, turning HDR Video off gives predictable SDR files.
What you need to watch HDR
- An HDR display: TVs and monitors labeled HDR10 or Dolby Vision, recent phones and tablets, MacBook Pro Liquid Retina XDR.
- HDR switched on: on Windows, Settings > System > Display > Use HDR; the HEVC Video Extensions may be needed for HDR files.
- HDR content and an app that passes it through (YouTube, Netflix, Apple TV and most phone galleries do).
- On SDR screens, players tone-map HDR down; when they do it badly, HDR looks dim or gray.
Advantages and drawbacks of HDR video
Advantages
- Brighter highlights and deeper shadows, closer to what the eye saw
- More saturated color without clipping
- Phones record it for free
- YouTube makes both HDR and SDR versions
Drawbacks
- Looks wrong when mixed with SDR or shown on SDR screens without good tone mapping
- Larger 10-bit files; needs HEVC, VP9 Profile 2 or AV1
- Several competing formats
- Grading HDR properly needs an HDR monitor
Frequently asked questions
What is HDR video?
High dynamic range video: brighter highlights, deeper shadows and a wider range of colors than standard dynamic range (SDR), stored with 10-bit or more color, the Rec. 2020 color space and a PQ or HLG transfer curve.
Why does my iPhone video look different after upload or in an edit?
Many iPhones record Dolby Vision HDR when HDR Video is on (Settings > Camera > Record Video). Mixed with SDR clips, or shown on an SDR screen, it can look brighter, washed out or differently colored. Turn HDR off or convert to SDR if you do not grade for HDR.
How do I upload HDR video to YouTube?
Export from an app that writes HDR metadata, graded in Rec. 2020 with PQ or HLG, at 10 or 12 bits. YouTube detects the metadata, makes HDR versions for HDR screens and an SDR version for everyone else.
What happens to HDR on a normal screen?
On YouTube, viewers without an HDR device see the SDR version YouTube creates automatically.
Is HDR the same as 4K?
No. 4K is resolution (how many pixels); HDR is dynamic range and color (how bright and colorful each pixel can be). A video can be 4K SDR or 1080p HDR.
Why does HDR video look washed out?
Usually the player or editor is treating it as SDR, or the screen is SDR and the tone mapping is poor. Play it on an HDR screen, or convert to SDR with a proper tone-mapping step.
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Sources and how we checked
- YouTube Help: Upload High Dynamic Range (HDR) videos (checked 2026-10-05)
- Apple Support: Edit HDR video recorded on an iPhone or iPad (checked 2026-10-05)
- Microsoft Support: HDR video requirements on Windows (checked 2026-10-06)
Reviewed October 6, 2026 by the Koldflux team. Definitions follow the specifications and platform documentation linked above; platform tables come from the same registry the Koldflux tools use.