What it does
HDRMerge combines bracketed RAW inputs into an extended-dynamic-range DNG, using formats supported by LibRaw.
The v0.4.5 guide loads a bracketed RAW set, aligns/crops it, corrects merge masks and uses Save HDR for a named DNG. Output choices include 16, 24 or 32 bits per sample and embedded-preview size; preview brightness does not change the saved RAW. Its CLI batch mode groups shots within three seconds by default, with an adjustable gap. These are dated instructions. Check the chosen stable/development build's camera support, including later X-Trans notes, and use a next-stage editor that accepts floating-point DNG 1.4.
Strengths
- Produces an extended-range RAW intermediate
- Supports bracketed RAW inputs
Watch out for
- The next application must support the floating-point DNG output
Best for
- Preparing bracketed RAW files for later development
Sources
- HDRMerge (Oct 26, 2026)
- HDRMerge GPL3 and stable/development camera scope (Oct 26, 2026)
- HDRMerge dated load/mask/save and batch grouping guide (Oct 26, 2026)