rawhdr
rawhdr is a free command-line tool for combining multiple RAW images into a high-dynamic-range image.
What rawhdr is
rawhdr is a free command-line tool for combining multiple RAW images into a high-dynamic-range image. It also supports focus stacking from multiple images. The documentation says the tool accepts RAW formats supported by the rawpy library and can write HDR formats supported by imageio. The output exposure matches that of the first RAW file supplied. Installation is documented with the command pip install rawhdr, and a Python API is available for exposure merging and focus stacking. Its exposure-scaling helper ignores very bright pixels that may be saturated and very dark pixels that may be noisy. Writing OpenEXR files may require the additional freeimage library through imageio. The package requires Python 3.7 or newer and is classified as OS Independent on PyPI; Linux and API are listed platforms. It is licensed under GNU General Public License v2 or later. PyPI lists Felix Thaler as the author and one maintainer.
Good
- Merges multiple RAW images into an HDR image.
- Supports focus stacking.
- Provides both command-line and Python interfaces.
- Accepts RAW formats supported by rawpy.
Watch out
- Requires Python 3.7 or newer.
- OpenEXR writing may require the additional freeimage library.
Who it suits
rawhdr may suit users who want to merge RAW images or focus-stack images through a command line or Python API. It requires Python 3.7 or newer.
Verdict
rawhdr offers RAW merging and focus stacking in a free command-line package with a Python API. Check its Python requirement and possible extra library requirement for OpenEXR output.
The facts
Each one read from rawhdr's own pages, with the date it was checked.
What it does
- Command line
- The project provides a command-line tool that can be installed with pip.checked 8 Oct 2026
- Command-line install
- The documented installation command is pip install rawhdr.checked 8 Oct 2026
- Exposure behavior
- The generated HDR image exposure matches the first RAW image supplied.checked 8 Oct 2026
- Exposure scaling
- Its exposure scaling helper ignores very bright, potentially saturated pixels and very dark, potentially noisy pixels.checked 8 Oct 2026
- Focus stacking
- rawhdr also supports focus stacking from multiple images.checked 8 Oct 2026
- HDR merging
- The command-line tool merges multiple RAW images into a high-dynamic-range image.checked 8 Oct 2026
- HDR output support
- The documentation says it supports any HDR file format known by imageio as output.checked 8 Oct 2026
- License
- The project is licensed under GNU GPL version 2 or any later version.checked 8 Oct 2026
- Maintainer
- PyPI lists Felix Thaler as the author and one maintainer.checked 8 Oct 2026
- OpenEXR requirement
- Writing OpenEXR may require installing the additional freeimage library through imageio.checked 8 Oct 2026
- Operating system
- The package is classified as OS Independent on PyPI.checked 8 Oct 2026
- Output formats
- The documentation says it supports HDR output formats known by imageio.checked 8 Oct 2026
- Purpose
- rawhdr is a simple HDR image merger that converts multiple RAW files into a single HDR image.checked 8 Oct 2026
- Python API
- The documentation provides a Python API for exposure merging and focus stacking.checked 8 Oct 2026
- Python requirement
- The package requires Python 3.7 or newer.checked 8 Oct 2026
- RAW input support
- The documentation says it supports any RAW format known by the rawpy library.checked 8 Oct 2026
- Runtime requirement
- The PyPI project page lists Python 3.7 or later as required.checked 8 Oct 2026
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