HDRizer is a macOS-native HDR photo merge app built by Shohei Komatsu (shokoma). It combines bracketed exposures into 32-bit floating-point HDR images with auto-alignment, deghosting (Off/Low/Medium/High), tone mapping (Filmic / Reinhard / ACES), 10 built-in presets, RAW support (CR2, CR3, NEF, ARW, DNG and more), batch processing, local adjustments and export to JPEG / PNG / TIFF / EXR / DNG. One-time $8 purchase, no subscription, fully offline, Apple Silicon + Metal GPU accelerated.

How is HDRizer different from Aurora HDR or Photomatix?

Unlike Aurora HDR or Photomatix, HDRizer is a single-purpose macOS-native app: no subscription, one-time $8, no cloud account, Apple Silicon + Metal-first GPU pipeline, and a focused 4-step workflow (Import → Merge → Tone Map → Export). Algorithms are written in portable C++ for deterministic results, and bracketed sets are detected automatically from EXIF timestamps. Localised in English and Japanese.

What image formats are supported?

HDRizer supports JPEG, TIFF, and PNG for input. RAW formats including CR2, CR3, NEF, ARW, DNG, ORF, RW2, RAF, PEF, and SRW are supported via the macOS media adapter layer. Export formats include JPEG, PNG, TIFF (8/16-bit), EXR (32-bit float), and DNG.

How many exposures do I need?

Typically 3–7 bracketed exposures (e.g., -2EV / 0EV / +2EV). HDRizer also supports single-image HDR, which generates pseudo-brackets from a single exposure for quick HDR effects.

How much does HDRizer cost?

HDRizer is a one-time purchase of $8 (or ¥800). There is no subscription and no hidden fees — all future updates are included.

Does it require an internet connection?

No. HDRizer is a fully offline desktop application. All processing happens locally on your Mac using CPU and Metal GPU acceleration.

Is it optimized for Apple Silicon?

Yes. HDRizer is built for Apple Silicon (M-series) first, with Intel best-effort support. Metal compute shaders provide GPU-accelerated processing on both platforms.

Is HDRizer available on Windows?

Currently macOS only. The core algorithms are written in portable C++ to enable a future Windows port. The architecture was designed from day one with cross-platform portability in mind.

HDR Photo Merge for macOS

Merge. Tone Map. Export.
Stunning HDR.

HDRizer merges your bracketed exposures into stunning HDR images — with auto-alignment, deghosting, tone mapping, and RAW support, all in one native macOS app.

Professional HDR workflow, without the complexity.

Download on Mac App Store See how it works

Loved by macOS photographers · $8 one-time · Apple Silicon native · Works offline

macOS Native

SwiftUI + C++ + Metal

Offline Ready

No cloud required

$8 one-time — no subscription
Apple Silicon + Metal GPU
100% offline — no cloud
RAW: CR2 / CR3 / NEF / ARW / DNG+

THE PROBLEM

Sound familiar?

Ghost artifacts

Moving objects in your brackets leave double-image artifacts. Manual masking takes forever.

Flat HDR results

Your merged photos look washed out or over-processed. Finding the right tone map balance is a guessing game.

RAW headaches

Switching between RAW converter and HDR tool. Export, import, re-export — the round-trip never ends.

Slow processing

Waiting minutes for a single merge on high-resolution files. GPU acceleration shouldn't be an afterthought.

FEATURES

Everything you need for HDR

HDR Merge Engine

Multi-exposure weighted integration

Merge 3–7 bracketed exposures into a 32-bit floating-point HDR radiance map. Recover details from deepest shadows to brightest highlights.

Auto Alignment

Translation · Rotation · Affine

Automatic image alignment corrects handheld shake across multiple exposures. Supports translational, affine, and local warping modes.

Deghosting

Off / Low / Medium / High

Intelligent motion detection eliminates double-image artifacts from moving objects — people, cars, leaves. Adjustable from subtle to aggressive.

Tone Mapping

Filmic · Reinhard · ACES

Full tone mapping controls: exposure, gamma, contrast, saturation, highlights, shadows, temperature, tint. Real-time preview at multiple scales.

Preset System

10 built-in + custom presets

Instantly apply looks like Vivid Landscape, Golden Hour, Cinematic, or Dramatic. Save, import, and export your own presets as JSON.

RAW Support

CR2 · CR3 · NEF · ARW · DNG & more

Decode RAW files natively via macOS media adapters. White balance, exposure, and highlight recovery controls built in.

Batch Processing

Folder-based bracket detection

Select a folder and HDRizer automatically groups brackets by timestamp. Process dozens of HDR sets with one click.

Local Adjustments

Brush · Gradient · Luminosity mask

Paint selective adjustments with a brush, or apply linear/radial gradient filters. Luminosity masks target specific tonal ranges.

Flexible Export

JPEG · PNG · TIFF · EXR · DNG

Export in any format you need. 8-bit JPEG for web, 16-bit TIFF for print, 32-bit EXR for compositing. EXIF metadata preserved.

WORKFLOW

Simple 4-step workflow

Import

Drag & drop your bracketed photos — JPEG, TIFF, or RAW. EXIF exposure data is parsed automatically.

Merge

Auto-align, deghost, and merge into a 32-bit HDR radiance map. Choose HDR Merge, Exposure Fusion, or Single Image HDR mode.

Tone Map

Fine-tune with exposure, contrast, highlights, shadows, and color controls. Apply presets or dial in your signature look.

Export

Save as JPEG, PNG, TIFF, EXR, or DNG. Resize, sharpen, and embed EXIF metadata — all in one step.

HDRizer app screenshot — HDR merge workflow on macOS

PRO TOOLS

Advanced editing tools

Histogram & Clipping

Real-time RGB + luminance histogram updates as you edit. Highlight/shadow clipping overlay shows blown areas instantly.

Tone Curve

Cubic Hermite spline tone curve with 256-entry LUT. Fine-tune tonal response with precise control points.

3D LUT Mapping

Import .cube LUT files for cinematic color grading. Trilinear interpolation ensures smooth results.

Chromatic Aberration

Auto-detect and correct R-G and B-G colour shifts at edge pixels. Applied during decode phase for best results.

Lens Correction

Barrel/pincushion distortion, perspective keystone, and vignette correction. Auto-detect lens profiles from EXIF data.

Sharpening

Unsharp mask with controllable amount (0–3×) and radius (0.5–5 px). Per-channel parallelism for maximum performance.

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

: HDRizer is a macOS-native HDR photo merge app built by Shohei Komatsu (shokoma). It combines bracketed exposures into 32-bit floating-point HDR images with auto-alignment, deghosting (Off/Low/Medium/High), tone mapping (Filmic / Reinhard / ACES), 10 built-in presets, RAW support (CR2, CR3, NEF, ARW, DNG and more), batch processing, local adjustments and export to JPEG / PNG / TIFF / EXR / DNG. One-time $8 purchase, no subscription, fully offline, Apple Silicon + Metal GPU accelerated.
: Unlike Aurora HDR or Photomatix, HDRizer is a single-purpose macOS-native app: no subscription, one-time $8, no cloud account, Apple Silicon + Metal-first GPU pipeline, and a focused 4-step workflow (Import → Merge → Tone Map → Export). Algorithms are written in portable C++ for deterministic results, and bracketed sets are detected automatically from EXIF timestamps. Localised in English and Japanese.
: HDRizer supports JPEG, TIFF, and PNG for input. RAW formats including CR2, CR3, NEF, ARW, DNG, ORF, RW2, RAF, PEF, and SRW are supported via the macOS media adapter layer. Export formats include JPEG, PNG, TIFF (8/16-bit), EXR (32-bit float), and DNG.
: Typically 3–7 bracketed exposures (e.g., -2EV / 0EV / +2EV). HDRizer also supports single-image HDR, which generates pseudo-brackets from a single exposure for quick HDR effects.
: HDRizer is a one-time purchase of $8 (or ¥800). There is no subscription and no hidden fees — all future updates are included.
: No. HDRizer is a fully offline desktop application. All processing happens locally on your Mac using CPU and Metal GPU acceleration.
: Yes. HDRizer is built for Apple Silicon (M-series) first, with Intel best-effort support. Metal compute shaders provide GPU-accelerated processing on both platforms.
: Currently macOS only. The core algorithms are written in portable C++ to enable a future Windows port. The architecture was designed from day one with cross-platform portability in mind.

PRICING

Simple, one-time pricing

Pay once, use forever. No subscription, no hidden fees.

BEST VALUE

Full Access

Pay once. Own it forever. No subscription.

$8one-time

HDR Merge (3–7 exposures)
Auto-alignment & deghosting
Tone mapping with real-time preview
10 built-in presets
RAW support (CR2, CR3, NEF, ARW, DNG…)
Batch processing (folder-based)
Local adjustments (brush, gradient, luminosity mask)
Export: JPEG · PNG · TIFF · EXR · DNG
All future updates included
Priority email support

Buy on Mac App Store

Unleash your brackets.

Auto-align, deghost, and tone map your bracketed photos into professional HDR images. Just $8 — one-time, no subscription.

Download on Mac App Store

Merge. Tone Map. Export.Stunning HDR.