How High Dynamic Range Video Works — From Capture to Editing

What is a high dynamic range video

High dynamic range (HDR) video is a next-generation imaging format that captures and reproduces a much wider range of brightness, contrast, and color than standard dynamic range (SDR). Where SDR is confined to lower luminance levels and a smaller color gamut, HDR breaks through these limits—allowing highlights to look more brilliant, shadows to reveal more detail, and colors to be richer and more accurate.

HDR achieves this increased dynamic range through higher peak brightness (frequently going beyond 1,000 nits), lower black levels, better contrast ratios, and larger color volume by using wide color gamuts such as Rec. 2020. All these enhancements result in pictures that are very close to the way the human eye sees real light and color.

Today's high dynamic range video is also compliant with certain standards and formats such as HDR10, HDR10+, Dolby Vision, and HLG. Each one defines the rules for metadata, color depth, and luminance to ensure that HDR content sounds and looks the same on any device or platform.

How high dynamic range video works (technical breakdown)

Dynamic range basics

At the heart of HDR video is the idea of luminance, which is a unit of measure called nits, that basically decides how bright or dark a display can be. In general, SDR content usually has its brightness limited to around 100 nits, while HDR can get to 600, 1,000, or even 4,000 nits depending on the format used. By doing so, it saves the details that are hidden in the shadows of dark scenes and also avoids highlight clipping in the bright parts, thus delivering pictures that have texture and depth not only in the darkest but also in the brightest parts of the scene.

Color gamut and bit depth

One more significant benefit of high dynamic range video is its extended color range capabilities. HDR can use wide color gamuts like DCI-P3 and Rec. 2020, which means that a lot more saturated and bright colors than those of Rec. 709 can be produced. Besides that, colour accuracy is also improved - normally 10-bit or 12-bit depth - and hence the gradients become smoother and show less banding.

HDR formats explained

Different HDR formats define how brightness, color, and metadata are communicated to displays:

• HDR10 – The most common standard, using static metadata and 10-bit color. It sets fixed brightness and color parameters for an entire video.
• HDR10+ – An improved version with dynamic metadata, adjusting scene-by-scene brightness for better accuracy.
• Dolby Vision – A premium format offering dynamic metadata, 12-bit color, and support for much higher peak brightness. Known for the most consistent results across devices.
• HLG (Hybrid Log-Gamma) – Designed for live broadcast. It doesn't use metadata and ensures wide compatibility, especially for TV networks.

Tone mapping

Tone mapping is the process that keeps HDR content visually accurate for screens that have varying brightness levels. In fact, because different displays are not able to achieve the same maximum brightness, tone mapping wisely selects bright and dark areas of the content to be compressed in order to fit the device's requirements.

The HDR video production pipeline

Capture: The HDR video camera

• Sensor and processing: High dynamic range (HDR) composition starts with a camera that is capable of capturing a wide exposure range. The camera sensor must have a fast readout to avoid rolling shutter artifacts and have low noise so that the details in the shadows can be preserved. These types of sensors are capable of recording bright and dark areas at the same time, which is the main requirement for true high dynamic range video.
• Log and raw formats: In order to retain as much tonal information as possible, filmmakers use Log gamma profiles such as S-Log3, V-Log, and C-Log or they record in Raw. These formats store a compressed or unprocessed image with the extended highlight and shadow detail, which refers to colorists having more freedom during HDR grading.
• Bit depth and color sampling: Since HDR requires higher accuracy, 10-bit or 12-bit recording is mostly used in order to be able to have smooth gradients without banding. Along with 4:2:2 (or higher) color sampling, this allows accurate color transitions to be kept. The main reason why this is very important is the case of scenes with subtle sky tones, skin, or low-contrast textures.
• Camera examples: Both cinema-grade and hybrid cameras are capable of supporting HDR workflows. Professional systems like ARRI ALEXA, RED KOMODO/V-RAPTOR, and Sony VENICE are the ones that provide dynamic range at the industry level. On the other hand, hybrid and mirrorless models like the Sony FX series, Panasonic S1H, and Canon R5 C are equipped with excellent HDR capture features, making them the right choice for indie creators and advanced videographers.

Post-production: The HDR editing and grading workflow

• Color managed workflows: One of the main points for consistent HDR post-production is a properly managed color environment. The editors typically make use of a wide-gamut intermediate color space, such as ACES or DaVinci Wide Gamut, which are capable of retaining the full tonal and color information delivered by the camera. These technologies guarantee that all the footage, no matter the camera brand, will accurately be converted to an extended color and luminance range that is suitable for high dynamic range video.
• The grading process: To perform HDR grading, gear needs to be specifically designed for handling expanded brightness and color. Programs like DaVinci Resolve provide HDR scopes, zone-based controls, and the HDR Palette that help colorists to precisely control the highlights, midtones, shadows, and specular details separately. At this moment, the colorist sets the peak brightness of the project (for example, 1,000 or 4,000 nits) and modifies the image to keep perceptual uniformity so that the transitions are still smooth and visually consistent even if the brightness changes.
• Mastering and deliverables: After the grading is done, the editors make several final versions of the video. This is usually a part of work that involves an HDR master (for example, HDR10, HDR10+, Dolby Vision, or HLG) and an SDR master that corresponds to it by means of a tone mapping that has been carefully applied.

Challenges and limitations of HDR

• Inconsistent HDR standards across devices: Although HDR formats like HDR10, HDR10+, Dolby Vision, and HLG exist, not all displays support them equally. This inconsistency often leads to variations in brightness, contrast, and color accuracy from one device to another.
• Limited HDR content availability: Despite growing adoption, HDR content is still far from universal. Many films, shows, and online videos remain in SDR, and not all platforms fully support HDR uploads or playback—limiting the viewer's ability to experience true high dynamic range video.
• Need for specialized hardware for editing: Producing HDR content requires proper equipment, such as HDR-reference monitors, high-bit-depth workflows, and powerful GPUs. Without these, colorists and editors may struggle to judge luminance and color during post-production accurately.
• Poorly executed tone mapping on budget displays: Lower-cost TVs and monitors often use basic or underpowered tone mapping, which can crush shadows, or distort color saturation. As a result, HDR may look inconsistent or even worse than SDR on these devices.

As HDR is turning into a standard for content creation even outside of high-end studios, technologies like CapCut play a vital role in ensuring that this change happens smoothly. To put it simply, the app's user-friendly editing area is what makes it feasible for creators to properly display their HDR visuals without the need to handle the complexities of professional software.

Editing and enhancing HDR video with CapCut desktop

Even though entirely end-to-end HDR production is somewhat of a different story and it requires special cameras, color-managed workflows, and calibrated reference displays, CapCut desktop video editor is a step towards HDR-style enhancement for everyday creators. With its intuitive interface, you are able to precisely adjust exposure, contrast, highlights, shadows, and color temperature—thus, helping to replicate the depth and brightness that are typical of high dynamic range video.

Furthermore, CapCut is equipped with high-quality export features that would make your enhanced footage look sharp in terms of color, even on the latest displays. With CapCut AI color correction, you have a quick, easy-to-use workflow that can bring out the visually striking HDR-inspired look in your footage, whether that is just some clips from your phone that you want to improve or polish those cinematic shots, but you still don't have a full professional HDR setup.

Key features

• Enhance quality: Automatically enhance quality, vibrancy, and detail while keeping HDR intact using AI-powered tools in CapCut.
• HDR footage support: Easily import and edit HDR10 and smartphone HDR clips, preserving full brightness, contrast, and color depth.
• Precision color controls: Adjust video contrast, exposure, luminance, highlights, and shadows to refine your HDR visuals with accuracy.
• Advanced color grading: Curves, HSL adjustments, and color wheels designed for wide dynamic range content ensure smooth, cinematic results.

How to edit an HDR video in CapCut easily

STEP 1
1. Import video footage

Launch CapCut, click "New project," and then click "Import" to select your HDR video files.

STEP 2
1. Enhance and edit using CapCut HDR tools

Click on the "Adjust" tab and enable "LUTs" or use the "Color correction" panel for cinematic HDR looks. Use "Enhance quality" to sharpen details and boost clarity while maintaining HDR luminance.

STEP 3
1. Export the video

Go to "Export," select an HDR-friendly format (HEVC), and adjust "Bitrate" and "Resolution."

High Dynamic Range video is basically the next big thing in our visual capturing and consumption of the world; it can reveal more than ever, extremely bright areas, more vivid colors, and even the shadows are more detailed. HDR is definitely the next must-know for filmmakers, content creators, and streaming fans; they have to know what HDR is, how it works, and why it matters to the digital content of today. With HDR-capable cameras, capture and grading workflows, and good quality editing tools, you can make sure that your videos will be as powerful as this technology is. CapCut is an easy-to-use platform for creators at any skill level to uplift their HDR footage, correct colors, and get gorgeous results without having to use complicated software or a professional studio.

FAQs

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1. Why do some high dynamic range videos look washed out on certain screens?

There is a chance that HDR video may show a washed-out effect on a display that does not support HDR very well or is wrongly mapped in terms of tone. You can use CapCut to adjust the video color and light to make it seem perfect.

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1. What is tone mapping in high dynamic range video?

Tone mapping involves changing HDR data so that it matches the light and color that a different display is capable of showing. Since all screens cannot reproduce a full HDR range, tone mapping basically shrinks the bright and the dark areas in order to retain the details and the consistency of the image. When you change your HDR video to an SDR one, the use of CapCut can help you to finish the tone mapping work, so your video can be viewed in a natural way on any device.

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1. How to fix overexposed highlights in high dynamic range footage?

Overexposed highlights are the result of the brightness going beyond the range of the display. Methods to solve this problem are: One is to reduce the highlight and the exposure levels in the process of grading, the second is to put the correct tone mapping, and the last one is to perform AI Enhance in CapCut to get the detail with no impact on the shadow and the midtones.