hdrrepair

hdrrepair is a command-line utility designed to fix corrupted High Dynamic Range (HDR) image files. HDR imaging allows for a greater range of luminosity between the brightest and darkest parts of an image compared to standard dynamic range (SDR) imaging. However, HDR file formats can sometimes become corrupted during saving, transfer, or editing, leading to unreadable or distorted images.

The primary function of hdrrepair is to analyze the structure of an HDR file and attempt to reconstruct or repair it if inconsistencies or errors are detected. It works by examining the file's metadata and pixel data, identifying potential issues such as incorrect header information, invalid data blocks, or missing sections. Once problems are found, hdrrepair can try to apply corrections to make the file viewable again.

This tool is particularly useful for photographers and visual effects artists who work extensively with HDR content. It supports common HDR file formats, though the exact list of supported formats may vary with different versions of the software. Users typically provide the path to the corrupted HDR file as an argument to the hdrrepair command, and the utility then outputs a repaired version of the file, often with a new filename to avoid overwriting the original. The effectiveness of hdrrepair can depend on the severity of the corruption; minor issues are more likely to be resolved successfully than severely damaged files.