HDR vs EXR
Compare `.hdr` and `.exr` across dynamic range, metadata support, precision, and production workflow fit before converting them into texture containers.
Core differences
- Radiance HDR is lighter and commonly used for environment maps and simple HDRI exchange.
- OpenEXR is better suited for production graphics workflows with richer metadata, more channels, and stronger floating-point support.
- For desktop HDR texture compression, both can feed BC6H / KTX2 HDR routes, but EXR is more common in professional pipelines.
Related tools
Use the site HDR / EXR viewer to inspect the source first, then choose DDS BC6H or KTX2 depending on the target platform.