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Before jumping from the SDR to HDR converter for any video upgrade, you must have clarity about HDR, how it is different from HDR, why you need HDR, and many other factors. Once you have a brief idea about what and why you are heading to, it's time to pick the most powerful SDR to HDR converters to upscale the video quality as per your requirements. Here, you will get an overall idea about SDR to HDR with three prominent SDR to HDR converters.

What is SDR and HDR

Before heading to SDR or HDR, let's clarify that SDR and HDR are different from SD and HD. 

Difference Between HD and SD: SD (Standard Definition) refers to the resolution that involves the number of pixels in a specific dimension of a display monitor. In contrast, HD (High Definition) emerged with the transition from analog to digital, offering higher resolution and greater pixel density than SD, which was equivalent to analog display quality.

SDR vs HDR: SDR (Standard Dynamic range) is more of a video technology that refers to the intensity of the brightness, color, and contrast of light and shadow. HDR (High-Dynamic Range), on the other hand, offers superior video quality compared to SDR, focusing on a broader range of colors and improved brightness and contrast. HDR enhances the visual experience by leveraging the high color range present in HD displays. Without HD, HDR wouldn't exist.

Why do you need to convert SDR to HDR

Understanding these differences helps in appreciating the technological advancements in video quality.

Why do you should convert SDR to HDR?

SDR and HDR are two video technology that tackle color clarity, exposures, light effects, detailed information of the image, and balancing light & shade. As the name suggests, HDR is the advanced version of the Standard one. When SDR is used in basic camera and video display devices, HDR is used in advanced display devices like smart TVs, smartphones, monitors, and digital equipment. So, let's see the parameters that will help you understand why you need convert SDR to HDR.

Reasons
  • • Balancing Color & Contrast

    SDR refers to a limited color gamut & range with under-exposure brightness & contrast. HDR involves better exposure, color, brightness, and detailing of any video with dynamic color vibrancy and enhanced light & dark objects. HDR also adds 3D effects to any video.

  • • Brightness & Dynamic Range
  • In the SDR display devices, the brightness range occurs between 100 to 300 bits & the dynamic range is about 6 stops. In HDR, the brightness range could be adjusted between 1 nit to 1000 nits on scenes with a dynamic range of 17.6 stops.
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  • • Color Depth & Gamut

    In SDR, the color depth range is from 8 to a maximum of 10 bits, and the color gamut range is Rec.709. In HDR, it is extended from 8 up to 12, and the color gamut range is Rec.2020.

  • • File Size Support

    SDR can't handle complex data with a huge file size. In contrast, HDR tackles large file sizes with more exposure and color detailing to add realistic appeal to any video. HDR also gives clarity to more visual detail in dark and bright areas in any video as compared to SDR.

  • • Device Compatibility

    To match the advanced technology in the digital media industry, most of the device displays are compatible with HDR video rather than SDR. No HDR-supported display wouldn't be able to give you HDR visual satisfaction with SDR-quality video.

Top 3 Best SDR to HDR Converter to Upscale Video

When you know why you need to convert SDR to HDR, you should select the most appropriate SDR to HDR converter with maximum flexibility and customization. Here, you go with three methods to SDR to HDR Conversion.

Method 1: Convert SDR to HDR Using UniFab HDR Upconverter AI

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UniFab HDR Upconverter AI

If you don't have any technical skills or professional video conversion knowledge, the AI-powered automation of UniFab would be a magical option. While upscaling the video, you will completely transform any SDR video with realistic and vibrant appeal. By adding colors, more depth, and special effects to scenes, this tool will give a vivid dimension to any video.

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Benefits

  • Supports for convert SDR to HDR10/Dolby Vision: HDR10 and Dolby Vision are two leading HDR video formats, specifically created to designed to improve video quality by brighter highlights, richer colors, and enhanced contrast ratios.
  • Provides two color spaces for selection: HDR DCI-P3 and HDR Rec.2020.

Briefly, the DCI-P3 and Rec.2020 standards define different ranges of color gamuts, with HDR Rec.2020 encompassing a broader array of colors compared to HDR DCI-P3. However, truly surpassing the capabilities of HDR DCI-P3 effects requires high-end equipment. We offer the choice, allowing users to select the color space best suited to their playback device's capabilities.

  • Offers two output modes for user selection: Fast and High-quality mode. Fast mode for converting HDR at a lightening-fast speed without compromising quality, while high-quality enjoys the most HDR visual experience.
  • Fastest SDR to HDR conversion process with cropping & trimming video editing option
  • Transform your nature photography & landscape videos with rich & vivid color & real texture
  • Enhance video quality by adding special effects of broader color space
  • Add depth to night photography by balancing brightness in high-contrast night video without losing data
  • This tool upscales SDR video to HDR by generating dynamic metadata

How to use UniFab?

Step 1

Once you launch the UniFab tool on your system, select the “HDR Upconverter” mode > “Add” option to upload the source video.

unifab upscaler

Step 2

Before upscaling the SDR video to HDR10 or Dolby Vision, select the “Settings” option for further customization with color space, codec, resolution, audio, subtitle, etc.

unifab HDR Upconverterunifab hdr upconverter settings

Step 3

After that, select the “Start” option to initiate the video upscaling process, and the UniFab AI tool will do that automatically.

 

Method 2: Convert SDR to HDR Using a Encoding Tool: EncodeGUI

Convert SDR to HDR Using a Third-Party Encoding Tool: EncodeGUI

To look for SDR to HDR converter, you can try the free, open-source, third-party AI-based video transcoder GUI, Encode GUI. It gives you a seamless video encoding and decoding experience with AI automation. So, while offering an advanced encoding process, this tool provides multiple filters, such as SDR to HDR, for resolution upscaling, Frame interpolation, DeNoise, etc. So, let's see what benefits you can explore with this tool.

Benefits

  • This SDR to HDR supports all devices compatible with around 10 formats like MKV, Mp4, FLV, etc
  • Explore the live-encoding process with a preview option
  • You can retrieve the advanced metadata for the source video
  • You can enjoy SDR to HDR conversion with batch processing
  • Use this light-weight, easy-to-use tool without any prior video-encoding experience

Limitations

  • Available only for Windows
  • There is no video customization or editing option
  • There are no color-correction or special effect-adding options
  • The SDR to HDR conversion process is very lengthy & complicated

How to use EncodeGUI?

Step 1: Download & launch the Encode GUI v.1.0.5 on your system following the given instructions. Next, select the source video > change the encoding settings.

Step 2: Select video codec to HEVC > select CRF value to 17 > select profiling & change setting to main 10 & unlimited Level > select bit depth to 10-bit.

Step 3: Select VapourSynth tab > Color > activate the “Color Space Converter” option. Then, change the Input Matrix, Transfer, and Primaries according to the “Video Info” details in the right section.

Step 4: If you find any missing color space details in the video information, select the element to “BT470bg”. Set the parameters as it is given in the “OutPut” section under the “Color Space Converter” option so that you can make the file HDR-compatible.

Step 5: Head to the taskbar again to select the “Signal” option > Enable Color > HDR10 Metadata. Next, select parameters for Color Matrix, Transfer & Primaries according to the settings option shown in the picture.

Step 6: Finally, select the “Preview” option to verify your selection, and then select the “Start” option to initiate the SDR to HDR conversion process.

Method 3: Convert SDR to HDR Using Topaz Video AI：Hyperion SDR-to-HDR Model (Beta Version)

Convert SDR to HDR Using Topaz Video AI：Hyperion SDR-to-HDR Model

Topaz Video AI is a cutting-edge solution for enhancing video content, catering to the needs of both professional and amateur users. The Hyperion SDR-to-HDR feature from Topaz Video AI is set to be released later this year, and currently, beta users have access to the inaugural version of Hyperion. Continue reading to explore the review of Topaz AI and determine whether this SDR to HDR model meets all your requirements.

Benefits

  • Clear Output Effect: The brightness adjustment is intuitively noticeable, with contrast improvement.
  • HDR Identification Support: Capable of displaying HDR indicators on TVs, enhancing viewing experience.

Limitations

  • Basic Brightness Adjustment: Primarily performs fundamental brightness adjustments, resulting in a final effect similar to native SDR video.
  • Excessive Visual Saturation: Overall visual saturation is too high, with noticeable overflow of brightness and warm color tones.
  • Lack of HDR Information: Exported videos do not display HDR information in MediaInfo.
  • Slow Conversion Speed

Advantages of UniFab Upconverter AI Compared to Topaz Video AI

UniFab vs Topaz

Compared to Topaz, UniFab Upconverter AI offers several advantages:

  • UniFab supports not only HDR10 but also Dolby Vision conversion
  • Support both DCI-P3 and Rec.2020 color spaces
  • UniFab not only displays HDR indicators on TVs but also shows in MediaInfo
  • Powered by advanced AI algorithms, UniFab can achieve faster conversion speed with your corresponding high-performance hardware support

Conclusions

If you don't want to compromise with the viewing experience of your favorite home videos, movie collections, or office presentation videos, the SDR to HDR converter is the best option. To optimize your various video editing and customization requirements, you should go for the converter cum video upscale, two-in-one program, the UniFab HDR Upconverter AI. 

FAQs

Does SDR to HDR conversion loss video detail & data?

No, because of SDR to HDR video upscaling, your poor-quality video data and details will become more prominent, vibrant, and visible while balancing colors, brightness, and light. Instead of losing data or compromising quality, the SDR to HDR conversion enhances the video quality with realistic appeal. If you want to know how to convert HDR to SDR, refer to this post.

What is the best SDR for HDR converters?

To look for a SDR to HDR converter, you will get very limited options with many complicated steps and minimal video customization options. In that case, you must try the most powerful and hassle-free SDR to HDR converter, the Unifab HDR Upconverter AI, with the ultimate video editing & customization option.