HDR image or raster header
ImagesHDR can be a Radiance image used for lighting or a text header describing an ENVI raster. Identify the source and companion files before treating it as an image.
- Main use
- Handling HDR images or separate-data headers
- Data type
- Multiple uses; identify the producer
All sections, questions and sources
Content reviewed： · Editor：Kai
Example: a practical checking sequence
Example: a small HDR next to GIS data may be an ENVI header, requiring its pixel companion. A downloaded HDRI asset instead needs image/lighting tools and projection checks. The same suffix can require different applications and companion files.
Opening steps
Choose your environment or purpose to see its steps.
Menu labels and support vary by app, OS and version. Preserve the original before making changes.
Troubleshooting by symptom
- Image app rejection: determine whether it is a text header.
- Black environment: inspect exposure, display transform and lighting settings.
- GIS cannot find data: check the raster companion, names and relative location.
- Wrong direction: check projection and environment rotation.
- Lighting changes after JPEG export: brightness range may be lost; use the HDR source.
Identify the variant before export
- Identify Radiance versus header data using provenance and contents.
- Export display copies from image software, or use GIS export for raster datasets.
- Check image brightness or raster dimensions, bands and coordinates.
Converting a header cannot create missing raster pixels. A JPEG does not replace HDR lighting values.
Identify by context and companions
A large HDRI asset and a small header accompanying GIS data play different roles; size is a clue, not proof.
Source for these steps：Blender · Supported image formats / GDAL · ENVI raster format
Preserve sources and companions
Separate display output from lighting sources, and headers from raster data. Avoid arbitrary renaming or relocation of companion files.
- Record projection and asset licensing.
- Check all raster bands and spatial metadata.
- Keep originals and exports in separate folders.
Related-format differences
| Format / purpose | Use and preserved information |
|---|---|
| Radiance HDR | Wide-range brightness image. |
| ENVI HDR | Header describing separate pixel data. |
| EXR | Image format for HDR values and additional channels. |
Handling and security
Editing a text header can change data interpretation; retain sources and keep sensitive geographic or project data away from unknown services.
Questions and answers
Is every HDR an image?
No; it can be a raster header.
How does HDRI relate to HDR?
HDRI describes high-dynamic-range imagery, not a single file suffix.
Can a small header display the whole map?
Separate raster pixels must also be available.
Does PNG preserve the same lighting?
It can lose brightness range; retain the HDR source.
Can I edit it because it is readable?
Do not change fields without understanding them; work on a copy.
Format facts: name, steward and MIME type
- Formal name
- Radiance RGBE image / ENVI header
- Steward / specification
- Radiance / ENVI / implementation-specific
- MIME type
- Check the producer or implementation; do not assume a single universal MIME value.
Primary and official sources
- Software documentationSupported image formats
TGA, JPEG 2000, EXR and HDR input/output
Blender · Link checked： - Project documentationENVI raster format
HDR as a raster header rather than an image
GDAL · Link checked： - Project documentationScene linear
Scene brightness and display transforms
OpenEXR · Link checked：