SDR to HDR - Beeble Documentation
Introducing SDR to HDR
SDR to HDR is a professional reconstruction tool for filmmakers, colorists, and VFX artists, powered by our SwitchHDR model. It turns standard 8-bit SDR footage into true 16-bit HDR masters built for production pipelines. Unlike tone mapping, SwitchHDR rebuilds the detail SDR threw away. It recovers information behind blown windows and crushed blacks, while keeping well-exposed areas faithful to the source.
Key features:
- True 16-bit EXR output with a full ACES workflow (ACES2065-1, AP0)
- Expanded depth and range for smoother grading with less banding
- Precise control via highlight and shadow masks, with optional text prompts
- Powered by SwitchHDR, our foundational model trained specifically for accurate SDR-to-HDR reconstruction
Quick start
Upload your source
Upload an image or a video ( 1-240 frames). For longer clips, trim before uploading.Set the masks
Use Highlight and Shadow thresholds to define which regions the model reconstructs. The overlay and histogram show exactly which pixels are affected. Video: Use Change Frame to verify the mask on a different frame.Set options and generate
Optionally describe the recovered highlights and shadows (or click Suggest), pick 1080p or 720p, and generate. Set a fixed Seed under Advanced for reproducible results.Preview and download
Check the result with the EV slider, then download the outputs: the EXR sequence and the HLG.mov.
Specs
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Resolution | 1080p or 720p (short edge is scaled to the selected resolution) |
| Aspect Ratio | Always preserved |
| Frame Rate | Always preserved |
Export
| File | What it is |
|---|---|
{name}_ACES2065-1.exr / .zip |
Finishing master EXR in ACES2065-1 (AP0), 16-bit half-float. Video jobs download as a numbered EXR sequence in a ZIP. |
{name}_HLG.mov |
For video jobs, a Rec.2020 / HLG QuickTime for playback and review. |
{name}_mask_highlight / _mask_shadow |
Reconstruction mattes (PNG for images, MP4 for video) for comp and selective grading. |
Load in DaVinci Resolve & Nuke
Unzip {name}_ACES2065-1.zip and import the EXRs, then follow the setup below so they are read as ACES, not as Rec.709 / sRGB.
DaVinci Resolve
- Before importing, set Project Settings → Master Settings → Timeline frame rate to your source clip’s rate.
- Already imported? Right-click the sequence → Clip Attributes → Video Frame rate.
Color space
Pick one. Combining both can cause a double transform. Option A: Project-wide ACES
- Project Settings → Color Management: Color science ACEScct, ACES version 1.3
- Set the Output / Display Transform for your monitor (e.g. Rec.709)
Option B: Per-shot Color Space Transform node
We recommend using the default project setting (DaVinci YRGB, Rec.709 Gamma 2.4).
- Color page → add a node → Effects → Color Space Transform
- Input: ACES (AP0) / Linear → Output: your timeline space (e.g. Rec.709 / Gamma 2.4)
Enable ACES OCIO
Set your Nuke OCIO config to ACES (commonly aces_1.2 or aces_1.3 depending on your pipeline).
Read node
For {name}_ACES2065-1.exr, set colorspace to ACES - ACES2065-1 (or the equivalent label in your config).
Viewer
Set the viewer / monitor transform to your target display (e.g. Rec.709).