2.3. HDRI Software

Parallel to these new image formats, new software had to be developed. This was an urgent necessity because traditional applications used to work internally with 8 bits per color channel. Supporting a 32-bit format in such an application requires quite a bit more than just a simple loader plug-in. The entire architecture needs to be updated to work in floating-point precision, which in turn means that literally all image processing functions have to be rewritten. Obviously, this can be a heavy task for big applications that are already loaded with functionality. Photoshop, for example, is having a hard time catching up here.

Other applications that have been designed from the start to work in floating-point precision have it much easier. They might offer less general functionality than Photoshop, but they are definitely ahead when it comes to performing specific tasks that are typical for an high dynamic range workflow.