Delivering HDR vs SDR: What You Need to Know Before Export

You just wrapped color. Now your client wants both an HDR and SDR version… but aren’t they basically the same? Spoiler: they’re not — and mixing them up can get your file rejected or make your footage look wildly off on delivery platforms.

In this guide, we’ll break down HDR vs SDR, how to know which one you need, and what settings to double-check before exporting your master.

🔎 HDR vs SDR: What’s the Difference?

Let’s start simple:

Term	Meaning	Typical Usage
SDR	Standard Dynamic Range	The traditional “TV-safe” format. Used for web, theatrical, festivals, and legacy broadcast.
HDR	High Dynamic Range	Extended brightness + color range. Used for platforms like Netflix, Apple TV+, Disney+, and new TVs.

Key difference: HDR holds more data in highlights, shadows, and colors — but only looks right on HDR-capable displays.

🎯 When Should You Deliver in HDR?

You should only export HDR if:

• Your platform requires it (e.g., Netflix Original, Apple TV+ spec)

• You graded in an HDR environment (like Rec.2100 PQ or HLG)

• Your viewer has an HDR display (otherwise it’ll look washed out or oversaturated)

🚫 Don’t export in HDR just because it sounds premium. If your color pipeline wasn’t HDR-aware, forcing it will backfire.

📦 The Most Common HDR Delivery Mistake

The most frequent error we see?

A colorist delivers in Rec.709 but the export is flagged as HDR — or vice versa.

This causes:

• Color shifts (milky blacks, blown-out highlights)

• Rejection by aggregators or streamers

• Headaches when trying to match deliverables across platforms

🧰 Export Settings to Double-Check

✅ SDR Export Checklist:

• Color space: Rec.709 Gamma 2.4 or Rec.709-A (depending on platform)

• Codec: ProRes 422 HQ or DNxHR HQ

• Resolution: 1920x1080 or 3840x2160

• Metadata: Do not flag as HDR

✅ HDR Export Checklist:

• Color space: Rec.2100 PQ (or HLG if required)

• Codec: ProRes 422 HQ or ProRes 4444

• Metadata: HDR10 or Dolby Vision flags as specified

• Bit depth: 10-bit minimum

🎯 Tip: Don’t mix up metadata! In Adobe Media Encoder or Resolve, check color tagging settings carefully — many rejections stem from incorrect color transfer flagging.

🧪 What Happens If You Deliver the Wrong One?

Let’s say you deliver a Rec.709 export but mark it as HDR:

• Your highlights will bloom or clip

• Shadows may turn gray

• The distributor will likely reject the file

If you deliver HDR flagged as SDR:

• The file may appear flat or washed out on standard screens

• Colors may look overly muted

• You risk looking amateur to high-end buyers or platforms

💼 Want Us to Handle It?

If you’re unsure:

• What gamma your timeline is in

• Whether your export metadata is correct

• Or if your platform wants HDR, SDR, or both...

  
  

📩 Let us handle your final exports. We’ll double-check color settings, export in the correct color space, and return a clean file that’s platform-approved.

Contact Testament Productions →

For a deeper breakdown of platform-specific specs like Netflix or theatrical delivery, read our color specs delivery guide.

About the Author

I'm Mark Ledbetter, a professional editor/colorist and post-production expert based in Los Angeles. I cover editing workflows, cinema gear and how indie filmmakers can stay ahead in a rapidly evolving tech landscape. Find out About Testament Productions.