Convert Rec.709 SDR video to HDR10 or Dolby Vision
SDR-to-HDR conversion expands 8-bit Rec.709 video into HDR with brighter highlights, deeper shadows, and a wider color gamut. UniFab uses deep neural networks and AI inverse tone mapping to reconstruct luminance and remap frames to 10-bit HDR10 or Dolby Vision. Process videos locally or with FabCloud.
Convert SDR to HDR with FabCloud, no local GPU required
UniFab lets you process SDR-to-HDR conversion locally or through FabCloud. Upload an SDR video, and FabCloud performs AI inverse tone mapping without relying on a high-performance local GPU.
Choose HDR Upconverter AI - FabCloud, or get UniFab All-In-One to access FabCloud features. Learn more.
Free trial with full features, no watermark.
Use AI inverse tone mapping for SDR to HDR conversion
Standard SDR video uses 8-bit color, about 100-nit peak brightness, and the Rec.709 gamut. These limits can make SDR footage appear flatter than HDR content.
UniFab's deep neural networks apply inverse tone mapping to each frame, reconstructing luminance and remapping pixels into 10-bit HDR with wider Rec.2020 or DCI-P3 color. The model is trained on paired SDR and HDR data.
Free trial with full features, no watermark.
Create HDR10 or Dolby Vision output from SDR video
UniFab's SDR-to-HDR converter supports HDR10 and Dolby Vision output for streaming, gaming, and 4K Blu-ray. HDR10 delivers 10-bit color and up to 1,000-nit peak brightness, while Dolby Vision supports up to 12-bit color, 4,000-nit brightness, and scene-by-scene dynamic metadata on supported devices.
System note: An HDR-compatible display is required for the full HDR experience.
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Choose the color space for SDR to HDR conversion
Our SDR-to-HDR conversion engine supports DCI-P3 and BT.2020 (Rec.2020) wide-gamut color spaces for cinema, gaming, streaming, and home-theater workflows. DCI-P3 provides wider coverage than Rec.709, while BT.2020 offers an even wider gamut for HDR mastering, 4K Blu-ray, and UHD production.
Note: Full Rec.2020 coverage requires compatible devices and sufficient processing power.
Free trial with full features, no watermark.
What's new in UniFab HDR Upconverter AI
UniFab HDR Upconverter AI for Mac: FabCloud is now available
FabCloud is now available on macOS. Mac users can convert SDR to HDR10 in the cloud through a guided cloud workflow with no local GPU required.
Cloud processing without local hardware requirements
FabCloud processes SDR-to-HDR conversion in the cloud, so it can run on a supported laptop without a high-performance local GPU.
4K UHD, QHD, FHD, and fast modes
Choose among four resolution and speed modes.
- 4K UHD: 3840×2160 HDR10 or Dolby Vision.
- QHD: 2560×1440 HDR with balanced speed.
- FHD: 1080p HDR for broader compatibility.
- Fast: Quick previews for testing.
Compare local and FabCloud SDR to HDR conversion
UniFab offers local and FabCloud SDR-to-HDR conversion. Local HDR Upconverter AI is suited to systems with compatible hardware, while FabCloud processes the conversion on cloud GPUs without relying on a high-performance local GPU.
HDR Upconverter AI (Lifetime)
See SDR to HDR results shared by UniFab users
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UniFab is the best AI-powered tool for converting SDR to HDR and enhancing video quality.
The SDR to HDR conversion is fast and accurate. Great tool for content creators who want vibrant results.
This is the best SDR to HDR converter — solid performance and minimal quality loss.
A reliable tool for SDR to HDR conversion—fast, stable, and easy to use.
The AI handles SDR to HDR enhancement well, delivering natural color and balanced dynamic range.
YouTech
Youtuber with 1.71M followers
I tried UniFab HDR Upconverter AI, and it's an incredible tool for upgrading videos to HDR10 and Dolby Vision. The enhanced brightness and richer color depth truly bring my projects to life. Super easy to use with stunning, cinema-quality results. If you're into content creation, this AI-powered HDR upscaler is a must-have. Two thumbs up!
UniFab's ability to convert videos to HDR has been a game changer for me. It's like I've got cinematic level at my fingertips. The Dolby Vision outputs are just stunning on my projects!
Angelo Aquilini
Photographer
Finally found an easy way to convert SDR to HDR without losing detail. The results look sharp and natural.
Gim
Vlogger
I used UniFab to convert SDR to HDR for my project, and the visual upgrade was amazing — the colors and contrast look so much better now.
Noah
Videographer
FAQs about SDR-to-HDR conversion
Learn more through our YouTube channel, guidebook, or community discussion.
UniFab uses AI inverse tone mapping to analyze each frame, reconstruct luminance, expand dynamic range, and encode the result as HDR10 or Dolby Vision. Unlike a basic contrast or saturation filter, this process remaps SDR content for HDR output.
HDR Upconverter AI - FabCloud is a cloud-based SDR-to-HDR conversion tool that does not rely on local device performance. A purchase includes FabCloud credits for cloud processing. Learn more.
SDR, or Standard Dynamic Range, commonly uses 8-bit color, about 100-nit brightness, and the Rec.709 gamut. HDR, or High Dynamic Range, supports greater color depth, higher brightness, and wider color gamuts such as Rec.2020 or DCI-P3.
| Spec | SDR | HDR |
| Brightness | Up to 100 nits | Up to 4,000 nits |
| Color Depth | 8-bit (16.7M colors) | 10-bit / 12-bit (1B+ colors) |
| Color Gamut | Rec.709 | Rec.2020, DCI-P3 |
| Contrast Ratio | ~1,200:1 | Up to 1,000,000:1 (OLED) |
| Dynamic Metadata | Not supported | Yes (Dolby Vision, HDR10+) |
SDR-to-HDR conversion remaps brightness, contrast, and color information to produce output for HDR-capable displays.
The choice depends on device compatibility and workflow requirements. HDR10 offers broad support across many devices. Dolby Vision supports scene-by-scene dynamic metadata and greater color depth but is available on fewer devices.
Yes. UniFab supports Dolby Vision output with scene-by-scene dynamic metadata for brightness and contrast.
Inverse tone mapping, also called up-mapping, remaps an SDR signal to an HDR signal. Instead of applying a simple contrast or saturation boost, it analyzes luminance and reconstructs dynamic-range information for HDR output. UniFab applies this process with an AI model trained on paired SDR and HDR data.
Four common HDR standards are
HDR10,
Dolby Vision,
HDR10+, and
HLG. HDR10 uses static metadata, while Dolby Vision supports scene-by-scene dynamic metadata. HDR10+ is another dynamic-metadata format, and HLG is used for broadcast workflows.
UniFab HDR Upconverter AI currently outputs HDR10 and Dolby Vision.
SDR-to-HDR converted videos can be used in compatible
streaming,
gaming,
4K Blu-ray,
post-production, monitor, and
home-theater workflows.
UniFab outputs HDR10 and Dolby Vision for compatible playback and production workflows.
Yes. HDR Upconverter AI offers 4K UHD, QHD, FHD, and Fast output modes. It can also be combined with UniFab AI Video Enhancer for upscaling. For local 4K HDR processing, the recommended graphics card is an NVIDIA RTX 30 Series GPU or newer with 8 GB VRAM. FabCloud provides a cloud-processing option.
Converting SDR to HDR expands dynamic range and color depth for brighter highlights, deeper shadows, and richer colors on an HDR-capable display. Results depend on the source footage and conversion quality, and compression artifacts in the source can affect the output.
When choosing an SDR-to-HDR converter, consider output formats, tone-mapping quality, hardware requirements, and workflow. UniFab HDR Upconverter AI supports inverse tone mapping, HDR10 and Dolby Vision output, four processing modes, and a FabCloud option that does not rely on a high-performance local GPU.
Yes, to fully appreciate the advantages of HDR, HDR content needs to be viewed on an HDR-compatible display or monitor, such as one that supports HDR10 or Dolby Vision.
Convert SDR video to HDR with UniFab in four steps:
- Download and launch UniFab, then open HDR Upconverter AI
- Import your SDR video file
- Choose HDR10 or Dolby Vision and select 4K UHD, QHD, FHD, or Fast mode
- Start the conversion and let UniFab apply AI inverse tone mapping
For SDR-to-HDR conversion, we recommend the following configuration:
- Operating system: Windows 11 or Windows 10, 64-bit only
- System memory: 16 GB RAM or more
- Graphics card: NVIDIA RTX 30 Series or newer with 8 GB VRAM
- CPU: 8th-generation Intel Core i7 or AMD Ryzen 3000 Series or newer
Tips and resources for SDR to HDR conversion
3 Best HDR Video Software in 2026: Top SDR-to-HDR Converters Tested
A hands-on comparison of the three best HDR video software in 2026 for converting SDR footage to HDR10 and Dolby Vision. We benchmark UniFab HDR Upconverter AI, Topaz Hyperion and HitPaw on conversion quality, tone-mapping accuracy, processing speed and price, then explain how to choose the right SDR-to-HDR converter for your workflow.
12 Best HDR Video Players of 2026 [Windows, Mac, Android & iOS]
A 2026 roundup of the 12 best HDR video players for Windows, Mac, Android and iOS that correctly display HDR10 and Dolby Vision content. We cover free and paid players, what to look for in HDR playback, and how to convert your own SDR footage to HDR with UniFab HDR Upconverter AI.
Dolby Vision vs HDR10 (and HDR10+): Which HDR Format Is Better?
A clear comparison of Dolby Vision vs HDR10 and HDR10+, explaining how the three HDR formats differ in dynamic metadata, peak brightness, color depth (10-bit vs 12-bit) and device compatibility. We help you decide which HDR format is better for your TV, console or content, and show how to convert SDR footage to HDR with UniFab.
How to Upload HDR Video on YouTube in 2026 [Complete Guide]
A complete 2026 guide to uploading HDR video on YouTube so it plays back in true HDR. We cover the right export and encoding settings, HDR metadata, HDR10 and Dolby Vision considerations, common reasons HDR uploads look wrong, and how to convert SDR footage to HDR with UniFab before uploading.
The results are impressive, and the conversion speed for SDR to HDR is remarkable.