Monochrome vs Color Gain Map Examples

The background of this web page is SDR white (UI white, or 8-bit 0xff).

All images on this page are in the JPEG format with an embedded Gain Map. This is also known as Ultra HDR. The base images are Standard Dynamic Range (SDR).

Example 1

SDR	HDR
JPEG + RGB Gain Map Reference Edit (saved from Camera Raw)	JPEG + RGB Gain Map Reference Edit (saved from Camera Raw)
JPEG + Monochrome Gain Map Base Image = Reference SDR Rendition Result: Good. Matches Reference SDR.	JPEG + Monochrome Gain Map Base Image = Reference SDR Rendition Result: Bad. Missing color in mountain highlights.
JPEG + Monochrome Gain Map Base Image = Calculated from Reference HDR Rendition + Gain Map Result: Bad. Oversaturated mountains and missing details.	JPEG + Monochrome Gain Map Base Image = Calculated from Reference HDR Rendition + Gain Map Result: Good. Matches reference HDR rendition.

Example 2

SDR	HDR
JPEG + RGB Gain Map Reference Edit (saved from Camera Raw)	JPEG + RGB Gain Map Reference Edit (saved from Camera Raw)
JPEG + Monochrome Gain Map Base Image = Reference SDR Rendition Result: Good. Matches Reference SDR.	JPEG + Monochrome Gain Map Base Image = Reference SDR Rendition Result: Bad. Missing color/warmth in clouds and waterfalls.
JPEG + Monochrome Gain Map Base Image = Calculated from Reference HDR Rendition + Gain Map Result: Bad. Oversaturated clouds.	JPEG + Monochrome Gain Map Base Image = Calculated from Reference HDR Rendition + Gain Map Result: Good. Matches reference HDR rendition.

Example 3

SDR	HDR
JPEG + RGB Gain Map Reference Edit (saved from Camera Raw)	JPEG + RGB Gain Map Reference Edit (saved from Camera Raw)
JPEG + Monochrome Gain Map Base Image = Reference SDR Rendition Result: Good. Matches Reference SDR.	JPEG + Monochrome Gain Map Base Image = Reference SDR Rendition Result: Bad. Missing color in windows.
JPEG + Monochrome Gain Map Base Image = Calculated from Reference HDR Rendition + Gain Map Result: Bad. Windows too dark and oversaturated.	JPEG + Monochrome Gain Map Base Image = Calculated from Reference HDR Rendition + Gain Map Result: Good. Matches reference HDR rendition.

Example 4

SDR	HDR
JPEG + RGB Gain Map Reference Edit (saved from Camera Raw)	JPEG + RGB Gain Map Reference Edit (saved from Camera Raw)
JPEG + Monochrome Gain Map Base Image = Reference SDR Rendition Result: Good. Matches Reference SDR.	JPEG + Monochrome Gain Map Base Image = Reference SDR Rendition Result: Bad. Head too bright.
JPEG + Monochrome Gain Map Base Image = Calculated from Reference HDR Rendition + Gain Map Result: Bad. Missing details in neck and head.	JPEG + Monochrome Gain Map Base Image = Calculated from Reference HDR Rendition + Gain Map Result: Good. Matches reference HDR rendition.

Example 5

SDR	HDR
JPEG + RGB Gain Map Reference Edit (saved from Camera Raw)	JPEG + RGB Gain Map Reference Edit (saved from Camera Raw)
JPEG + Monochrome Gain Map Base Image = Reference SDR Rendition Result: Good. Matches Reference SDR.	JPEG + Monochrome Gain Map Base Image = Reference SDR Rendition Result: Bad. Hue shift towards yellow in tower lights.
JPEG + Monochrome Gain Map Base Image = Calculated from Reference HDR Rendition + Gain Map Result: Bad. Missing color details in tower structures.	JPEG + Monochrome Gain Map Base Image = Calculated from Reference HDR Rendition + Gain Map Result: Good. Matches reference HDR rendition.

Example 6

SDR	HDR
JPEG + RGB Gain Map Reference Edit (saved from Camera Raw)	JPEG + RGB Gain Map Reference Edit (saved from Camera Raw)
JPEG + Monochrome Gain Map Base Image = Reference SDR Rendition Result: Good. Matches Reference SDR.	JPEG + Monochrome Gain Map Base Image = Reference SDR Rendition Result: Bad. Loss of color/warmth on sunlit part of iceberg.
JPEG + Monochrome Gain Map Base Image = Calculated from Reference HDR Rendition + Gain Map Result: Bad. Missing details and oversaturation in sunlight part of iceberg.	JPEG + Monochrome Gain Map Base Image = Calculated from Reference HDR Rendition + Gain Map Result: Good. Matches reference HDR rendition.