PhotomatixCL is a command-line tool for adding HDR image processing to automated workflows on Linux, macOS, and Windows. It merges exposure-bracketed photos into HDR images and processes them with tone mapping or exposure fusion. Image alignment, ghost removal, and HDR presets are included, with results saved as JPG, TIFF, or EXR. Images can come from a computer or local network, or be downloaded from a web server. Each run processes one bracketed set; the bundled PhotomatixCL-Driver can batch-process folders of sets. The CLI is intended for cloud or local server workflows and does not need API integration code. Linux options include Ubuntu, a statically linked universal build, and an ARM build for Debian, though the universal build lacks lens correction. One credit is charged for each run that processes images, regardless of the number of input photos. Trial runs do not use credits but watermark output; free-plan tracking needs internet access, and the tool fails during an outage unless used in trial mode. Paid pricing starts at $39 one-time.
Who it is for
PhotomatixCL suits teams building automated HDR pipelines, including real estate photography agencies and SaaS image-editing platforms. It is intended for users processing exposure-bracketed images on cloud or local servers.
What is good
- Processes HDR images with tone mapping or exposure fusion.
- Offers alignment, ghost removal, and HDR presets.
- Driver can batch-process folders of image sets.
- Outputs JPG, TIFF, and EXR.
- Trial runs do not consume credits.
What to know first
- Each normal run processes one bracketed set.
- Free-plan tracking requires internet access.
- Trial outputs carry a Photomatix watermark.
- Universal Linux build lacks lens correction.
Verdict
PhotomatixCL is geared toward automated HDR workflows, with a bundled driver for folder-based batches. Trial mode avoids credit use but watermarks output, and free-plan tracking depends on internet access.
PhotomatixCL plans and pricing
All plansCompared on HDR software
- Free plan
- Yes
- Paid from
- 39 one-time
- HDR merge mode
- bracketed
- Tone mapping controls
- multiple
- Batch processing
- Yes
- RAW file support
- Yes
- HDR output formats
- JPG, TIFF, EXR
- Supported platforms
- Windows, Linux
