Side by side
ImageMagick vs Luminance HDR
Both stand on photo editing software. Which one you can start free with, which one lets you read the code, and what each costs once you pay.
Free plan Open source APILinuxMac+2
ImageMagick offers broad image-processing tools for command-line workflows and software integrations, without a software charge. Linux users should account for the limited prebuilt option, and deployments should follow the maker’s security-policy guidance.
Visit ImageMagick Free plan Open source LinuxMacSelf-hosted+1
Luminance HDR provides HDR creation, editing, and batch-processing tools in a free desktop application. Prebuilt installation options are documented for Windows, Linux, and macOS.
Visit Luminance HDRThe facts
| ImageMagick | Luminance HDR | |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Open source | Yes | Yes |
| Runs on | API, Linux, Mac, Self-hosted, Windows | Linux, Mac, Self-hosted, Windows |
| Lowest paid plan | Free or on request | Free or on request |
| Plans published | 2 | 2 |
| Maker | Not published | Not published |
| Website | imagemagick.org | github.com |
| On photo editing software | #1 of 159 | #2 of 159 |
ImageMagick: what it does well
- Free, open-source image processing suite.
- Reads more than 100 major image formats.
- Command-line tools support automated processing pipelines.
- APIs enable integration into software applications.
- Commercial use is permitted.
What to know first
- Linux offers only an AppImage as a pre-built binary.
- Other Linux builds or custom compile options require building from source.
- Maker advises configuring a local security policy.
Luminance HDR: what it does well
- Available for Linux, macOS, and Windows.
- Creates HDR files from JPEG, TIFF, or RAW exposures.
- Supports batch HDR merging and batch tone mapping.
- Distributed under the GPL version 2.0.
- Offers a command-line interface and color-managed workflow.
What to know first
- Building from source can require multiple dependencies.
- The application is limited to desktop platforms.
- RAW support uses the LibRAW library.
Alternatives to ImageMagick Alternatives to Luminance HDR The whole list