HDR Overview

Frame.io makes reviewing all types of media files easy, intuitive, and secure. This also includes HDR content. Traditionally, creatives could only review HDR content on specialized equipment in post production facilities. Frame.io allows you to review HDR content accurately from your supported iOS device, iPad, or AppleTV with the Frame.io app. With HDR on Frame.io, HDR review is now in your pocket.
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Viewing HDR assets in the Frame.io app in available on the web app, compatible iOS device, iPad, and AppleTV (connected to an HDR-ready TV). See below for compatibility with each device type.

iPhone X and newer supports HDR playback. iPhone XR, iPhone 11, and iPhone SE are the only devices on iOS 18 and newer that are not supported.
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iPad Pro 9.7", iPad Pro 10.5", iPad Pro 11", and iPad Pro 12.9" 2nd generation and newer support HDR playback.

AppleTV 4K supports HDR playback.

In order for an asset to be interpreted correctly as HDR by a video player — including the video player on Frame.io — it needs three specific flags. The flags that need to be marked are Colorspace (sometimes called Primaries), Transfer Function, and Color Matrix. However, in most NLEs or finishing tools, you’re usually only able to specify Colorspace and Transfer Function (usually called “Gamma”), and the Matrix is assumed.

In order for Frame.io to recognize an asset as HDR, it needs to be flagged with one of these Colorspaces and one of these Transfer Functions (Gamma).

​Supported HDR Colorspaces

Supported HDR Transfer Functions (Gamma)

Frame.io supports HDR assets in several different codecs. See below for compatible common formats. Note that this list is not exhaustive.

Many NLEs and finishing tools can create these codecs. Please refer to your tool’s documentation for instructions on how to generate HDR files. For best results, HDR files should be 10-bit.

HDR is High Dynamic Range. Dynamic Range is the range from the darkest points of an image to the brightest points of an image. This means that a High Dynamic Range will have darker blacks and brighter whites as well as more detail. In addition, HDR images also have a Wide Color Gamut, which means they can display more colors, giving images more life. Viewing HDR requires an HDR capable display and a file encoded to certain HDR specs.
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You can view HDR images in the Frame.io iOS, iPad, and AppleTV apps on devices and displays that are HDR capable.
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Apple’s displays are considered color accurate out of the box. However, you can do a few things to ensure you see as accurate a picture as possible. Under Settings > Display & Brightness, make sure both True Tone and Night Shift are switched off. Finally, for HDR, make sure your brightness is set to above 70%.
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Frame.io supports 10-bit HDR playback on Pro, Team, and Enterprise plans. Other plans also support 8-bit proxies.
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If you have an HDR-capable TV, you can watch HDR in the Frame.io AppleTV app on supported AppleTV devices. Click here for more information on supported AppleTV devices.
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HDR viewing requires an HDR capable display. If you have an older iOS device or iPad that does not support HDR, the asset will be tone mapped down to SDR. On older Apple devices, files will be tone mapped to levels appropriate for that device's display. While the files can be reviewed, they will not be HDR.
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Yes! HDR videos recorded on iPhone are supported in Frame.io.
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