HDR10
Also known as: HDR 10, PQ HDR, SMPTE ST 2084
An open HDR video standard using the PQ curve, Rec. 2020 colors, 10-bit depth and metadata describing brightness, widely used for streaming and TVs.
Updated
What it means
HDR10 is the most common HDR format for streaming and televisions. It combines the PQ transfer curve, which maps code values to absolute brightness levels, with the Rec. 2020 color space, 10-bit depth, and static metadata that tells the display about the brightest parts of the content.
Because PQ refers to real brightness in nits, HDR10 can describe very bright highlights accurately. The display then adapts the image to what it can actually show. Extended versions add dynamic metadata that changes scene by scene for finer control.
It differs from HLG, which avoids metadata and stays more compatible with standard screens.
How it works in practice
Creators usually meet HDR10 at export. Grading for HDR10 requires an HDR-capable monitor, a color-managed timeline and careful choices about how bright highlights should be. Platforms that support HDR uploads accept HDR10 files with correct tags.
Most action cameras do not record HDR10 directly. They record standard footage, log or HLG, and the HDR10 version is created during grading. Phones are an exception, since several record HDR video natively.
Without a proper HDR display, it is very hard to judge an HDR10 grade, so many creators stick to standard exports.
What to watch out for
HDR10 shown on a standard screen without tone mapping looks dark and dull, and some apps handle the conversion badly. Always check how your export looks on a standard device too.
Overly bright HDR grades can be uncomfortable to watch on phones in the dark, and platforms apply their own limits. Restraint usually looks better than pushing every highlight to the maximum, and it keeps faces and skin tones natural next to bright skies.
Missing or wrong metadata leads to inconsistent results across devices, so use export presets designed for HDR10 rather than manual settings. Keep a standard version of every important export as a fallback for places where HDR playback is unreliable.
How RawClip handles it
RawClip does not process HDR formats. Upload standard footage or convert HDR clips to a normal Rec. 709 look first, and the AI uses them for your highlight, delivered as MP4 in 4K and 1080p.