Converting HDR (High Dynamic Range) video to SDR (Standard Dynamic Range) in
is essential if your playback device doesn't support HDR or if the colors look "washed out" on a standard monitor. To get natural-looking colors, you must use HandBrake’s Tone Mapping feature. Here is the direct way to set it up: HandBrake HDR to SDR Settings Load your Source : Open your HDR video file in HandBrake. Select a Preset : Choose a standard preset (e.g., Fast 1080p30 HQ 1080p30 Video Encoder H.264 (x264) H.265 (x265)
select a "10-bit" encoder unless you want to keep the file size large; standard 8-bit is typical for SDR. Filters Tab : Look for the HDR Tone Mapping Select "BT.709"
: This is the standard color space for SDR. This step is the "magic" that prevents the video from looking grey and dull. Audio/Subtitles : Adjust your tracks as needed and click Start Encode Why Tone Mapping Matters
HDR video contains metadata for high brightness and wide color gamuts (like BT.2020). If you simply compress it without tone mapping, an SDR screen won't know how to interpret those extra-bright pixels, resulting in a flat, desaturated image. HandBrake’s tone mapper "squashes" that range into the BT.709 space while trying to preserve as much detail as possible. Pro Tips for Best Results Use the Preview : Before committing to a long encode, use the
button to see a 30-second clip. If the colors still look off, check that "HDR Tone Mapping" is definitely set to HandBrake Version : Ensure you are using Version 1.3.0 or later , as older versions lacked robust tone mapping support. Performance
: Tone mapping adds extra processing work, so expect the encode to take slightly longer than a standard SDR-to-SDR conversion. before you start? convert hdr to sdr handbrake
To convert HDR video to SDR using , you must Color Space filter to perform tone mapping
, which prevents the final video from appearing "washed out". Step-by-Step Conversion Open Source and drag your HDR video file into the window Choose a Preset : Select a standard SDR preset (e.g., Fast 1080p30 HQ 1080p30 ) under the Apply Color Space Filter Navigate to the Locate the Color Space dropdown and select
This is the critical step that tells HandBrake to map the high dynamic range into the standard range. Video Settings Video Encoder to H.264 (x264) or H.265 (x265). Ensure "10-bit" is
selected for standard SDR compatibility, as 8-bit is the typical SDR standard. Start Encode : Choose your destination folder and click Start Encode Advanced "Pro" Settings
If the default BT.709 filter produces a picture that lacks contrast, you can use a custom string to improve the result. Color Space Paste the following string into the text field:
primaries=bt709:transfer=bt709:matrix=bt709:range=tv:tonemap=reinhard:desat=0 This specifically uses the Converting HDR (High Dynamic Range) video to SDR
tone mapping algorithm, which many users find produces more vivid colors than the standard conversion. an entire folder of HDR files? How to correctly convert HDR content to SDR? : r/handbrake
Converting HDR (High Dynamic Range) video to SDR (Standard Dynamic Range) in HandBrake is essential for fixing washed-out colors when playing 4K content on older screens or using non-HDR editing software. Step-by-Step HDR to SDR Conversion To perform a basic conversion, follow these steps:
Open Source: Launch HandBrake and import your HDR video file.
Select a Preset: Choose a high-quality preset like Web > YouTube High Quality 4K or a hardware-accelerated option like H.265 Apple VideoToolbox 2160p 4K if you are on a Mac. Adjust Color Space: Navigate to the Filters tab.
Find the Color Space dropdown and select BT.709. This is the standard color space for SDR and tells HandBrake to remap the wide HDR colors into a standard range.
Verify Dimensions: In the Dimensions tab, ensure the resolution matches your desired output (e.g., 3840x2160 for 4K) to avoid accidental downscaling. The "Command Line" Shortcut (For Experts) If you
Start Encode: Choose your destination folder and click Start Encode. Advanced Tone Mapping for Better Results
A simple color space change can sometimes leave images looking dim or "flat" because it doesn't always handle luminance perfectly. For more vibrant results, you can use Custom color space settings to apply specific tone mapping algorithms: How to correctly convert HDR content to SDR? : r/handbrake
If you don't like the GUI, here is the FFmpeg command that HandBrake uses internally for Hable tone mapping:
HandBrakeCLI -i input_hdr.mkv -o output_sdr.mp4 \
--preset="Fast 1080p30" \
--colorspace="hable:peak=100" \
--encoder=x264 --quality=20 --vfr
Open HandBrake → Source → select your HDR video (HEVC 10-bit is common).
Scenario A: The Archiver User has a 4K Blu-ray rip of Dune (HDR10). They want a smaller version for their iPad (Non-HDR).
Scenario B: The Fixer User has a video file that is flagged as HDR but looks wrong on their TV.
Hable (best for most) or Mobius (preserves highlights)HandBrakeCLI -i input.mkv -o output.mp4 \
--encoder x265 \
--quality 22 \
--color-space bt709 \
--color-tranfer bt709 \
--color-primaries bt709 \
--tonemap hable \
--rate 30 \
--cfr
