AutoHDR

AutoHDR is a tiny Windows image processing tool that applies filters with automatic HDR adjustments. It also reserves options for users who want to dive into the whole customization operation themselves to get specific results.

The installation procedure is rapid and uncomplicated. In the visual department of the interface, AutoHDR is not that impressive, preferring a classical look with straightforward options.

Once a picture is opened, the automatic HDR adjustments can be immediately applied with the click of a button. This does not overwrite the original file, however. AutoHDR shows the original picture in the main frame, and opens an additional window for previewing the new one.

Changes can be committed to a new file with the JPG, PNG, GIF or TIFF format, so the original one remains intact. Worth mentioning is that multiple photos can be opened at once, in order to apply the same effects to all of them at once.

Several output profiles are available. Apart from the default adjustments, AutoHDR offers sharp, very sharp, artistic, black and white, bold, detailed, natural and tinted filters, along with those pertaining to architecture, landscape, macro, people, transport, wildlife.

Adventurous users may set their own values when it comes to the detail, contrast, color, noise, shadows, highlights and sharpen levels. These custom settings can be saved to up to three profiles.

Additional configuration options let users change the default source directory, resize images by pointing out the maximum width and height or prepare them for publishing on Facebook, Twitter and other platforms, apply watermarks, redefine rules for automatically renaming files, as well as adjust the JPEG compression level. Settings may be restored to default.

Processing images may take a while, depending on their size and settings applied. We have not encountered any unpleasant surprises during our tests, though, since AutoHDR did not hang, crash or pop up error messages.

The only drawbacks to the tool is that there is no support for an undo feature, and the interface needs some polishing. Other than that, AutoHDR delivers simple solutions to automatically applying HDR effects to images, and provides options to first-time and experienced users alike.