HDR Tools Plugin
for Final Cut Pro

$20.00

Digital download. No shipping.

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Install on up to 5 Macs
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The HDR Tools Plugin gives your footage a high dynamic range look in Final Cut Pro, darkening bright skies and brightening the shadows.

Isolate the highlights and shadows, balance them, then add detail, softening, tints and color balance.

Works with the current versions of Final Cut Pro and macOS, on Intel Macs and natively on Apple silicon. Pay once, yours forever; past customers get updates. Every order has a 30-day money-back guarantee.

HDR Tools Plugin is also in the MEGA BUNDLE: all of our plugins (over 80), a $1,600+ value, for $80.

BUY ONE, GET ONE FREE

Every second plugin is free, applied automatically at checkout.

the MEGA BUNDLE: all of our Final Cut Pro plugins (over 80) for $80

Extended demoThe full HDR Tools Plugin demo

DemoHDR Tools Plugin in action

HDR look plugin for Final Cut Pro

Overview

The HDR Tools Plugin is a Final Cut Pro plugin that gives your footage a high dynamic range (HDR) look, darkening the brightest parts of the image, like the sky, and brightening the darker parts.

Use the Isolate control to see exactly which highlights and shadows you are selecting, then set Highs.Range and Shadows.Range until only those areas show.

Switch Isolate back to None and adjust Highs.Level and Shadows.Level. Soften.Adjustment blends the change into the original image, and Details makes the picture crisper.

Tint the highlights and shadows, and fine-tune gamma, contrast, saturation and color balance, all in the same effect.

Features

Isolate view: see the highlights or shadows you are selecting in black and white before you adjust them.
Separate highs and shadows: Highs.Range, Shadows.Range, Highs.Level and Shadows.Level.
Soften.Adjustment: blend the adjustment with the original image to avoid rough edges, with horizontal and vertical softening.
Details: bring out detail and make the image crisper, with horizontal and vertical controls.
Tints and color balance: Highs.Tint, Shadows.Tint and color balance for shadows, midtones and highlights.
Finishing controls: Gamma, Contrast, Contrast.Shift, Saturation, Effect.Mix and Scale.

How to use

In the Effects browser sidebar, click My FCPeffects, then drag the HDR Plugin onto your clip.
Set Isolate to Highlights and raise Highs.Range until the bright areas you want to change (like the sky) show with no black in them.
Set Isolate to Shadows and adjust Shadows.Range until only the dark areas you want to brighten show.
Set Isolate back to None. Lower Highs.Level and raise Shadows.Level.
Use Soften.Adjustment to blend the result, Details to sharpen it, and Scale to trim any rough edges at the frame border.

Requirements

Works with all versions of Final Cut Pro from the last 5+ years, including Final Cut Pro 11 and the current Final Cut Pro 12
Works with the current versions of macOS
Runs on Intel Macs and natively on Apple silicon (M1 and later)
No Apple Motion needed
Works with every resolution Final Cut Pro supports, including 4K and 8K
Install on any Mac you own that’s signed in to the same Apple account (Apple allows up to 5 Macs)

FAQ

Does it make true HDR video?

No. It creates an HDR look in a normal project by darkening the highlights and brightening the shadows of your footage.

How do I choose which areas change?

Set Isolate to Highlights or Shadows and adjust Highs.Range or Shadows.Range. Everything outside the selected areas shows black.

How do I avoid harsh edges?

Raise Soften.Adjustment to blend the adjustment with the original image, and increase Scale slightly to trim rough edges at the border.

Can I go back and change the ranges?

Yes. Reset the level controls to their defaults first, then set Isolate again and readjust the ranges.

Is the HDR Tools Plugin part of the MEGA BUNDLE?

Yes. It's in the MEGA BUNDLE: all of our plugins (over 80), a $1,600+ value, for $80.

Is there a deal on individual plugins?