Luminance HDR (formerly Qtpfsgui) is free, open-source software for Windows, macOS and Linux. It builds an HDR image from your brackets, with alignment and ghost-removal options, and then tone-maps it with a long list of operators (Mantiuk, Fattal, Reinhard, Drago and others). It is a strong tool for learning HDR and for experimenting.
For real-estate work, the catch is that each operator has its own parameters. Getting a natural-looking interior with a usable window view takes trial and error, and it all happens on your desktop, one set at a time unless you script it.
| Luminance HDR | CasaVivid | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free and open source | Free during open beta |
| Runs on | Windows, macOS, Linux desktop | Web browser; processing in the cloud |
| Approach | HDR radiance map + choice of tone-mapping operators | Automatic merge tuned for interiors and exteriors, with a Natural or Bright & Airy look |
| Batch a whole shoot | Batch tool available; settings are yours to tune | Yes. Upload a whole shoot and brackets are grouped automatically |
| Window view | Depends on operator and settings | Automatic window pull (on by default, can be switched off) |
| Colour casts | Manual | Automatic white balance and colour-cast cleanup, with a Natural or Bright & Airy look |
| Perspective | Not part of the merge; do it in another app | Automatic on interiors (straightens converging verticals; can be switched off). Not applied to exteriors or drone shots |
| Works offline | Yes | No. Photos are uploaded |
When Luminance HDR is the better choice
It costs nothing, runs offline, and lets you see exactly what each tone-mapping operator does. That makes it a good choice for hobby work, for learning, or for creative HDR looks a listing pipeline would never produce.
When CasaVivid is the better choice
If you deliver listing photos for a living, the time spent tuning operators per room adds up. CasaVivid aims for one consistent, natural result across a whole shoot, with the window views and colour handled for you.
Where CasaVivid fits
CasaVivid is a web app made for real-estate photographers who shoot bracketed interiors and exteriors every day. You upload the whole shoot, RAW or JPEG. It groups the brackets, merges each set, brings back the view through bright windows, evens out colour casts from mixed lighting, and gives you finished listing photos. Staging and AI edits are in the same project.
Perspective correction (straightening leaning walls and converging verticals) runs automatically on interior photos and can be switched off. It is not applied to exteriors or to drone shots, where it was more likely to tilt a good frame than fix it.
It is in open beta and free to use while the beta lasts. It is not a general-purpose HDR tool: there are no tone-mapping operators to choose from, and no 32-bit output for further grading.
FAQ
- Is Luminance HDR good for real-estate photos?
- It can produce good results, but it is a general HDR tool. Natural interiors with clean windows need careful operator choice and tuning on every set.