Ultra HDR Export for Lightroom Classic
GitHub

Illustrated workflow

How to export Ultra HDR for Instagram

Install the plugin, export a gain-map JPEG from Lightroom Classic, verify the container if you want, then upload with Original aspect ratio so Instagram keeps HDR.

16 steps · about 15 minutes

Download plugin Start with install
  1. Install
  2. Develop
  3. Export
  4. Verify
  5. Instagram

Install the plugin

Download the package for your OS, add it in Plug-in Manager, and confirm it is running.

Steps 1–4

  1. Download the plugin

    Get the macOS or Windows package from the download page, then unzip it so you have ExportHDR.lrplugin.

    Download page with macOS and Windows Ultra HDR Export packages
    Choose the package that matches your operating system.

  2. Open Plug-in Manager

    In Lightroom Classic, go to File → Plug-in Manager… (macOS shortcut: Option-Shift-Command-Comma).

    Lightroom Classic File menu with Plug-in Manager selected
    Open Plug-in Manager from the File menu.

  3. Add ExportHDR.lrplugin

    Click Add, select ExportHDR.lrplugin, then confirm with Add Plug-in.

    macOS file dialog selecting ExportHDR.lrplugin with Add Plug-in button
    Select the .lrplugin file and add it to Lightroom.

  4. Confirm the plugin is enabled

    In the Plug-in Manager list, select Ultra HDR Export. Status should show it is installed and running (Enable greyed out, Disable available).

    Lightroom Plug-in Manager showing Ultra HDR Export installed and running
    Ultra HDR Export should appear as installed and running.

Prepare the photo in Develop

Turn on HDR and crop to the aspect ratio you will post.

Steps 5–6

  1. Enable HDR in Lightroom

    In the Develop module Basic panel, click HDR so the photo is edited as HDR before you export.

    Lightroom Basic panel with HDR mode enabled and HDR Limit slider
    Turn on HDR in the Basic panel.

  2. Set the Instagram aspect ratio

    Open Crop & Straighten and lock the aspect you will upload (for example 4 × 5 for a vertical feed post). Matching the crop now avoids Instagram re-cropping later.

    Lightroom Crop tool with Aspect set to 4 x 5 / 8 x 10
    Pick the feed aspect ratio before export.

Export Ultra HDR JPEG

Export a normal JPEG (HDR Output off), enable the Ultra HDR post-process action, then export. The plugin combines your SDR base with a gain map from the HDR source.

Steps 7–11

  1. Open Export

    Choose Export… from the photo menu or File → Export….

    Lightroom export context menu with Export selected
    Open the Export dialog.

  2. File Settings: normal JPEG, no HDR Output

    Set format to JPEG (quality around 90). Leave HDR Output unchecked. Lightroom must write a standard single-tone SDR base; the plugin attaches the gain map afterward.

    Lightroom File Settings with JPEG selected and HDR Output unchecked
    JPEG with HDR Output off — required for a correct Ultra HDR container.

  3. Enable Ultra HDR Export

    Under Post-Process Actions, insert Ultra HDR Export → Encode Ultra HDR JPEG so the plugin runs after Lightroom writes the JPEG.

    Post-Process Actions with Encode Ultra HDR JPEG selected
    Add Encode Ultra HDR JPEG as a post-process action.

  4. Set image sizing

    Resize to your feed size (for example 1440 × 1440 for square) and optionally sharpen for Screen. Keep dimensions consistent with your Develop crop.

    Lightroom Image Sizing set to 1440 by 1440 with Screen sharpening
    Match width and height to your Instagram crop.

  5. Click Export

    Click Export. The plugin combines the SDR JPEG with a gain map derived from your HDR source into one Ultra HDR JPEG ready for Instagram.

    Lightroom Export dialog with Export button highlighted and Ultra HDR post-process active
    Export to write the Ultra HDR JPEG.

Verify the container (optional)

Confirm the file holds both the SDR base and the HDR gain map before you upload.

Step 12

  1. Inspect with Fileyan

    Open the exported JPEG in Fileyan (or a similar JPEG inspector). Under JPEG Internals you should see Multi-image (2): a main SDR image and a second image tagged as an HDR gain map.

    Fileyan showing Multi-image JPEG with main SDR and Image 2 HDR gain map
    Two images in the container: SDR base plus gain map.

    Fileyan is optional. If Multi-image (2) is present, the Ultra HDR encode succeeded.

Upload to Instagram

Keep Original aspect ratio. A temporary SDR-looking preview after Next is normal.

Steps 13–16

  1. Create a new post

    In Instagram (app or supported desktop browser), tap Create and select your exported Ultra HDR JPEG.

    Instagram sidebar with Create button highlighted
    Start a new post and pick the exported file.

  2. Choose Original aspect ratio

    On the Crop screen, open the aspect menu and select Original. Do not switch to 1:1 or another crop if you already sized the export for the feed — re-cropping can drop HDR.

    Instagram Crop screen with Original aspect ratio selected
    Keep Original so Instagram does not re-crop on Next.

  3. Tap Next

    Continue with Next. On an HDR display, the in-upload preview may briefly look like SDR. That is expected and does not mean the file lost HDR.

    Instagram Crop screen with Original selected and Next highlighted
    An SDR-looking preview after Next can still be Ultra HDR.

    If the preview dims on an HDR screen after Next, continue anyway — Share is the real check.

  4. Share — the published image is HDR

    Add a caption if you want, then tap Share. On supported devices and Instagram clients, the live post displays as Ultra HDR.

    Instagram Create new post screen with Share button highlighted
    Share the post to publish Ultra HDR.

Ready to export?

Download the plugin, or combine HDR TIFF + SDR JPEG in the browser converter.

Download plugin Online Converter