Backwards-Compatible High Dynamic Range (HDR) Images

A non-transitory program storage device (NPSD) comprising computer readable instructions executable by one or more processors to:

• obtain two or more exposures of a scene captured by one or more image capture devices;
• create a gain map based on at least one of the two or more exposures, wherein the gain map comprises a plurality of pixels each corresponding to a portion of the scene, and wherein values of the pixels in the gain map comprise indications of a brightness level of the corresponding portions of the scene;
• combine the two or more exposures to form a first image;
• tone map the first image based on a first Standard Dynamic Range (SDR) format to generate a first SDR image of the scene;
• and
• store the first SDR image and created gain map in a first enhanced image file.

A method, comprising:

• obtaining a first enhanced image file, wherein the first enhanced image file comprises a tone mapped first SDR image of a scene and a gain map corresponding to the scene;
• determining an amount of available headroom at a display device wherein the first SDR image is to be displayed;
• determining a value representative of the pixels in the gain map;
• modulating the determined amount of available headroom based on the determined value representative of the pixels in the gain map;
• applying the gain map to the first SDR image to create a second enhanced image based, at least in part, on the determined amount of available headroom and the determined value representative of the pixels in the gain map;
• and
• causing the second enhanced image to be displayed at the display device.