OBS Studio 32.2 with HDR: How to compose SDR into HDR and why it's worth doing in 2026

MarGib September 02, 2026

🌐 🇵🇱 Polski · 🇬🇧 EN

OBS Studio 32.2 introduces the long-awaited feature of composing SDR content into HDR, which can significantly simplify life for streamers. How does the new "Compose SDR to HDR" filter perform in practice, and who will benefit from it the most?

Streamer korzystający z OBS Studio 32.2 na podwójnym monitorze, jeden wyświetla grę w HDR, drugi interfejs OBS z filtrem „Compose SDR to HDR”. — HDR streaming in OBS Studio 32.2 – a new image quality standard for content creators.

What's new in OBS Studio 32.2?

The latest version of OBS Studio focuses on a major improvement: High Dynamic Range (HDR) support. The main addition is the Compose SDR to HDR filter, which allows you to combine SDR (Standard Dynamic Range) content with HDR materials in real-time. This is a nod to streamers and gamers who want to elevate their broadcast quality without having to invest in expensive, professional-grade software.

In addition to the HDR filter, the update brings a series of stability fixes and performance optimizations. However, it is worth noting that HDR in OBS Studio requires appropriate hardware – older computers may struggle with rendering images in this standard smoothly.

How does the "Compose SDR to HDR" filter work?

Core functionality

The Compose SDR to HDR filter enables manual adjustment of tone mapping for SDR sources to match an HDR scene. This allows you, for example, to overlay a webcam feed (SDR) onto gameplay (HDR) and achieve a cohesive, natural-looking image. The filter operates in real-time, making it suitable for both live streaming and recording content to disk.

OBS Studio supports two main HDR formats: HDR10 (the most popular in gaming and streaming) and HLG (Hybrid Log-Gamma), used primarily in television. At this moment, however, there is no support for Dolby Vision, which may be a noticeable limitation for some professionals.

Configuration steps

To use the new filter, follow these steps:

Enable HDR in the system:
- In Windows: Settings > System > Display > HDR > On.
- In OBS Studio: Settings > Video > Color > Output Format > HDR10 or HLG.
Add the filter to a source:
- Right-click on the source (e.g., "Image", "Game Capture") > Filters > Add > Compose SDR to HDR.
Adjust tone mapping:
- The filter offers sliders for brightness, contrast, saturation, and tone mapping adjustments.
- The default Balanced preset works well in most cases, but you can experiment with the settings.
Test and optimize:
- Check the source appearance in the OBS preview and on the target platform (e.g., YouTube HDR).

Limitations and issues

Although the "Compose SDR to HDR" filter is a major step forward, it has its limitations:

Performance: The filter can be GPU-intensive, especially at 4K resolution. It is recommended to run performance tests before starting a stream.
Compatibility with other filters: Some filters (e.g., "Color Correction") may conflict with "Compose SDR to HDR". It is recommended to apply them before the HDR filter.
No 10-bit support on older systems: Full HDR utilization requires Windows 10 or 11.
No automatic conversion: The filter does not convert the entire image to HDR automatically – it requires manual configuration by the user.

Who is this update for?

Target audience

OBS Studio with HDR functionality is primarily aimed at:

Professional streamers and content creators who want to stand out with higher image quality.
Gamers who stream modern titles that support HDR (e.g., Cyberpunk 2077 or Forza Horizon 5).
Video creators who need to combine SDR materials (e.g., presentations or screenshots) with HDR content from professional cameras.

Hardware requirements

To fully utilize HDR in OBS Studio, you need appropriate hardware:

Minimum:
- CPU: Intel Core i5-4670 / AMD Ryzen 5 1500X or better.
- GPU: NVIDIA GTX 10xx or newer, AMD RX 5000 or newer (with HDR support).
- RAM: 8 GB (16 GB recommended).
- OS: Windows 10/11 (64-bit) or Linux (with kernel 5.4+).
Recommended:
- GPU: NVIDIA RTX 3060 Ti / AMD RX 6800 or newer.
- Monitor: 4K HDR10 with at least 600 nits brightness.
- Cable: HDMI 2.1 or DisplayPort 1.4.

It is worth noting that users without an HDR monitor will not see a difference in the preview, but they can prepare their configurations for the future.

Community and expert opinions

Reviews and tests

The new HDR feature in OBS Studio has been warmly received, although users point to some barriers to entry. Reviewers praise the quality of tone mapping and the ability to seamlessly mix SDR and HDR sources. However, they highlight the somewhat complex configuration and noticeable hardware requirements.

Industry analyses emphasize that the new solution is significantly more convenient to use than previous external tools, although the lack of Dolby Vision support remains a downside. Performance tests on mid-range graphics cards show a minor, single-digit percentage drop in fluidity when the filter is active.

Streaming technology creators note that the filter runs stably even on older graphics hardware, provided settings are not pushed too far. Comparisons between SDR and HDR images clearly show improved color saturation and contrast, which is particularly visible in dynamic, visually rich games like Alan Wake 2.

Main pros and cons according to users

Pros:

Visible improvement in image depth and color compared to standard SDR.
Flexibility – the ability to seamlessly combine SDR and HDR sources in a single scene.
Free and open-source solution, providing a great alternative to paid software.

Cons:

Complex configuration that may overwhelm beginners.
High hardware requirements when streaming in high resolution.
Lack of full macOS support.
Occasional screen flickering issues on specific hardware configurations.

OBS Studio vs. competition

OBS Studio is not the only streaming tool that offers HDR support. How does it compare to the competition?

Feature	OBS Studio	Streamlabs	XSplit Broadcaster	vMix
SDR → HDR Filter	✅ Yes	❌ No	❌ No	✅ Yes (Pro version)
HDR10 Support	✅ Yes	✅ Yes (basic)	✅ Yes	✅ Yes
HLG Support	✅ Yes	❌ No	✅ Yes	✅ Yes
Dolby Vision	❌ No	❌ No	❌ No	❌ No
Real-time	✅ Yes	✅ Yes (but no SDR mixing)	✅ Yes	✅ Yes
HDR Presets	✅ Yes	❌ No	✅ Yes	✅ Yes
macOS Support	❌ No	✅ Yes	✅ Yes	❌ No
Price	Free	Free (with paid add-ons)	Paid	Paid

In summary:

Streamlabs offers basic HDR support but lacks an advanced filter for mixing SDR and HDR. It is, however, more beginner-friendly.
XSplit has good HDR support but requires a paid subscription and more powerful hardware.
vMix is an extremely advanced tool, but very expensive and aimed primarily at professional television studios.
OBS Studio stands out for its best price-to-functionality ratio, though it requires more technical knowledge from the user.

The future of HDR in OBS Studio

The development of HDR tools in OBS Studio is just beginning. The software developers have announced further work on optimization and the introduction of new features in future releases. Among the planned improvements, the most frequently mentioned are:

Better support for 10-bit and 12-bit encoding.
Deeper integration with the AV1 codec for HDR streaming.
Further performance improvements for the filter itself to reduce GPU load.
Automation of the calibration process and simplified configuration for less advanced users.

In official announcements, the developers emphasize:

"Support for high dynamic range is one of our main goals. We want OBS Studio to allow for seamless creation of content in the highest possible quality, and for the configuration process itself to become intuitive even for those just starting their adventure with HDR."

Summary: Is it worth switching to HDR in OBS Studio?

OBS Studio 32.2 is an important step toward the professionalization of amateur and semi-professional streaming. The new "Compose SDR to HDR" filter opens up entirely new possibilities for content creators, but it requires appropriate hardware and a bit of patience during configuration. If you have an HDR monitor and a graphics card that supports this standard, this feature can significantly improve the quality of your broadcasts.

However, it is worth remembering that HDR is not just a software issue. For viewers to fully appreciate the difference, they must use screens that support this standard, and the streaming platform itself (e.g., YouTube) must correctly process the HDR signal. Despite these external limitations, OBS Studio remains the best free HDR streaming tool currently available on the market.

If you are planning to implement modern technologies in your company, it is also worth checking out our article 10 questions you must ask before implementing AI in your company to avoid common pitfalls.