EXR (OpenEXR)
Also known as: OpenEXR, .exr file, OpenEXR format
EXR (OpenEXR) is a high-dynamic-range image format from Industrial Light & Magic, used in visual effects and rendering. It stores floating-point color with deep precision and multiple layers, so files are large but preserve detail far beyond standard 8-bit images.
- High-dynamic-range, floating-point image format
- Supports multiple layers and channels per file
- Standard output for VFX and 3D rendering
Why VFX uses EXR
EXR keeps brightness values that exceed normal display range, so highlights and shadows survive heavy compositing without clipping. It supports 16-bit and 32-bit floating-point channels plus arbitrary extra layers like depth, normals, and motion vectors in one file.
That flexibility is why renderers and compositing tools such as Nuke and Blender output EXR. The cost is size: a single frame can run into tens or hundreds of megabytes.
Opening and converting EXR
EXR is not a consumer photo format and most phones cannot preview it. Professional apps (Photoshop, Affinity, Nuke, Blender) open it directly; for general use, convert a flattened EXR to PNG or TIFF.