HDR to MAT Converter
Processing entirely on your device — large files may take a moment.
HDR (Radiance RGBE) stores floating-point high-dynamic-range pixels — the format of lighting data and HDRI environment maps. Convert MAT image arrays to PNG for reports and previews.
iLoveConverter processes everything locally on your computer, which makes it private and fast: no upload wait, no server storage, no limits. Add as many files as you like — batch conversion is built in.
How HDR compares to MAT
| HDR | MAT | |
|---|---|---|
| Compression | RGBE (RLE runs) | None / zlib level 9 |
| Transparency | Not supported | Not supported |
| Animation | Not supported | Not supported |
| Metadata | Radiance comments | Variable names and workspace metadata |
| Best for | Lighting data, environment maps | Simulation frames, sensor arrays |
How to convert HDR to MAT
- 1
Select your files
Drag & drop your HDR files onto the area above, or click to browse. You can add multiple files at once for batch conversion.
- 2
Convert instantly
Click "Convert to MAT". The conversion runs entirely inside your browser using WebAssembly — no upload, no queue, no waiting.
- 3
Download results
Download each converted MAT file individually, or grab everything at once as a ZIP archive.
About the HDR format
HDR (Radiance RGBE) is the veteran high-dynamic-range format of lighting research and 3D rendering: pixels stored as a shared 8-bit exponent plus per-channel mantissas, letting one file hold both a sun and a shadow with no clipping. HDRI environment maps for 3D scenes are almost always HDR files.
Standard image viewers show it badly or not at all, because the values can exceed what a screen can display. Converting HDR to PNG tone-maps the file into an 8-bit preview — good for quick inspection, though the floating-point original remains the render-grade master.
+Strengths
- ✓True high-dynamic-range values
- ✓The standard of HDRI environment maps
- ✓Compact for its precision
!Limitations
- −Not display-ready — needs tone mapping
- −Viewer support is scarce
About the MAT format
MAT is the workspace format of MATLAB and its open-source sibling Octave. Image data shows up inside MAT files as numeric arrays — simulation frames, sensor captures, processed microscopy — usually alongside the variables and metadata a research script produced with them.
Converting the image arrays inside a MAT file to PNG makes them viewable and shareable without MATLAB — useful for reports, papers and collaborations where colleagues do not have a MATLAB license.
+Strengths
- ✓Carries numeric precision end to end
- ✓Pairs image data with research variables
- ✓Octave compatibility (open tooling)
!Limitations
- −Requires MATLAB/Octave to open
- −Not an image container by design
Why convert HDR to MAT?
Converting makes sense where the strengths of MAT meet what HDR cannot give you. Carries numeric precision end to end Meanwhile Not display-ready — needs tone mapping One pass through the converter above puts your file on the right side of that trade-off.
Frequently asked questions
Is this HDR to MAT converter really free?
Yes — completely free, with no sign-up, no watermark and no daily conversion limits. The site is supported by advertising.
Are my files uploaded to a server?
No. The conversion runs entirely inside your browser using WebAssembly, so your files never leave your device — that is what makes it instant and private.
Does it work on Windows, Mac, iPhone and Android?
Yes. Anything with a modern browser works: Windows, macOS, Linux, Android and iOS. No software installation is required.
Will I lose quality converting HDR to MAT?
No — MAT is a lossless format, so every pixel of the converted image matches your original HDR file. You can also adjust the quality/size balance before converting when the target format supports compression.
Will transparent areas survive the conversion to MAT?
Transparency is kept whenever MAT actually supports an alpha channel. If the target format has none (like JPG), transparent areas are flattened onto a white background — that is a property of the format, not of this tool.
Can I convert several HDR files at once?
Yes — drop as many files as you like into the tool and they are converted in one batch. When more than one file comes out, everything is bundled into a ZIP for a single download.