Why I built it
I built HDR Merger because I wanted to better understand how HDR images are created and how multiple photos with different exposures can be combined into a single image. At the same time, I noticed that I could not find a simple and free mobile app that allowed me to do this in a clear and manual way.
Instead of using paid tools or complex editors, I decided to create my own app. This allowed me to learn how HDR merging works while building something that I actually wanted to use. The main goal was not to compete with professional tools, but to learn and to create a small, useful application focused on simplicity.
What the app does
HDR Merger is a mobile application that allows you to select several photos of the same scene taken with different exposure levels and merge them into one image.
The app lets you:
- load multiple images
- adjust how much each image contributes to the final result
- generate a merged image with more detail in shadows and highlights
The goal was to keep the interaction simple and intuitive, while still allowing the user to understand what is happening.
Technologies I used
For this project, I focused on keeping the technology stack simple and accessible:
- Flutter — Used to build the entire mobile application. I chose Flutter because it allows fast development, easy UI iteration, and the possibility to run the same app on different platforms. It was also a good opportunity for me to improve my skills in mobile development.
- Image processing libraries — Instead of implementing image manipulation from scratch, I used existing libraries to handle image loading, blending, and merging. This allowed me to focus on understanding the HDR concept and designing a good user experience rather than low-level details.
Using these tools helped me move quickly from idea to working application and concentrate on learning the fundamentals behind HDR image merging.
How it works
- The user selects several images with different exposure values.
- The app processes each image and combines them into a single result.
- The user can adjust opacity and see how each image affects the final output.
- The merged image can be saved or shared.
This simple flow helped me think a lot about user interaction and clarity, especially when working with visual tools.
Placeholder images
Below are some placeholder images that represent the idea of the app. These will be replaced later with real screenshots.
Import HDR images
Adjust images
Final result
What I learned
Through this project I learned:
- how HDR image merging works at a conceptual level
- how to design a simple and clear mobile user interface
- how to use existing libraries effectively instead of reinventing everything
- how small UI decisions can strongly affect the user experience
This project helped me combine technical curiosity with user-focused design, which is something I really enjoy.
Final thoughts
HDR Merger is a small project, but it represents my way of learning: starting from curiosity, building something usable, and improving my understanding step by step through practice.