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ImageExposureCombine[{image1,image2,…}]

combines differently exposed images imagei of the same scene into a single image with overall good exposure.

ImageExposureCombine[{image1,image2,…},mode]

creates a low or a high dynamic range image based on the specified mode.

Details and Options
Details and Options Details and Options
Examples  
Basic Examples  
Scope  
Options  
PerformanceGoal  
Applications  
Properties & Relations  
Possible Issues  
See Also
Related Guides
History
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ImageExposureCombine

ImageExposureCombine[{image1,image2,…}]

combines differently exposed images imagei of the same scene into a single image with overall good exposure.

ImageExposureCombine[{image1,image2,…},mode]

creates a low or a high dynamic range image based on the specified mode.

Details and Options

  • ImageExposureCombine is also known as exposure stacking and is typically used to combine pixels from differently exposed images from long exposure photography.
  • ImageExposureCombine assumes all imagei are aligned.
  • ImageExposureCombine converts images to either grayscale or RGB.
  • The combination mode can be either of the following:
  • "LDR"low dynamic range image (default)
    "HDR"high dynamic range image
  • ImageExposureCombine takes a PerformanceGoal option. Possible settings include:
  • "Quality"optimize for quality of final results
    "Speed"optimize for speed of getting results

Examples

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Basic Examples  (1)

Combine multiple exposures in a single image:

Wolfram Language code: images = {[image], [image], [image]};
Wolfram Language code: ImageExposureCombine[images]

Create a high dynamic range image:

Wolfram Language code: hdr = ImageExposureCombine[images, "HDR"]

Perform tone mapping:

Wolfram Language code: ColorToneMapping[hdr]

Scope  (1)

Create an LDR image from a list of images:

Wolfram Language code: list = {[image], [image], [image], [image], [image], [image], [image]};
Wolfram Language code: ImageExposureCombine[list]

Create an HDR image from a list of images:

Wolfram Language code: ImageExposureCombine[list, "HDR"]

Options  (1)

PerformanceGoal  (1)

Use PerformanceGoal->"Quality" to emphasize the quality of the result:

Wolfram Language code: images = {[image], [image], [image], [image], [image]};
Wolfram Language code: AbsoluteTiming[ImageExposureCombine[images, PerformanceGoal -> "Quality"]]

Use PerformanceGoal->"Speed" to emphasize the speed of computation:

Wolfram Language code: AbsoluteTiming[ImageExposureCombine[images, PerformanceGoal -> "Speed"]]

Applications  (2)

Perform a tone mapping by combining different levels of the same image:

Wolfram Language code: img = ImageResize[Import["ExampleData/Balls.exr"], 300]

Simulate a list of different exposure levels using ImageMultiply:

Wolfram Language code: imgList = ImageMultiply[img, 2 ^ #]& /@ Range[0, 5]

Combine all the exposures:

Wolfram Language code: ImageExposureCombine[imgList]

Create a high dynamic range image from a list of differently exposed images:

Wolfram Language code: images = {[image], [image], [image], [image], [image]};

Pixel range of input images is between 0 and 1:

Wolfram Language code: MinMax /@ images

Create the HDR image:

Wolfram Language code: hdr = ImageExposureCombine[images, "HDR"]

Dynamic range of the HDR image is typically beyond the standard 0 to 1 pixel range:

Wolfram Language code: {Min@#1, Max[#2]}&@@ImageMeasurements[hdr, {"Min", "Max"}]

Histogram of the HDR image:

Wolfram Language code: ImageHistogram[hdr, Automatic, All]

Perform tone mapping to bring more of the pixel values in the standard 0 to 1 pixel range:

Wolfram Language code: ColorToneMapping[hdr]

Properties & Relations  (2)

Blend combines multiple exposures by averaging pixel values:

Wolfram Language code: images = {[image], [image], [image], [image], [image]};

It usually results in a dull, flat image:

Wolfram Language code: Blend[images]

ImageExposureCombine gives a more detailed image:

Wolfram Language code: ImageExposureCombine[images]

Pixel values of an HDR image are typically out of range:

Wolfram Language code: hdr = ImageExposureCombine[{[image], [image], [image]}, "HDR"];
Wolfram Language code: ImageHistogram[hdr, Automatic, All, PlotRange -> {All, 100}]

Possible Issues  (1)

ImageExposureCombine does not correct for misalignment:

Wolfram Language code: images = {[image], [image], [image]};
Wolfram Language code: ImageExposureCombine[images]

Use ImageAlign to align the images before combining them:

Wolfram Language code: alignedimages = ImageAlign[images, TransformationClass -> "Translation", Background -> Black];
Wolfram Language code: ImageExposureCombine[alignedimages]
Wolfram Research (2015), ImageExposureCombine, Wolfram Language function, https://reference.wolfram.com/language/ref/ImageExposureCombine.html (updated 2017).

Text

Wolfram Research (2015), ImageExposureCombine, Wolfram Language function, https://reference.wolfram.com/language/ref/ImageExposureCombine.html (updated 2017).

CMS

Wolfram Language. 2015. "ImageExposureCombine." Wolfram Language & System Documentation Center. Wolfram Research. Last Modified 2017. https://reference.wolfram.com/language/ref/ImageExposureCombine.html.

APA

Wolfram Language. (2015). ImageExposureCombine. Wolfram Language & System Documentation Center. Retrieved from https://reference.wolfram.com/language/ref/ImageExposureCombine.html

BibTeX

@misc{reference.wolfram_2026_imageexposurecombine, author="Wolfram Research", title="{ImageExposureCombine}", year="2017", howpublished="\url{https://reference.wolfram.com/language/ref/ImageExposureCombine.html}", note=[Accessed: 02-October-2026]}

BibLaTeX

@online{reference.wolfram_2026_imageexposurecombine, organization={Wolfram Research}, title={ImageExposureCombine}, year={2017}, url={https://reference.wolfram.com/language/ref/ImageExposureCombine.html}, note=[Accessed: 02-October-2026]}