Development of the new SNS-HDR version (macOS)

[Sebastian Nibisz]

Many users have asked whether SNS-HDR is still being developed. I’d like to confirm that yes – work is already underway on a new generation of SNS-HDR, built entirely from the ground up for modern macOS systems.

The upcoming version is being developed specifically for Mac computers with Apple Silicon, making full use of GPU acceleration (Metal Compute). The main goal is to deliver even higher image-processing quality while significantly improving performance.

Key improvements and new features:

• Completely redesigned HDR processing engine – full GPU acceleration with Metal Compute.
• Built-in image browser – quickly preview and select photos for processing.
• Advanced optical correction – reduction of chromatic aberration, vignetting, and lens distortion.
• More powerful batch-processing module – greater control over queues and processing parameters.
• Refined user interface – faster, cleaner, and more responsive workflow.
• Improved undo/redo system – shared history for image parameters and masks.
• Plugin for Lightroom.

The new version aims to combine the visual quality SNS-HDR is known for with the latest GPU-based processing technologies,
resulting in much faster and more precise HDR rendering.

I’d like to invite SNS-HDR users to share their thoughts and expectations. Which features do you find most important? What improvements would make your workflow more efficient?

[dvm2003]

I am excited about the new version and all of the new upgrades!

360 photo processing and being able to consistently batch process a folder of images with presets would be on my wish list!

[ge_ni]

I would love to see this, however I am still on an Intel-based iMac 2020. Any chance to get a universal build?

[Redcrown]

I'm very satisfied with my old Windows version of SNS-HDR, so updates are not that important to me. But I'm curious why the focus on MAC first? Latest stats say Windows has 70% market share of "Desktop" systems, while Apple/MAC still lingers around 12%. Does your customer base say something different?

[Sebastian Nibisz]

SNS-HDR does not have a native Apple Silicon version, and Rosetta will stop being supported in the near future. I decided to create a native version for this platform, especially since it holds enormous performance potential. In terms of popularity, the market mostly prefers PC, but professionals are increasingly choosing Mac.

[Andrei Stoica]

Hey Sebastian, I've been using SNS-HDR Windows to process a lot of my photos over the past few years and I can certainly say it's the most natural-looking HDR you can get. I really don't care much about speed, but the quality which I can't find in any other HDR app (and I tried a few). Not only the output is great, but the usability of your app feels very natural and intuitive that I wish other apps would do the same.

My suggestions for improvement:
- I like the masking system, a great idea and pretty unique to your app. Works pretty well for landscape, but selecting people and objects with similar colors/lighting not so much. Particularly selecting people is a long process, a lot of times. What I end up doing is first processing the overall image in SNH-HDR then continue in Photoshop which selects people almost perfectly in an instant. If you can improve this process, it would be fantastic and would be the best improvement of all for me.
- Motion detection and correction is very limited right now and improving this would help a lot when shooting moving objects or people. It doesn't have to cover high range movement (there are obvious limitations) but small movement like a shaking leaf or the changing face expression of a person it would be of great help. I found Photomatix is pretty good at this.
- The undo system/history would be great of great help as well
- Auto luminance can use some improvement in certain edge cases where it goes too far. Would be nice to have a way to control the effect.
- For me personally, I would not use a lot of the optical correction functionality -- I do that in DXO which is hard to beat.

I think it'd be a real shame for the next version to be Mac only. I understand the pros are using Macs, but I'm sure there are lot of amateur photographers out there who appreciate and use your work, so please...

Thanks,
Andrei

[Sebastian Nibisz]

Andrei,
The selection tool will be AI-powered, allowing it to automatically select complex objects. The ghost removal algorithm will be significantly improved.

[Andrei Stoica]

That's wonderful, thanks!

[Sebastian Nibisz]

I’d like to share a bit more about the direction of the new version and officially introduce its name:
SNS-HDR Studio.

The name reflects an important shift. The new version is not just an update to the existing tool, but a more general image-editing environment, designed around a new processing engine and a more flexible editing model.

One of the core ideas behind SNS-HDR Studio is something I call Adaptive Effects.

In short, Adaptive Effects allow building effects that adapt to the image, instead of applying fixed, static presets.
They can react to color, luminance and depth information, and expose only the parameters that make sense for a given effect.

This approach is meant to go beyond traditional presets:
• effects can behave differently depending on image content,
• parameters can be combined and reused in a more modular way,
• the same effect can work well across very different images.

Adaptive Effects are being designed as a first-class part of the editing workflow, not as plugins or external scripts. The goal is to make them usable both by everyday users and by more advanced creators who want to build their own tools on top of the engine.

I’ll be sharing more details gradually, once the foundations are fully stable.

[Bussty]

Hello Sebastian

Have been using WIndows SNS-HDR for editing forever and even with the latest rollouts from all the other developers I still prefer SNS for standard edits, HDR and Black and White it is amazing. Really hoping you will also eventually be updating the Windows version you have a LOT of loyal WIndows followers and would hope you will be supporting them.

My most important improvement would be a finer selection option when using the Masking selection Tools it feels like you need another couple of levels above Very High precision selection or even better a slider from 1% to 100% where you could really finely make mask selections with extremely subtle differences in pixels being recognized to make the selection.

Fingers crossed you'll keep Windows users in mind. Like I have said on several posts as have others we are ready to hand over our money for an upgraded SNS.

Many thanks

Andrew Busst

Every image on this site edited using Windows SNS-HDR pro https://andrewbusst.wixsite.com/mysite