From ae7dd4673810e76068c35cf32ff0ff4ffcbeaea1 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001 From: Djeex Date: Mon, 3 Aug 2026 18:21:02 +0200 Subject: [PATCH] Add a "Why?" section with workflow diagram, and a README table of contents Co-Authored-By: Claude Sonnet 5 --- README.md | 21 +++++++++++++++++++++ illustration/instameex-workflow.svg | 4 ++++ 2 files changed, 25 insertions(+) create mode 100644 illustration/instameex-workflow.svg diff --git a/README.md b/README.md index c0637ea..e2f4010 100644 --- a/README.md +++ b/README.md @@ -29,6 +29,27 @@ itself based on the reverse-engineering work of [karachungen/instagram-hdr-converter](https://github.com/karachungen/instagram-hdr-converter). Original MIT license kept in [LICENSE](LICENSE). +## Contents + +- [Why?](#why) +- [How it works](#how-it-works) +- [Running locally, without Docker](#running-locally-without-docker) +- [Running with Docker](#running-with-docker) +- [Running this on the open internet](#running-this-on-the-open-internet) + +## Why ? + +Nothing is more frustrating than Instagram's HDR handling. It compresses and destroys gain maps, and the slightest change in aspect ratio or size simply strips HDR out entirely. As for Lightroom, its "SDR preview" system is frankly unacceptable, it makes it impossible to get consistent results. Until now, posting on Instagram meant choosing between decent SDR with broken HDR, or the other way around. + +Why not simply edit your SDR file to perfection on one side, your HDR file on the other, and then recalculate a gain map from those two perfect files? +A few pioneers have already gone down that road, notably with an [Adobe Lightroom Classic](https://github.com/karachungen/lightroom-plugin-export-hdr) plugin. Judge me if you want, but I only use Lightroom CC, which does not support plugins. + +I drew inspiration from a [fork of the original project](https://github.com/kostis-kounadis/instagram-hdr-assembler), the one that eventually became the LrC plugin, to build a frontend that can be easily deployed with Docker. Let's be honest: it was also a great excuse to put my Claude Code subscription to the test. And I have to say, watching it spin up its own environments, run end-to-end tests, self-correct its code, and write detailed summaries is genuinely impressive. I still reviewed everything myself, don't worry. I also learned a great deal about HDR fundamentals, gain maps, HLG/PQ tone curves, color spaces, and more. + +In short, here is what my workflow now looks like for posting on Instagram: + +![Instameex workflow](illustration/instameex-workflow.svg) + ## How it works 1. Upload an SDR file (`.jpg`/`.jpeg`) and an HDR file: either a gain-map diff --git a/illustration/instameex-workflow.svg b/illustration/instameex-workflow.svg new file mode 100644 index 0000000..904ab1b --- /dev/null +++ b/illustration/instameex-workflow.svg @@ -0,0 +1,4 @@ + + +SDR editEdit your SDR file in LR CC/CRHDR editEdit your HDR file in LR CC/CR-Don't go too far !DuplicateSDR JPG exportInstagram ratio/sizingDCI-P3 / Rec 2020HDR 32 bit TIF exportInstagram ratio/sizingRec 2020Lightroom CC or Camera Raw (or whatever you use)MixInstameex132465InstagramSDR/HDR JPG uploadKeep originak ratio7Workflow \ No newline at end of file