SK to HDR Converter

Free SK to HDR conversion — Radiance format online

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Dynamic Range

HDR captures luminance beyond standard formats. Converting SK to HDR produces images with extended brightness for rendering use.

Browser-Based

Convert SK to HDR without installing any software. Open the converter in your browser and get results instantly.

Cloud Infrastructure

All processing happens remotely on Convertio servers. Your local device stays free during the SK to HDR conversion.

How to convert SK to HDR

1

Select files from Computer, Google Drive, Dropbox, URL or by dragging it on the page.

2

Choose hdr or any other format you need as a result (more than 200 formats supported)

3

Let the file convert and you can download your hdr file right afterwards

About formats

SK is the native file format of Skencil (originally named Sketch), a free vector graphics editor for Linux created by Bernhard Herzog, with the first public release on October 31, 1998. Skencil holds historical significance as one of the earliest full-featured vector drawing applications written almost entirely in Python, with only performance-critical rendering components implemented in C. The SK file format uses a text-based, Python-like syntax to describe document structure — pages, layers, groups, and individual graphic objects are represented as nested statements with parameters specifying coordinates, colors, line styles, and transformations. The format supports Bezier curves, rectangles, ellipses, text objects with font specifications, imported raster images, gradient and pattern fills, and hierarchical grouping with affine transforms. One advantage is human readability — SK files can be opened in any text editor, making it possible to inspect, modify, or generate artwork programmatically using simple scripts. The Python-native structure also provides a benefit for automation: since Skencil itself is a Python application, the file format integrates naturally with scripting workflows for batch processing and procedural graphic generation. While Skencil's development slowed after the mid-2000s, its SK format became the foundation for the sK1) project, which extended the format and continued active open-source vector graphics development. SK files remain convertible through sK1, UniConvertor, and other open-source tools.
Developer: Bernhard Herzog
Initial release: October 31, 1998
HDR (also known as RGBE or Radiance HDR) is a high-dynamic-range image format created by Greg Ward Larson as part of the Radiance) lighting simulation system, developed at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory starting in 1985 with the HDR format emerging around 1989. The format stores floating-point RGB pixel values using a compact 32-bit-per-pixel encoding called RGBE (Red, Green, Blue, Exponent): three 8-bit mantissa bytes share a single 8-bit exponent, representing luminance values across a range of roughly 76 orders of magnitude while keeping file sizes comparable to standard 24-bit images. HDR files begin with a text header containing rendering and exposure metadata, followed by the RGBE pixel data compressed with a scanline-oriented run-length encoding scheme. The format captures the full luminance range of real-world scenes — from deep shadows to direct sunlight — enabling physically accurate lighting calculations, tone mapping to different display conditions, and post-capture exposure adjustment without the clipping artifacts inherent in 8-bit formats. One advantage is the format's foundational role in HDR imaging: Radiance HDR pioneered the concept of storing real-world luminance values in image files, and the .hdr format became the standard for light probe images and environment maps used in image-based lighting across the 3D rendering industry. The format's compact encoding is another practical strength — the RGBE scheme provides far more dynamic range than 8-bit formats while using only 33% more storage per pixel, a favorable tradeoff that made HDR practical on storage-limited systems of the late 1980s. HDR files are supported by Photoshop, GIMP, ImageMagick, Blender, and all major 3D renderers.
Developer: Greg Ward Larson
Initial release: 1989

Frequently Asked Questions

Why convert SK to HDR?

HDR (Radiance) is used for high dynamic range lighting and rendering. Converting SK to HDR enables use in 3D and lighting workflows.

What programs open HDR files?

Photoshop, Blender, HDRShop, Luminance HDR, and most 3D rendering applications support the Radiance HDR format.

Does HDR store extended luminance?

Yes — HDR uses RGBE encoding to capture a wider luminance range than standard image formats. It excels at lighting data.

Are SK layers merged?

HDR is a single-layer image format. All layers from the SK file are composited into one HDR image during conversion.

Is this free at Convertio?

Free SK to HDR conversion is provided by Convertio. Premium plans are available for higher volume and larger files.