Overview
OpenEXR is a high dynamic-range (HDR) image file format developed by Industrial Light & Magic for use in computer imaging applications. As a cornerstone of the Academy Software Foundation (ASWF), it has become the definitive standard for the motion picture industry. The technical architecture supports 16-bit floating-point, 32-bit floating-point, and 32-bit integer pixels, enabling the storage of high-precision data essential for complex VFX pipelines. OpenEXR's primary strength lies in its ability to store an arbitrary number of channels (layers) within a single file, facilitating 'Deep Compositing' where depth information is preserved per-pixel. By 2026, its role has expanded significantly into AI/ML datasets, where high bit-depth information is critical for training robust computer vision models and generative AI systems. The format supports both tiled and scanline storage, multiple compression schemes including lossy DWA and lossless PIZ, and a multi-part file structure that allows for efficient reading of specific channels without loading the entire dataset. It is integrated into every major DCC (Digital Content Creation) tool, including Nuke, Houdini, and Unreal Engine, serving as the universal language for high-end visual data exchange.