ICO to HDR — Format Comparison & Online Converter
Fast, instant ICO to HDR conversion. No signup required. Just drop your .ico file and get .hdr in seconds.
Batch Settings
Transparency will be lost
ICO supports transparency, but HDR does not. Transparent areas will be filled with a solid color (typically white). If you need transparency, consider converting to PNG or WebP instead.
About ICO to HDR Conversion
ICO (introduced 1985) and HDR (introduced 1985) are both image formats, but they differ in important ways. ICO is the icon format used for website favicons and Windows application icons. HDR (Radiance) is a high-dynamic-range image format used in lighting and rendering.
Full Name: ICO uses Icon File, while HDR uses Radiance HDR Image. Compression: ICO uses Lossless, while HDR uses Lossless. Transparency: ICO uses Yes, while HDR uses No.
When you convert ICO to HDR, the goal is to convert between formats quickly. ICO supports transparency, but HDR does not. Transparent areas will be filled with a solid color (typically white). If you need transparency, consider converting to PNG or WebP instead. Understanding these technical differences helps you choose the right format for your workflow.
Your ICO file is decoded and re-encoded as HDR. The conversion involves 4 steps: (1) your ico file is uploaded and the format is validated, (2) the file content is decoded into its raw representation, (3) the data is re-encoded in hdr format with optimal settings, (4) the converted file is ready for download.
CocoConvert's converter handles the entire pipeline server-side using FFmpeg, Sharp, and qpdf — battle-tested libraries used by streaming platforms and enterprise tools. Files are encrypted in transit and deleted within 24 hours.
This conversion is ideal when you When you specifically need a HDR file for your workflow. For the opposite direction, CocoConvert also supports HDR to ICO conversion.
How to Convert ICO to HDR
- 1
Upload .ico file
Select your ICO file by dragging it to the upload zone or using the file picker. Batch upload is available for multiple files.
- 2
Choose .hdr
Set HDR as the output format. The converter uses optimal settings based on the ICO→HDR conversion profile.
- 3
Convert
The server-side engine decodes your ICO file and re-encodes it as HDR. Processing time depends on file size and complexity.
- 4
Download result
Grab your converted .hdr file. Multiple output files can be downloaded together.
What Happens When You Convert ICO to HDR
Your ICO image is decoded into raw pixel data, then re-encoded as HDR. No quality loss — pixel data is preserved exactly.
Your ICO file is decoded — the compressed/stored pixel data is expanded into raw RGBA (with alpha channel) pixels
Transparency is resolved: transparent pixels are composited onto a white background
Pixels are re-encoded using Radiance HDR Image's lossless compression
Metadata (EXIF, ICC profiles) is transferred where HDR supports it
The HDR file is saved and ready for download
ICO vs HDR — Detailed Comparison
| Feature | .ICO | .HDR |
|---|---|---|
| Full Name | Icon File | Radiance HDR Image |
| Compression | Lossless | Lossless |
| Transparency | Yes | No |
| Animation | No | No |
| Color Depth | 32-bit (with alpha) | 32-bit float (RGBE encoding) |
| HDR Support | No | Yes |
| Typical File Size | <100 KB | 5–50 MB |
| Platform Support | Universal | Very Limited |
| Browser Support | Universal | none |
| Year Created | 1985 | 1985 |
| Open Standard | No | Yes |
Should You Convert ICO to HDR?
When to Convert
- ✓When you specifically need a HDR file for your workflow
When NOT to Convert
- ✗You need to preserve transparent areas — HDR doesn't support transparency
Consider alternatives:
Common Mistakes When Converting ICO to HDR
"My file's transparent background will carry over to HDR"
HDR doesn't support transparency. Transparent areas become solid (usually white). Save as PNG or WebP if you need transparency.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between ICO and HDR?
ICO is the icon format used for website favicons and Windows application icons. HDR (Radiance) is a high-dynamic-range image format used in lighting and rendering. Full Name: ICO uses Icon File, while HDR uses Radiance HDR Image. Compression: ICO uses Lossless, while HDR uses Lossless. Transparency: ICO uses Yes, while HDR uses No.
Does ICO to HDR conversion affect quality?
ICO supports transparency, but HDR does not. Transparent areas will be filled with a solid color (typically white). If you need transparency, consider converting to PNG or WebP instead.
Which format has better compression, ICO or HDR?
ICO uses lossless compression. HDR uses lossless compression. The better choice depends on whether you prioritize file size or quality.
How long does ICO to HDR conversion take?
Most conversions finish in seconds. Larger files or complex image content may take 10–30 seconds. CocoConvert processes files in parallel for batch jobs.
Is ICO or HDR better for long-term storage?
HDR is better for archival since it preserves all original data.
Versions are pinned in our worker Dockerfile and re-built via CI on every change.