What is EXR?

OpenEXR is a high-dynamic-range raster image format developed by Industrial Light & Magic for the VFX and film industry.

What is IIQ?

Phase One IIQ is a professional medium-format raw format used by Phase One digital backs, delivering exceptional image quality for commercial photography.

When Should You Use EXR vs IIQ?

EXR vs IIQ: Key Differences

• •The core technical difference: EXR relies on lossless compression whereas IIQ uses lossless compression.
• •Both formats share lossless compression, so quality behavior is similar across the two — file size differences come from algorithm efficiency rather than compression philosophy.
• •Alpha channel support: IIQ lacks transparency support.
• •File sizes: EXR files typically range 15-100MB for high-res HDR frames and IIQ files 50-150MB per image from medium-format backs.
• •Use case fit: EXR targets vfx, 3d rendering, hdr imaging and IIQ targets professional studio photography, digital back capture — your choice depends on which workflow stage you are serving.

Advantages of EXR

• ✓EXR uses lossless compression tailored for VFX, 3D rendering, HDR imaging.
• ✓EXR is supported natively on virtually every device, browser, and operating system.
• ✓EXR files are bit-for-bit perfect, preserving every pixel and sample for professional work.
• ✓EXR integrates seamlessly with all major creative tools and workflows.

Advantages of IIQ

• ✓At its core, IIQ relies on lossless encoding — a design choice that makes it perfect for Professional studio photography, digital back capture.
• ✓You won't run into compatibility issues with IIQ — it's a universal standard across platforms.
• ✓File size management with IIQ: larger files guaranteed to match the original exactly.
• ✓Every major application in the Professional studio photography, digital back capture space supports IIQ natively.

Common Use Cases for EXR to IIQ Conversion

• Newsletter graphics
• Video thumbnail creation
• Certificate and badge design
• Websites and online content
• Print materials and publications
• Social media posts and ads

Industry Applications

Best Practices for EXR to IIQ Conversion

• →When converting EXR to IIQ, check whether IIQ supports transparency — if not, your transparent areas will be filled with a solid color
• →Use IIQ for maximum quality archival and EXR for smaller file sizes when quality is less critical
• →Optimize images for web to reduce page load times — tools like our converter let you adjust quality settings before conversion
• →Maintain original aspect ratio to avoid distortion during conversion
• →Always keep a backup of your original files before converting
• →Choose the appropriate quality settings for your specific use case

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Troubleshooting EXR to IIQ Conversion

• !IIQ shows visible compression artifacts → lower the compression level or switch to a lossless variant
• !The converted IIQ image looks washed out → the source EXR likely uses a wider color space than IIQ supports
• !IIQ file is much larger than expected → check if the conversion preserved an unnecessarily high resolution
• !Text in the converted IIQ looks fuzzy → text-heavy images benefit from higher quality settings or a different output format

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