Redditor argues full HDR workflows, not SDR-to-HDR conversion, kill the "AI slop" look

robertwellesley · reddit · 2026-10-27

A Reddit user argues the plasticky "Hollyslop" look of AI images and video stems partly from SDR dynamic range—the lighting, sets and post-production feel that separates Hollywood CGI from reality.
His practice: bake HDR gamut into preproduction and production from the start, rather than treating SDR-to-HDR as a final step. The extra dynamic range makes output read as a real photograph to the unconscious eye.
His takeaway: advancing AI video requires professional-grade HDR tools and native HDR output throughout the pipeline. The author self-identifies as a novice and invites discussion.

More from Multimodal