HDR and SDR: check the colour workflow
Check HDR phone footage before you edit. Choose the right output, test a short export and compare the colours before you process a whole project.
A clip may look bright and clear on the phone that shot it, then look flat in an editor. Before you add a strong filter, check how the file was recorded. You may be mixing HDR and SDR footage.
HDR means high dynamic range. SDR means standard dynamic range. The choice affects how bright and dark parts of the scene are shown. This guide is a short check, not a full colour-grading course. Work with the actual file, editor and screen you plan to use.
Find out what you recorded
Some iPhone and iPad models can record Dolby Vision HDR. Apple explains how to check the option in Settings, Camera, Record Video. Check your exact model rather than assume every phone has the same feature. See Apple's HDR guide.
For a drone or another camera, look at the file details and the settings used on the shoot. HDR, log and SDR are not three names for the same thing. Use the camera maker's guide for a model-specific workflow.
Choose the final output first
Decide whether the final film should stay HDR or become SDR. Use an editor that supports that path. Do not assume that lowering a brightness slider is the same as a proper conversion.
First get the source to display as intended. Then choose the look of the film. Stacking strong filters to hide a basic colour error can make it harder to find the cause. Keep a clean copy of the source while you test.
Export a small test
Pick a shot with a bright area, normal tones and a shadow. Watch the source, the preview and a short exported file. Can you still see detail in bright clouds? Do faces look natural? Did a dark part turn grey?
Use the real sharing path for the test when possible. A downloaded file and a copy processed by a social app can look different. Keep the original even when the first preview looks good.
Check the join between cameras
A phone clip and a drone shot may need different input handling. Once both display correctly, play them back to back. Check whether a sudden change in brightness or colour distracts from the cut.
Technical handling and taste are separate steps. A warm sunset may deserve a warm look. That does not mean every unexplained colour shift should be fixed with a warm filter.
Know the Stitch limits
The current app help lists HLG and HDR10 input converted to SDR for export. It also says that log footage is refused. This is not a claim that every HDR profile, device or codec is supported. Test one of your own files before a large upload. The feature page explains the current scope.
To plan the size of the final file, use a known bitrate with the file-size calculator. The HDR label or the resolution alone is not enough to work out the size.