iPhone Dolby Vision HDR Workflow in Final Cut Pro

Updated May 12, 2026.

The original version of this page was built around an early iPhone 12 Dolby Vision workflow. That advice needed a refresh because Final Cut Pro now has a mature HDR workflow, Apple documents iPhone HDR editing directly, and many editors are mixing iPhone HDR, SDR screen recordings, LOG clips, and social exports in the same projects.

The video above is still useful as historical context, but the current workflow is more straightforward: set the library and project color space deliberately before you start cutting.

What Changed Since the Original Workflow

When iPhone Dolby Vision recording first arrived, the practical question was whether Final Cut Pro could handle the files cleanly at all. Today, the better question is whether your project should stay HDR through delivery or be managed into SDR.

Apple's own support article for editing HDR video recorded on iPhone or iPad recommends creating a Wide Gamut HDR library, importing the HDR clips, setting the project to Wide Gamut HDR - Rec. 2020 HLG, and exporting an HLG master or Apple-device share with HEVC 10-bit when you need HDR output.

Recommended Final Cut Pro Workflow for iPhone Dolby Vision HDR

Use this workflow when your final target is YouTube HDR, an Apple-device HDR file, or a master that should preserve the iPhone HDR look.

1. Create a separate HDR library

Make a new library for the HDR version of the project instead of changing an existing SDR library. In Final Cut Pro, select the library, open Library Properties, click Modify, and set color processing to Wide Gamut HDR.

This matters because the library setting affects how Final Cut Pro processes effects, LOG media, and project color spaces across the library.

2. Import the iPhone HDR footage

Import directly from the iPhone, from Photos, or from copied camera files. Keep the original media if storage allows, because transcoding too early can make troubleshooting harder.

If clips look too bright or flat, do not assume they are broken. First confirm that the library and project color settings match the intended HDR workflow.

3. Create a Rec. 2020 HLG project

Create or modify the project and set the color space to Wide Gamut HDR - Rec. 2020 HLG. Apple describes HLG as a Rec. 2100 HDR transfer function that can be compatible with HLG HDR televisions and displays.

For most iPhone HDR-to-YouTube workflows, HLG is the practical setting. PQ is useful for some HDR10, Dolby Vision, or advanced mastering workflows, but it is usually not the simplest choice for a creator edit.

4. Edit, monitor, and check scopes

Edit the project normally, but keep the video scopes open when making exposure and color decisions. A display that can show HDR properly is helpful, but it is not a substitute for checking levels.

If you are on a MacBook, Studio Display, or SDR external monitor, be careful about judging highlight detail only by eye. HDR display behavior changes by screen, preset, OS, and viewing environment.

5. Export for the destination

For YouTube HDR, export an HLG master file or use an Apple-device export with HEVC 10-bit, then upload through a browser. For client review, a separate SDR export may be easier to approve because it reduces surprises on non-HDR screens.

Should You Deliver HDR or SDR?

HDR can look excellent, but it is not automatically better for every edit. The more mixed your source media and review environment are, the more you should consider an SDR version.

Common iPhone HDR Mistakes in Final Cut Pro

• Changing the project but not the library. Final Cut Pro only exposes wide-gamut HDR project options when the library is set correctly.
• Judging HDR on an SDR monitor. An SDR screen can make HDR footage feel washed out, clipped, or unpredictable.
• Mixing HDR and SDR without a delivery plan. Decide whether the final video is HDR or SDR before color correction gets serious.
• Exporting one file for every destination. You may need both an HDR master and an SDR review/web version.
• Forgetting YouTube processing time. An uploaded HDR file can appear as SDR before YouTube finishes HDR processing.

Final Cut Pro and iPhone HDR FAQ

Does Final Cut Pro support iPhone Dolby Vision HDR?

Yes. Apple's current support guidance says Final Cut Pro for Mac can edit HDR video recorded with supported iPhone and iPad models.

What project color space should I use for iPhone HDR in Final Cut Pro?

For the common iPhone HDR workflow, use a Wide Gamut HDR library and a project set to Wide Gamut HDR - Rec. 2020 HLG.

Do I need an HDR monitor?

You can edit without one, but you should be cautious about color decisions. For professional HDR delivery, an HDR-capable monitoring path and video scopes are much safer.

Why does my iPhone HDR footage look washed out?

The project, library, display, or export settings may not match the clip's HDR color space. Confirm the library is Wide Gamut HDR and that the project/export settings match the intended delivery.

Should I upload iPhone HDR footage to YouTube as HDR?

If the edit is meant to preserve the HDR look, yes, export an HLG HDR file and upload through a browser. If the video is mostly for normal website viewing or client review, an SDR version may be more predictable.

Can I convert HDR to SDR in Final Cut Pro?

Yes, but treat it as a color-management and grading step rather than a magic export switch. Set the project for the intended SDR delivery and use Final Cut Pro's color tools to manage highlight rolloff and saturation.

Related Final Cut Pro Guides

If you are building a broader editing workflow, read the Final Cut Pro performance guide, the LOG video post-production workflow, and the LOG video format resource hub.

For editors working across apps, the Premiere Pro beginner workflow is useful context for how Adobe handles a different editorial pipeline.