diff --git a/lsfg-vk-gen/src/context.cpp b/lsfg-vk-gen/src/context.cpp
index b19e187..8c9b3da 100644
--- a/lsfg-vk-gen/src/context.cpp
+++ b/lsfg-vk-gen/src/context.cpp
@@ -14,14 +14,18 @@ using namespace LSFG;
 Context::Context(const Core::Device& device, Pool::ShaderPool& shaderpool,
         uint32_t width, uint32_t height, int in0, int in1,
         const std::vector<int>& outN) {
+    const VkFormat format = getenv("LSFG_HDR") == nullptr
+        ? VK_FORMAT_R8G8B8A8_UNORM
+        : VK_FORMAT_R16G16B16A16_SFLOAT;
+
     // import images
     this->inImg_0 = Core::Image(device, { width, height },
-        VK_FORMAT_R8G8B8A8_UNORM,
+        format,
         VK_IMAGE_USAGE_STORAGE_BIT | VK_IMAGE_USAGE_SAMPLED_BIT,
         VK_IMAGE_ASPECT_COLOR_BIT,
         in0);
     this->inImg_1 = Core::Image(device, { width, height },
-        VK_FORMAT_R8G8B8A8_UNORM,
+        format,
         VK_IMAGE_USAGE_STORAGE_BIT | VK_IMAGE_USAGE_SAMPLED_BIT,
         VK_IMAGE_ASPECT_COLOR_BIT,
         in1);
diff --git a/lsfg-vk-gen/src/shaderchains/merge.cpp b/lsfg-vk-gen/src/shaderchains/merge.cpp
index 5f9290a..0d8716a 100644
--- a/lsfg-vk-gen/src/shaderchains/merge.cpp
+++ b/lsfg-vk-gen/src/shaderchains/merge.cpp
@@ -36,10 +36,12 @@ Merge::Merge(const Core::Device& device, Pool::ShaderPool& shaderpool,
 
     auto extent = this->inImg1.getExtent();
 
+    const VkFormat format = getenv("LSFG_HDR") == nullptr
+        ? VK_FORMAT_R8G8B8A8_UNORM
+        : VK_FORMAT_R16G16B16A16_SFLOAT;
     for (size_t i = 0; i < genc; i++)
         this->outImgs.emplace_back(device,
-            extent,
-            VK_FORMAT_R8G8B8A8_UNORM,
+            extent, format,
             VK_IMAGE_USAGE_STORAGE_BIT | VK_IMAGE_USAGE_SAMPLED_BIT,
             VK_IMAGE_ASPECT_COLOR_BIT,
             outFds.at(i));
diff --git a/lsfg-vk-gen/src/utils/utils.cpp b/lsfg-vk-gen/src/utils/utils.cpp
index 5765ea5..4260e0d 100644
--- a/lsfg-vk-gen/src/utils/utils.cpp
+++ b/lsfg-vk-gen/src/utils/utils.cpp
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@
 #include "core/buffer.hpp"
 #include "lsfg.hpp"
 
+#include <cstdlib>
 #include <fstream>
 
 using namespace LSFG;
@@ -188,6 +189,8 @@ void Globals::initializeGlobals(const Core::Device& device) {
     // initialize global constant buffer
     fgBuffer = {
         .inputOffset = { 0, 29 },
+        .advancedColorKind = getenv("LSFG_HDR") == nullptr ? 0U : 2U,
+        .hdrSupport = getenv("LSFG_HDR") != nullptr,
         .resolutionInvScale = 1.0F,
         .timestamp = 0.5F,
         .uiThreshold = 0.1F,
diff --git a/src/context.cpp b/src/context.cpp
index 66180ba..9b5d05e 100644
--- a/src/context.cpp
+++ b/src/context.cpp
@@ -12,11 +12,18 @@ LsContext::LsContext(const Hooks::DeviceInfo& info, VkSwapchainKHR swapchain,
         VkExtent2D extent, const std::vector<VkImage>& swapchainImages)
         : swapchain(swapchain), swapchainImages(swapchainImages),
           extent(extent) {
+
+    // we could take the format from the swapchain,
+    // but honestly this is safer.
+    const VkFormat format = getenv("LSFG_HDR") == nullptr
+        ? VK_FORMAT_R8G8B8A8_UNORM
+        : VK_FORMAT_R16G16B16A16_SFLOAT;
+
     // prepare textures for lsfg
     int frame_0_fd{};
     this->frame_0 = Mini::Image(
         info.device, info.physicalDevice,
-        extent, VK_FORMAT_R8G8B8A8_UNORM,
+        extent, format,
         VK_IMAGE_USAGE_TRANSFER_DST_BIT,
         VK_IMAGE_ASPECT_COLOR_BIT,
         &frame_0_fd);
@@ -26,7 +33,7 @@ LsContext::LsContext(const Hooks::DeviceInfo& info, VkSwapchainKHR swapchain,
     int frame_1_fd{};
     this->frame_1 = Mini::Image(
         info.device, info.physicalDevice,
-        extent, VK_FORMAT_R8G8B8A8_UNORM,
+        extent, format,
         VK_IMAGE_USAGE_TRANSFER_DST_BIT,
         VK_IMAGE_ASPECT_COLOR_BIT,
         &frame_1_fd);
@@ -37,7 +44,7 @@ LsContext::LsContext(const Hooks::DeviceInfo& info, VkSwapchainKHR swapchain,
     for (size_t i = 0; i < info.frameGen; ++i) {
         this->out_n.emplace_back(
             info.device, info.physicalDevice,
-            extent, VK_FORMAT_R8G8B8A8_UNORM,
+            extent, format,
             VK_IMAGE_USAGE_TRANSFER_SRC_BIT,
             VK_IMAGE_ASPECT_COLOR_BIT,
             &out_n_fds.at(i));