Tonemapping is not HDR

I’m not starting a war over this, but I would like to shed some light here.  Hell, I think the concept needs to be tonemapped to reveal the details in the shadows (blatant pun intended).

Anyone have any online resources linked they can send me?  I’m looking for links online that explain what tonemapping is as well as why tonemapping is necessary for 8bit viewing and printing. [[[ HINT: Anything viewable on the web or in print is NOT hdr. ]]]  If you didn’t even know this much then the links I post from users or an example I create myself if necessary will hopefully shed some light on the matter.

I’d rather not recreate the wheel and just link to current resources.  If there are none out there that clarify the concept for mere mortals then I’ll have to do so myself (only if necessary).  It needs to be simple enough so that my mom can understand.  She can barely use a DVR so she is my ultimate technology challenged litmus test.  If you have a link that cuts through technical jargon, send it to me and I’ll post it.

No comments on this post.  Send the links through my contact page (use navigation above).

If I don’t get responses or if the links provided to me can’t be understood by my mom, then I guess I’ll have to step up to the plate and create an example myself… but I’d love to save the time and just link to current resources.