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Samsung and Amazon Announce HDR10+ Standard for High Dynamic Range Video

posted by martyb on Sunday April 23 2017, @10:24PM   Printer-friendly
from the xkcd-927 dept.

takyon writes:

Samsung and Amazon have announced the HDR10+ open standard:

HDR10+ elevates the HDR10 open standard with the addition of Dynamic Tone Mapping. The current HDR10 standard utilizes static metadata that does not change during playback despite scene specific brightness levels. As a result, image quality may not be optimal in some scenes. For example, when a movie's overall color scheme is very bright but has a few scenes filmed in relatively dim lighting, those scenes will appear significantly darker than what was originally envisioned by the director.

HDR10+ incorporates dynamic metadata that allows a high dynamic range (HDR) TV to adjust brightness levels on a scene-by-scene or even frame-by-frame basis. With the ability to display outstanding contrast with detailed highlights and a richer range of colors, HDR10+ produces images that are much closer to the director's intent.

All of Samsung's 2017 UHD TVs, including its premium QLED TV lineup, support HDR10+. In the second half of this year, Samsung's 2016 UHD TVs will gain HDR10+ support through a firmware update.

This is in contrast to the closed Dolby Vision standard:

Dynamic metadata is a particularly important addition in HDR10+ as it closes the gap between the open HDR standard and the closed Dolby Vision spec, which had previously touted dynamic metadata as one of its main differentiators over the original HDR10 standard. (Although Dolby still leads the pack when it comes to the highest color and brightness requirements, at least for now.) And of course, I'd be remiss in noting that unfortunately, the addition of HDR10+ now marks the fifth major HDR standard vying for industry support, along with the original HDR10, Dolby Vision, HLG, and Advanced HDR, because clearly four different versions were not quite enough for anyone yet.

Also at 4k.com, CNET, Digital Trends, and PC Magazine.

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  • (Score: 2) by takyon on Sunday April 23 2017, @11:35PM (4 children)

    by takyon (881) <takyonNO@SPAMsoylentnews.org> on Sunday April 23 2017, @11:35PM (#498583) Journal

    Samsung wants to add a selling point to their TVs and Amazon distributes content and has to be on top of HDR since, like Netflix and others, it produces original content. That means that directors have to take into account the effects of HDR if they want creative control over it. I imagine a film noir style would look very different with HDR.

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  • (Score: 2) by kaszz on Monday April 24 2017, @03:16AM (3 children)

    by kaszz (4211) on Monday April 24 2017, @03:16AM (#498638) Journal

    Any reason why manufacturers will not go with Dolby Vision spec?

    • (Score: 2) by takyon on Monday April 24 2017, @03:55AM (2 children)

      by takyon (881) <takyonNO@SPAMsoylentnews.org> on Monday April 24 2017, @03:55AM (#498643) Journal

      https://www.theverge.com/2017/1/5/14180456/hdr-formats-hdr10-dolby-vision-hlg-advanced-ces-2017 [theverge.com]

      Developed by Dolby, Dolby Vision is the other primary competing standard for HDR content. Unlike HDR10, Dolby’s format requires TV sets and media devices that have been specifically designed with a Dolby Vision hardware chip — from which the company receives licensing fees.

      It's also the more future-proof of the two formats, with content being mastered for a higher level of brightness and color gamut than what today's top sets can provide. Of the four formats Dolby Vision has the highest barrier to entry since it requires specific hardware to support. But it also offers the best HDR experience of any of the four standards since it can calibrate the picture for the specific TV hardware, in addition to the high mastering requirements.

      But then you have this:

      http://www.pocket-lint.com/news/139947-what-is-dolby-vision-dolby-s-very-own-hdr-tv-tech-explained [pocket-lint.com]

      Dolby Vision equipment has dedicated chips inside which read the metadata and reproduce the images exactly how they were made. Well, that was the original position that Dolby outlined, although it now appears to be supporting software solutions too. It appears that some devices will be updated via software and the new smartphone support is an entirely software-based implementation.

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      • (Score: 2) by kaszz on Monday April 24 2017, @04:27AM (1 child)

        by kaszz (4211) on Monday April 24 2017, @04:27AM (#498650) Journal

        since it can calibrate the picture for the specific TV hardware

        Doesn't sound like rocket science. Should be possible to replicate using other means. And I assume it's the backlight and display panel that is the critical pieces of hardware to calibrate for besides ambient room light. One catch is of course that take into account the direction of light. Ie into the display or reflected etc.

        On the marketing side. If a significant number of displays become HDR10+ capable instantly with a firmware update. Then Dolby will have a uphill battle. The other side of things is adoption from film studios.