High Dynamic Range (HDR) – for the optimum color spectrum
High Dynamic Range is an image format which, as the name suggests, allows for a greater range in image display. HDR resolution is playing an increasingly important role in photos as well as videos and films. To be able to play videos in High Dynamic Range, you not only need HDR-capable displays, the videos to be played must also have HDR support.
HDR resolution for images and videos – Meaning
Every display has a differently high color spectrum. This includes not only the number of possible colors, but also their color depth or brightness level. The standard for this can be summarized under the term „Standard Dynamic Range“ (SDR). HDR resolution describes a higher-quality, more detailed and more diverse extension of the standard.
The SDR resolution can only reproduce a spectrum of 256 brightness gradations, while the HDR resolution ranges between 1,024 and 4,096 brightness gradations. This large difference can be explained by the different variants of High Dynamic Range: For example, the HDR category includes the variants HLG, HDR10, HRD10+ and Dolby Vision.
The improved brightness gradations are particularly noticeable in films and images when viewing very dark or very bright scenes. For example, the human eye can make out contrasts, shadows and details when looking into the sun or at a scene at night. If films are played back in SDR, these details become blurred on the screen and often appear over- or underexposed.
High Dynamic Range, on the other hand, enables a detailed representation of contrasts, even in very bright or very dark scenes and thus adapts to the capabilities of the human eye.
High Dynamic Range – The 4 levels
Probably the biggest difficulty you will encounter when you want to watch movies in High Dynamic Range will be finding movies and devices that are HDR compatible. So not only do you need to have an HDR-ready display, but the movies you want to play on it also need to support HDR. As this is a continuous process of perfection, the HDR resolution can be divided into four categories:
1. HLG – Hybrid Log Gamma
HLG is the lowest level of HDR resolution. While the SDR resolution only has an 8-bit color depth, the HLG resolution already has 10-bit. The contrasts are better, but not yet as deep and high quality as with other HDR levels. A major advantage of HLG resolution is that it is used for normal television broadcasting and not just streaming and can be used on both SDR and HDR displays.
2. HDR10 – deeper colors
HDR10 is also a 10-bit color depth. Similar to HLG, the colors are more contrasty than SDR and the technology is also supported by numerous streaming services. With HDR10, however, only one-time static data is transmitted at the beginning of the movie. This means that particularly bright and particularly dark scenes cannot be displayed with equal intensity, but the static average is selected.
3. HDR10+ – dynamic data transmission
In contrast to HDR10, the HDR10+ resolution transmits dynamic data. This means that, depending on the scene, a more intense color depth can be reproduced for bright and dark images. A color depth of 10-bit is also reproduced here.
4. Dolby Vision
With Dolby Vision resolution, up to 4,096 color gradations can be reproduced with a 12-bit color depth. The gradations are softer and yet sharp contrasts can also be reproduced in particularly bright or dark scenes. Dolby Vision is also a dynamic data processing. However, not all displays and streaming services can use this format.
HDR resolution with ComPeri
As a long-standing partner for conference room and media technology in the greater Munich area, ComPeri is your partner of choice;ComPeri is your partner when it comes to optimum display resolution and video or image reproduction. Whether it's digital signage, video conferencing or home entertainment, optimal resolution is an important part of many businesses. Do you still have questions about HDR resolution or the right display for your needs? Then we look forward to your contact!