Common question regarding High Dynamic Range
Welcome to ARRI's HDR FAQ section!
Get insights in High Dynamic Range (HDR) technology, specifically curated for filmmakers and cinematographers. This page provides answers to frequently asked questions about shooting HDR with ARRI camera systems, helping you to get more detailed view of shooting for HDR.
The HDR10 format is specified by the CTA (Consumer Technology Association) and is incorporated into the UHD Premium standard. HDR10 uses static metadata (SMPTE ST 2086) to describe the mastering display and mastering color space. The format is currently not backwards compatible with SDR TVs.
In still photography the term HDR is used in a different context to describe a technique to capture more dynamic range by stacking several exposures done with different shutter speeds. The result (rendered for a Standard Dynamic Range display) creates a “hyper-realistic” looking image. Recent smart phone cameras often use this method to capture HDR images.
The term HDR used in a motion picture context focuses on the capture and displaying of HDR images. These are images with more detail in the highlights and shadows shown on an HDR display. ARRI digital cameras capture the highest dynamic range of any camera, and thus have been capturing HDR images since we introduced the first ALEXA camera in 2010. In contrast to still photography HDR, ARRI digital cameras capture a high dynamic range image at one point in time, and thus avoid any motion artifacts that would result from capturing different exposures at different times.
Dolby Vision is a “high quality, high dynamic range and wide color gamut system for delivery of entertainment content” (from the Dolby Vision White Paper).
Dolby Vision exists in two versions today:
Dolby Vision uses the SMPTE 2084 (PQ) EOTF for distribution and Dolby Vision Home uses additional dynamic metadata (SMPTE ST 2094) to be compatible with SDR displays.
In terms of brightness, Dolby Vision is specified from 0 to 10,000 nits. Today’s display technology (2017) is capable of 0,005 to 4,000 nits (Dolby Vision Mastering Display). Standard Dynamic Range in comparison is specified from 0,05 to 100 nits.
16 bit linear encoding is neither efficient nor necessary for recording images. Images can be converted from 16 bit linear to 12/13 bit log without any loss of information or quality, but with a great savings of data rate and data volume.
ARRI’s ALEV 3 sensor captures 16 bit image data; our image processing chain packages that data in ARRIRAW or ProRes images using a 12 bit log scale. ALEV 4 captures 16 bit as well, but REVEAL Color Science processes 13 bit and outputs 13 bit for ARRIRAW/12 bit for ProRes. This assigns a fairly equal number of code values to each stop, which is more efficient than 16 bit linear and better represents how the human eye perceives light.
Several streaming providers are currently providing HDR content, including Disney, Amazon, Netflix, Apple, Vudu and others. Broadcasting hopped the band wagon as well driven by live sports events aiming for a higher production value. We do not see an equally fast adoption in all markets, but a trend is there.
Yes, since the very first ALEXA back in 2010!
Find out more on HDR in our separate HDR FAQ
Use an HDR monitor on set to judge your images in HDR. ARRI provides look files and 3D-LUTs that convert the Log C image into HDR using the SMPTE ST-2084 („PQ“) encoding. These look files can be used in the following cameras: ALEXA SXT, ALEXA Mini and AMIRA and ALEXA Mini LF. You can find those files here. The monitor gets connected via a BNC cable to the SDI output of the camera. The monitor has to be set up for SMPTE ST-2084 (PQ) encoding.
When using other ALEXA models please use a LUT box to do the conversion from Log C to PQ encoding. Some HDR monitors allow to do this conversion using a 3D-LUT.
The ALEXA or AMIRA series cameras do not offer a special HDR mode. The camera's ALEV3 sensor provides an unrivalled 14+ stops of exposure latitude (measured with the ARRI Dynamic Range Test Chart) without any special capture mode.
Equally for ALEXA 35: The camera's ALEV4 sensor provides 17 stops of exposure latitude (measured with the Xyla chart and ARRI Analysis method) without any special capture mode."
That's "HDR since 2010" - when ALEXA with ALEV3 sensor was first introduced and continued with a greater dynamic range with ALEV4 in 2022.
The EOTF (Electro-Optical Transfer Function) is a method to convert a digital signal back into visible light. It is used by displays to convert a recorded or transmitted signal into light, and thus an important part of any HDR specification. The EOTF for HD distribution has often been called “gamma curve”, since the EOTF of CRT displays is a power function. ITU Rec 1886 states that the reference EOTF should be a power function with an exponent of 2.4. For HDR distribution two new EOTF curves were introduced: PQ and Hybrid Log Gamma (HLG).
WCG is a generic term for color gamuts larger than Rec 709 (e.g. Rec 2020, DCI-P3 and others).
Since it is advantageous for the editor to see how much information is visible in the image, it is best to edit in HDR. This can be done by creating editing files with the SMPTE 2084 (PQ) EOTF, and using an HDR monitor in editing. Please be aware that the computer monitor connected to the editor will then not display the image properly (since it is an SDR monitor showing an HDR image), and should be ignored.
Yes, the ACES system includes transforms (ODTs, output display transforms) for HDR output based on the reference rendering transform.
For more information on ACES, please see the ARRI ACES pages.
HDR is short for High Dynamic Range, a term that describes images with deeper blacks and brighter whites, leading to a higher contrast ratio than what was possible up until now. In the last years, the term HDR has mainly been used to describe new display technologies which have a greater dynamic range and therefore can display images with a higher dynamic range. While a higher contrast in images is great on its own, it also makes the image look sharper, increases color saturation, provides more depth and allows for a larger range of looks.
HDR is considered an important new technological step in image display since it provides an immediately visible clear improvement in image quality, even to the untrained eye and independently of image resolution, screen size or viewing distance. In addition, the increase in data rate for an HDR signal is minimal, thus creating great visual impact for small increase in cost.
The OETF (Opto-Electronic Transfer Function) is a method to convert light into a digital signal. It defines how a camera converts light into a signal that can be recorded.
Standard Dynamic Range (SDR) compared to HDR is the regular contrast ratio we are used to from TV sets and in the cinema.
There is no consensus in the industry yet, which color grading strategy is better. Both approaches are being used today by HDR productions. The advantage of first grading for SDR is that most displays currently are still SDR, so you are grading first for the largest audience, and then making an HDR trim pass to also have an HDR deliverable. The advantage of first grading for HDR is that we have often found that this in turn also makes for a better SDR grade. However, the client who has seen the HDR will not be happy with the SDR.
When using the 3D LUTs from ARRI for HDR and SDR grading and performing all grading decisions in Log C space (the 3D LUT is used as the last grading step) projects can be easily switched between SDR and HDR by exchanging the 3D LUT and vice versa. A trim pass is always needed after switching the 3D LUT to keep your creative intent for the new format.
You do not need any special software. Any system that can work with Log C data and 3D LUTs can be used to generate an HDR master. You may need special software, however, to create specific distribution formats.
Yes, some color grading tools offer such features. The quality most likely will not be as good as working from Log C original files (or film scans). But since there is a lot of existing SDR contents, and a great demand for HDR content, this will often be done.
HDR acquisition is capturing images with a high dynamic range for distribution and display on a HDR display. When you’re on a job capturing footage for a show designated to have HDR deliverables, make sure you are using a sensor/image-processing and post pipeline that is capable of capturing sufficient latitude for a HDR display. The richness and fidelity and therefore the grading possibilities of an HDR image are defined in the acquisition phase.
Yes, but since color changes when changing image brightness, you have to do a trim pass in color correction.
In general you don’t need to work differently than for SDR. Here are some issues to pay attention to:
Any very bright areas in the frame could potentially be an issue, like practicals, shiny highlights, backlights, edge lights, windows and glare on costumes or from jewelry. In an HDR image these may become too bright and distracting when displayed in HDR compared to SDR. The best way to avoid this is to monitor in HDR.
When you want to capture a scene having a large contrast, stray light or flare is your enemy. Therefore the quality of the lens coating is very important. Telephoto lenses with many elements are most likely to show flaring. External filters in front of the lens can also increase flare.
Currently, there are three distribution standards for HDR video to the home:
And one standard for distribution to the cinema:
A HDR workflow is not much different from current workflows. The ALEXA Wide Gamut/Log C (or ARRIRAW) footage is loaded into a color correction system. A 3D LUT is then used to convert the images for the monitor output. This 3D LUT needs to be changed for different kinds of HDR. ARRI provides such 3D LUTs but every production is free to design their own look and to use it in-camera as well as in the mastering process.
ARRI’s digital cameras capture a high dynamic range and are therefore ideal for creating HDR imagery since their introduction in 2010. A majority of the current HDR productions are shot using ARRI digital cameras.
ARRI digital cameras capture the highest dynamic range of any digital camera to date. This high dynamic range provides a soft and gentle transition from almost to fully overexposed and thus avoids hard clipping in highlights. The low noise floor of ARRI digital cameras is great for VFX and necessary for HDR grading, as a higher dynamic range will show more details in the dark part of the image. For all these reasons ARRI digital cameras are best for capturing HDR content.
Nit is another name for candela per square meter (cd/m²), the unit for luminance. Nit comes from the Latin word for "to shine": nitere.
As a reference: the peak luminance of a studio monitor is between 100 and 120 nits, a modern TV or desktop monitor may go up to 200 or even 300 nits. Special displays for outdoors may have a much higher luminance. One should note HDR means high-dynamic range - not super-bright. The important feature is a high ratio between maximum luminance and black level.
When shooting for an HDR deliverable, it is a good idea to monitor HDR on set so issues with the HDR images (that may not be of concern in SDR) can be identified early on. HDR monitoring has to be done with an HDR monitor, as it is impossible to see the effect of HDR on an SDR monitor.
HDMI is an interface for transferring UHD-1 and UHD-2 content to consumer displays. For delivering HDR content with static metadata (SMPTE ST 2086), the system must comply with the HDMI 2.0a standard.
The Hybrid Log Gamma curve is an HDR standard defined by NHK and BBC. It is specified in ITU Rec BT 2100. The HLG specification offers a degree of compatibility with legacy displays by more closely matching the previously established television transfer curves (ITU Rec 1886). The HLG signal is similar to about 0.6 signal to Rec 1886 and then changes to log encoding for the highlights. This makes it backwards compatible with SDR displays without the need of metadata.
Below is a comparison of an SDR signal encoded to a maximum brightness of 100 nits and an HLG signal encoded to a maximum brightness of 1000 nits. Note that the vertical axis is logarithmically scaled.
An HDR display is a display that can produce a higher than “standard” contrast ratio. In the past, TV sets have had a maximum brightness of 100 nits, and cinema displays up to 48 nits. How much brighter an HDR display has to be to be considered an HDR display is not clearly defined. The only cinema HDR projection so far is based on laser technology and has a brightness of 108 nits. Recent HDR consumer TV sets are based on active backlight or OLED technology and have a maximum brightness of 500 to 1000 nits.
Two general requirements must be met to experience HDR at home:
a) your TV set must be HDR compatible. The first displays compatible with one of the three main HDR distribution standards (HDR10, Dolby Vision Home, Hybrid Log Gamma) have been introduced on CES in 2016.
b) the content must be delivered in HDR. Major streaming services offer more and more content in HDR as well as a lot of new UHD BluRay discs are being mastered in HDR.
The Perceptual Quantizer (PQ) transfer curve was defined by Dolby Laboratories and has been standardized as SMPTE ST 2084. The PQ curve is a new EOTF for HDR distribution.
There is one general HDR standard (Rec 2100) and a number of different distribution standards, of which three are the most popular (for a detailed description of all standards see our "HDR Standards" section below):
These are some terms which are currently used in conjunction with these HDR implementations. They are explained in all detail in the sections "HDR Standards" and "HDR Terms ".
SMPTE ST 2084 is a new EOTF standard for HDR displays. It’s also known as the PQ curve. The PQ EOTF achieves a very wide range of brightness levels for a given bit depth using a non-linear transfer function that is finely tuned to match the human visual system. The transfer curve encodes absolute luminance values up to 10,000 nits. This is a radical change from previous EOTF definitions.
Generally HDR is being described as “more lifelike images with deeper blacks and brighter whites”. Think of looking out of your window: HDR aims to recreate the richness of colors and color-intensities that we know from real life. This ultimately leads to a more immersive viewing experience and adds a groundbreaking depth to 2D imagery.
More and more projects require an HDR delivery either for TV or cinema. Content to be advertised as “UHD Premium” (see UHD Alliance) needs to be mastered in HDR.
Some Studios master all their UHD delivery’s in HDR only (for example Fox Studio).
This ITU standard defines two different EOTF’s for HDR displays: the PQ transfer function and the HLG transfer function. It’s expected that the PQ curve is rather used for dramatic content productions while the HLG curve is used in broadcast applications. The standard further defines the viewing conditions and monitor parameters for critical viewing of HDR content.
Parameter | Values |
Background and Surround | Neutral grey at D65 |
Brightness of background | 5 cd/m2 |
Brightness of surround | ≤ 5 cd/m2 |
Ambient lighting | Avoid light falling on the screen |
Viewing distance | for 1920 x 1080 format: 3.2 picture heights |
Peak luminance of display | ≥ 1 000 cd/m2 |
Minimum luminance of display (black level) | ≤ 0.005 cd/m2 |
The HEVC (H.265) codec is being used for streaming and providing HDR content to the consumer.
Make sure to find a “Dolby Vision Cinema” – Dolby plans to have 200 Dolby Vision screens by 2024 around the world. Every “Dolby Vision Cinema” needs a special “Dolby-certified” room design and it has to follow minimum requirements of Dolby. Dolby is using two Laser projectors to achieve an HDR projection in cinemas. Laser projectors offer higher contrast, more brightness and a wider color range as can be achieved with traditional xenon lamp projectors.
While HDR displays are just now becoming available, ARRI digital cameras have always captured a high dynamic range far exceeding the capabilities of displays. So ARRI digital cameras have been capturing HDR since they were introduced in 2010. All ProRes clips encoded in ALEXA Wide Gamut/Log C or in ARRIRAW are ideal for HDR post and delivery. For on set monitoring see “Monitoring HDR”.
No. ARRI digital cameras capture all image data at once and therefore have no need for mixing different exposures as is commonly use in still photography.
