What is the difference between SDR and HDR color grading?
What is the difference between SDR and HDR color grading?
SDR (Standard Dynamic Range) is the traditional color grading standard used in most video productions. SDR has a limited range of brightness, typically between 0 and 100 nits, and a limited color gamut. SDR is typically used for traditional broadcast and home entertainment applications, such as TVs, Blu-ray players, and streaming services like Netflix and Amazon Prime.
SDR has a limited range of brightness and colors, and is typically used for traditional broadcast and home entertainment applications. HDR, on the other hand, has a much wider range of brightness and colors, which allows for more realistic and immersive viewing experiences.
In terms of color grading, the main difference between SDR and HDR is that HDR allows for more flexibility in adjusting the color and brightness of an image, since it has a wider range of colors and brightness values to work with. SDR, on the other hand, has a more limited range of colors and brightness, which can make it more difficult to achieve certain visual effects.
SDR VS HDR
SDR (Standard Dynamic Range) is the traditional color grading standard used in most video productions. SDR has a limited range of brightness, typically between 0 and 100 nits, and a limited color gamut. SDR is typically used for traditional broadcast and home entertainment applications, such as TVs, Blu-ray players, and streaming services like Netflix and Amazon Prime.
In SDR color grading, the goal is to achieve a consistent and pleasing look across all types of displays, from high-end cinema projectors to low-cost home TVs. This requires careful control over brightness, contrast, and color, and the use of techniques like color correction and color grading to ensure that the final image looks good on a wide range of displays.
HDR (High Dynamic Range), on the other hand, has a much wider range of brightness and colors. HDR typically has a peak brightness of 1000 to 10,000 nits or higher, and a much wider color gamut than SDR. This allows for more realistic and immersive viewing experiences, with brighter highlights, deeper blacks, and more vibrant colors.
In HDR color grading, the goal is to take advantage of the wider dynamic range and color gamut to create more impactful and visually stunning images. This can involve adjusting the brightness and contrast of the image to take advantage of the full dynamic range, and carefully adjusting the color to take advantage of the wider color gamut.
Overall, the main difference between SDR and HDR color grading is that HDR allows for a much wider range of brightness and colors, which can be used to create more visually stunning and immersive images. However, achieving these results requires a different approach to color grading and a greater attention to detail in terms of controlling brightness, contrast, and color.
Unfortunately, currently there is no practical way to display still images in true HDR format. Therefore, in order to demonstrate the difference between SDR and HDR color grading, I have simulated the effect using software that approximates the HDR look. The difference between the two formats is quite dramatic, with HDR offering a wider range of brightness and colors that can make the image more vivid, immersive, and impactful.
Image was taken on Blackmagic Design Pocket Cinema Camera 4k. Graded in Davinci Resolve with Natural Origami LUTs
There is more!
If you would like to learn more about color grading and working with HDR, I recommend checking out my other articles on HDR grading, including Dolby Vision. These articles cover a range of topics related to HDR color grading, such as best practices for working with HDR, tips for achieving optimal results, and the technical details of different HDR formats. By exploring these resources, you can deepen your knowledge and gain practical insights into the art and science of HDR color grading.
