Optimizing Displays for Digital Dailies H. Loren Nielsen Entertainment Technology Consultants www.etconsult.com
Dailies Requirements: Critical Viewing Provide high quality images for reference on location & at studio Assure adequate feedback for cinematographer re. film capture & exposure Use dailies content for audience previews
HD Model Telecine Monitor feedback Projector Source: 35mm Telecine & Color Corrector Encode Compressed Image on screen
Color Timing Pitfalls Trying to fix the cinematographer s problems Adding video processing - enhancement, grain reduction, etc. Compromising the timing process for multiple display devices
Budget & Time Limitation Smaller telecine suites, not digital cinema or digital intermediate mastering suites Compressed playback formats Inexpensive, lightweight projection systems
Dailies Display Choices Projection is essential Dailies display choices are content & application driven. Eg. Bright romantic comedy & dark action thriller. Live action, animation, FX have different quality drivers
Critical Dailies Display Variables Size Brightness Light Spectrum/Color Gamut Color Space Gamma White Point Contrast Resolution
Critical Dailies Display Variables Size Matters
7 feet StEM Image Courtesy DCI
14 feet StEM Image Courtesy DCI
Critical Dailies Display Variables Brightness variation can be misleading
14 foot Lamberts StEM Image Courtesy DCI
10 foot Lamberts StEM Image Courtesy DCI
Critical Dailies Display Variables Color Space must be characterized & calibrated
1931 CIE Chromaticity Color Gamut DLP Cinema Rec 709
3D Color Volume Hue Saturation Lightness
Master StEM Image Courtesy DCI
Wide Gamut Projector Master StEM Image Courtesy DCI
CRT Monitor Master StEM Image Courtesy DCI
Critical Dailies Display Variables White point impacts emotion
White Point Variation DLP Cinema White point CRT White point Metal halide illumination
Warm Color Temperature Master StEM Image Courtesy DCI
Cool Color Temperature Master StEM Image Courtesy DCI
Critical Dailies Display Variables Gamma must be calibrated & appropriate for the environment
Lower Gamma Master StEM Image Courtesy DCI
Higher Gamma Master StEM Image Courtesy DCI
Port glass Air Walls, ceiling theater seating Signal Projector output Screen Image Viewing environment must be controlled/dark
Stray illumination in projection room Master Processed image courtesy Matt Cowan StEM Image Courtesy DCI
Critical Dailies Display Variables Resolution level is content driven
2K Resolution StEM Image Courtesy DCI
1280 Resolution StEM Image Courtesy DCI
2K Resolution StEM Image Courtesy DCI
1280 Resolution StEM Image Courtesy DCI
Basic Quality Requirements Projected image of adequate size >5 ft high (>9 ft. wide flat, ~12 ft wide scope) Appropriate brightness levels ~14 fl Minimum sequential contrast >1500:1 Broad color gamut set white point Gamma 2.6 power law or custom curve
Basic Quality Requirements Minimum Resolution ~1280 x 720 24 frames per second Dark environment Repeatable performance Calibration with mastering system Playback: Min. 35 Megabits per second
System Options Characterize & calibrate a closed loop system Establish matched bookend mastering & dailies displays Develop color space independent reference standards
Characterized Devices Source Reference Display Reference Display feedback Input Device Look Processing Output Device Product: Intended Look Quality Assurance Calibration Process Control Testing
Reference Display Proxy and final reference should match Reference Display Reference Display feedback Source: Elements of Intended Look Look Processing Characterized Output Device Product: Intended Look Quality Assurance Calibration Process Control Testing
Reference Standards SMPTE Ad hoc group International Color Consortium
Thank You Digital Cinema Initiative for use of StEM images Matt Cowan for color processed images Mark Shubin and HPA