HDR post-production: Dolby Vision, HDR10
Table of Contents
Introduction: The HDR Revolution
With the rise of streaming platforms and the democratization of OLED/Mini-LED screens, HDR has become essential. It breaks free from SDR limits (100 nits) to offer deeper blacks, brilliant specular highlights, and unprecedented Color Volume, radically transforming the viewer experience.
Understanding HDR
SDR vs HDR
SDR is inherited from CRTs (Rec.709, Gamma 2.4, 100 nits). HDR aims to reproduce human perception (0 to 10,000 theoretical nits).
Luminance (Nits)
The unit of measurement is the 'nit' (cd/m²). A cinema master is often 48 nits, an SDR TV 100 nits, an HDR master between 1000 and 4000 nits.
Perceived Contrast
The gap between absolute black and purest white. HDR allows seeing details in shadows while being dazzled by a specular reflection.
HDR Pipeline (Dolby Vision)
- Source (RAW/Log)
- Grading (Wide Gamut/PQ)
- HDR Master (P3-D65 ST.2084)
- Dolby Vision Analysis
- SDR Trim (Rec.709)
- Deliverables (IMF/ProRes)
HDR Standards
HDR10
The basic open standard. Static metadata (MaxCLL/MaxFALL) applied to the entire film. Mandatory on UHD Blu-rays.
HDR10+
Evolution with dynamic metadata (shot by shot), supported by Samsung/Amazon.
Dolby Vision
The premium proprietary format. Dynamic metadata, intelligent 'Tone Mapping' management according to the target screen. Netflix/Disney+ standard.
HLG (Hybrid Log-Gamma)
Broadcast standard (BBC/NHK) backward compatible with SDR. No metadata. Used for live TV.
Color Spaces & Curves
HDR changes how we encode light.
Rec.2020 vs Rec.709 HDR uses the Rec.2020 space (or P3-D65 in a 2020 container), much wider than Rec.709.
PQ (Perceptual Quantizer / ST-2084) Absolute curve based on human vision. A digital value corresponds to a fixed luminance (e.g., code 519 = 100 nits), unlike relative Gamma.
ACES & HDR ACEScct is ideal for HDR as it separates the working space from the display space (HDR 1000 nits ODT, SDR ODT, etc.).
HDR in the Workflow
HDR First (Recommended)
Grade the HDR version (Master) first to exploit full potential, then derive the SDR version via a 'Trim' pass (Dolby Vision analysis).
SDR First
Less common today. Grade in SDR and try to extend dynamic range later. Risky and artificial.
Multi-deliverable Pipeline
Requires rigorous color management (RCM or ACES) to output HDR10, Dolby Vision, and SDR Rec.709 from the same project.
HDR Grading: Specifics
Highlight Management
Challenge #1. Cameras always clip. You must manage an elegant 'Roll-off' towards white to avoid ugly digital plateaus.
Color Volume
In HDR, saturation is linked to luminance. A very bright color can look washed out if poorly managed. Watch out for overexposed faces.
Visual Fatigue
Working at 1000 nits tires the eye quickly. Take regular breaks to keep reliable judgment.
HDR Monitoring: The Critical Point
Impossible to do HDR without a reference monitor capable of actually displaying 1000 nits with perfect blacks.
- Reference Screens (€30k+): Sony BVM-HX310 (Dual Layer LCD) or Flanders Scientific (OLED). The only truth.
- Client Screens (Consumer OLED): LG G-Series or Sony A95K. Useful for checking 'living room' rendering but insufficient for critical mastering (ABL, automatic Tone Mapping).
Work Environments
In HDR, the environment is crucial. The room must be in near-total darkness or with very controlled 'Bias Lighting' (D65) behind the screen to not distort contrast perception (Surround luminance < 5 nits).
Software and Tools
DaVinci Resolve Studio The standard. Native management of Dolby Vision (internal license), HDR10+, and HDR scopes (nits scale).
HDR Scopes Waveform in 'HDR' mode (logarithmic scale ST.2084) to see precisely what happens between 0 and 100 nits, and between 100 and 1000+ nits.
Deliverables & Mastering
Exporting is complex. You must include SEI metadata (MaxCLL / MaxFALL) in the HEVC or ProRes stream. For Dolby Vision, it's a package (IMF) containing the video and an XML metadata file (Sidecar).
Technical FAQ
Is the SDR version still necessary?
HDR10 or Dolby Vision?
Can I grade on a Mac XDR screen?
How to avoid the artificial HDR 'Look'?
Is ACES mandatory for HDR?
How to verify my master?
What are MaxCLL and MaxFALL?
ForCut Studio Approach
Our finishing suites are equipped for rigorous HDR workflow. Calibrated reference monitoring, control surfaces for Dolby Vision trimming, and controlled lighting environment. We support you from conform to certified IMF export.
Book a sessionConclusion
"HDR is a powerful narrative tool, offering unprecedented sensory immersion. But it is a double-edged sword that requires absolute technical rigor to avoid becoming a visual distraction."
Post-producing in Paris?
At Studio Bastille (Paris 12), the editing suite starts at €80 and the grading suite at €110 per half-day (incl. VAT), with 24/7 self access and Mac Studio M2 Ultra machines. Studio République (Paris 10) offers five rooms on an Avid Nexis SAN, including 5.1 sound and a screening room, on quote. Depending on the project, costs may qualify for the French film tax credit or TRIP.