The EBU helps its Members use High Dynamic Range (HDR) to provide stunning images. This forms part of the work performed in the HDR Implementation Task Force, the HDR Downmapping group, and the Video Systems group.
2024 updates
- See the presentation from FranceTV on the production innovations the broadcaster is rolling out for the Olympics 2024.
- EBU Members can join the special '2024 Sports in HDR' calls organized by the EBU HDR Task Force to help make sure they cover key events in HDR optimally.
- In this (public) video Thomas Berglund (NRK) demystifies video levels and how to check them.
- Learn more about NRK's HDR journey in this (public) presentation given by Odd Erling Høgbert (NRK).
- An overview of the 2024 line-up of monitors available form a series of vendors is available in the following presentations: Canon, Flanders Scientific, SonoVTS, Sony, SWIT
- In March 2024 we organized an HDR monitors testing session at BBC R&D; the results will be published later.
HDR Workshop 2022
- In May 2022 a hands-on Workshop dedicated to HDR workflows was held at EBU Member SWR.
- This event was preceded by a number online HDR webinars in which we look at current HDR production workflows of NBC Universal, BT Sport, HBS, the BBC, and Sky UK. See the events list for more details.
- After the worksho, we organized a series of calls to help Members prepare for handling the FIFA World Cup in Qatar in HDR.
HDR guidance
Key publications
EBU BPN 114 provides EBU Members with an introduction to HDR.
EBU BPN 120 gives a feeling for what EBU Members are planning for the 2020-2025 time period
EBU BPN 125 analyses the support for HDR in Blackmagic Resolve
EBU BPN 128 UHDTV Survey - 2022 update
EBU R 103 explains the difference between 'narrow' and 'full' range video and provides test material to check your set-up
EBU R 153 (Live) and EBU R 154 (files) provide technical parameters for the exchange of UHD / HDR programmes
EBU Tech Report 038 contains the results of subjective tests, which show HLG10 and PQ10 can provide equivalent HDR quality
EBU Tech Report 047 provides an overview of the quality of professional HDR monitors and how to measure them.
EBU Tech Report 070 summarizes the FAQ and answers as gathered during the HDR Workshop 2022.
EBU Tech Report 078 provides the results of Dynamic HDR converters testing and provides advice on what to test yourself
EBU Tech 3320 specifies the characteristics of Grade 1,2 and 3 professional monitors. It includes HDR since version 4.0.
EBU Tech 3325 v2.0 explains how to measure HDR (and SDR) monitors
EBU Tech 3373 specifies UHDTV HDR (HLG) Colour Bars for use in operation and comes with example images (1080 and 2160 rasters) in 16-bit TIFF and v210 (Quicktime) for use in equipment.
EBU Tech 3374 specifies a handy EOTF Test Chart to visually check your set-up; a TIFF implementation is available here.
EBU Tech 3376 provides baseline HDR Camera Painting Controls values to help match cameras in HDR productions
EBU BPN 121, EBU BPN 122 and EBU BPN 123 provide the results of the video quality analysis (test plan here) of popular studio codecs from Avid, Panasonic and Sony (Apple expected next).
Live HDR Workshop
The EBU organized a hands-on workshop for its Members at NRK (18-20 Nov 2019) to understand live HDR production aspects. See the HDR Live Production Workshop page for more details, including recordings of the key presentations and their slides.
More video recordings
- This (public) webinar by Pierre Routhier (CBC/Radio-Canada) helps you use HDR correctly in Adobe Premiere and Media Encoder.
- Simon Thompson (BBC R&D) gave a Webinar on the EBU UHDTV HLG Colour bars. You can find the (public) recording here.
- Also see the presentation on dynamic conversion at EBU PTS 2020.
The following presentations by Andrew Cotton (BBC R&D) provide a wealth of information on HDR (latest at the top):
- HDR Live Production - lessons from the field
- Video Fundamentals HDR & SDR
- HDR TV Production
- UHDTV: Live HDR production best practices <- publicly available.
- HDR from theory to practical implementation
- Building a UHD HDR (incl. WCG) Ecosystem
If you are confused about colour spaces, you are not alone. Birgit Schmidt (IRT) shares her questions and answers in The Colour Confusion.
In How can Dynamic Conversion help to improve live HDR? Lucien Lenzen (Rheinmain University of Applied Schiences) explains how dynamic conversion can help improve HDR and SDR image quality.
You may also be interested in this webinar where Dagmar Driesnack (IRT) and Virginie Drugeon (Panasonic) discuss UHD/HDR distribution aspects.
The "How to migrate from HD to UHD" panel led by Andy Quested (BBC) during the EBU Production Technology Seminar 2019 touches on HDR in terms of broadcasters' production and distribution strategies.
In terms of Members' experiences, see the presentation Daniel Marini (RAI) gave at the EBU Technology Production Seminar 2018 about creating stunning promos in HDR.
Questions?
If you have any questions on HDR or related topics, check out the Video Systems group for more details. You can also contact us by e-mail.
Exchange of XAVC test files
EBU Members are sharing UHD HDR material to validate the metadata generated by various production tools. EBU Members have access by joining the Video Systems group.
HDR test material
Test sequences recorded during the EBU HDR Workshop 2022 are available here (you will need to log-in first).
At the European Athletics Championships 2018, EBU Members and technical partners trialled UHD HDR HFR with NGA in a live setting. Test sequences of this event are available for technical tests. Conditions and more information you can find on the Test Sequences page.
Selected sequences of the RTS Montreux Jazz Festival 2017 project are available to EBU Members. If you are an EBU Member interested to receive a copy, please send us an e-mail.
How was the Montreux Jazz UHD HDR material created?
Watch the making-of video to understand how the material was created and what kind of learnings RTS obtained from the project. EBU Members may also want to watch the presentation given by Derya Aydemir (SRG/SRR) at the EBU Production Technology Seminar 2018.
This supplement to EBU Tech 3376 specifies profile settings for Sony cameras.
This supplement to EBU Tech 3376 specifies profile settings for Grass Valley cameras.
Methods for generating baseline HDR camera painting controls profiles.
This Technical Report discusses the state-of-the-art in HDR to SDR conversion.
This supplement to EBU Tech Report 078 provides specific test results concerning the Technicolor Advanced HDR converter.
This supplement to EBU Tech Report 078 provides specific test results concerning the Lynx Technik HDR converter.
This supplement to EBU Tech Report 078 provides specific test results concerning the b<>com / EVS Neuron HDR converter.
This is a recommendation on formats and parameters for live programmes where UHD-HDR content is exchanged between different partners.
This is a recommendation on formats and parameters for programmes delivered or exchanged as UHD-files between different partners.
Answers to Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) about HDR production workflows,.
This is the graphical report of the 2022 UHD/HDR Members survey.
This document (v2.0) describes the measurement methods and procedures for video monitors used in broadcast environments.
The EBU Tech 3374 calibration chart is designed to rapidly validate some of the most common issues encountered when setting up an HDR monitoring system.
This report provides details on the implementation of HDR and SDR< >HDR conversions in the Davinci Resolve software.
EBU Tech 3375 provides best practice guidelines for the signalling and transport of HDR and Wide Colour Gamut video over 3G-SDI interfaces.
This document covers the image quality performance of the video codec marketed by Sony as XAVC QFHD Intra Class 100, 300, 480 and XAVC QFHD Long422 200.
This document covers the image quality performance of the video codec marketed by Panasonic as AVC‑Intra 4k422 and AVC‑Intra 100.
This document covers the image quality performance of the video codec marketed by Avid as DNxHR HQX, which is part of the Avid DNxHR range of products
This document details the testing approach for the analysis of the video quality performance of UHD/HDR codecs provided by Avid, Apple, Panasonic and Sony.
EBU Tech 3373 defines a test pattern for use in creating UHDTV video signals.
For broadcasters, the current challenge is to “pick and mix” from the following list of technical options: UHD, NGA, HDR, WCG and HFR. The EBU Strategic Programme on Production is promoting Best Practices to clear the path for new services.
This document specifies 10 additional test colours to test the colour reproduction of Grade 1 professional video monitors. The colours have clearly distinguishable names, such as: Luminous Bright Orange' and 'Reddish Purple'.
Version 4.1 of the well-known EBU Tech 3320 specification, that defines which monitors used for in professional TV production can be called Grade 1A, 1B, 2 or 3. (There is 1 corrigendum.)
Issue 41 of tech-i assesses the state of the overall technology ecosystem for UHD.
UHD/HDR service parameters expected to offer interoperability with the large majority of CE devices (televisions, IRDs, etc.) expected to be available on the European market from 2020.
This report summarises a number of key findings from the measurements of first generation HDR-capable video monitors, which were tested in 2018 by a group of EBU Member experts.
The inaugural European Championships in summer 2018 provided a perfect opportunity to test several emerging technologies. This issue of tech-i looks at what was done in terms of both production and distribution, covering advanced video and audio formats and potential 5G approaches.
This publication provides advice to reduce the risk of persistent 'image retention' (so-called image burn-in) on production monitors (and by extension CE) displays.
The cover of the June 2018 issue of tech-i magazine features RTL City, one of the world’s first all-IP production facilities. The EBU’s New Buildings Initiative is introduced along with a report on how Broadcasting Center Europe has embraced the world of IP.
High Dynamic Range (HDR) can make major difference to image quality. This EBU guide is meant to help EBU Members find their way in the concepts and standards that form the basis of the current HDR technology.
The advent of High Dynamic Range (HDR) and Wide Colour Gamut (WCG) video naturally leads to consideration of what constitutes a good monitor for use with such signals.
This reports the tests, methodologies, results and the conclusions drawn from subjective assessments of UHD TV, including HDR contents as displayed by both HDR and SDR panels.
