When shopping for electronics like TVs, PCs, and mobile phones, or using streaming services such as Disney+ and Netflix, you're likely to come across terms such as "HDR10", "HDR10+", and "Dolby Vision". However, for the average consumer who hasn't studied the subject, it can be challenging to understand the differences between these video formats. The figures below illustrate the differences between them in terms of color depth and color gamut. Read on to learn more about each format and how Chroma offers test solutions that cover all of them.

SDR (Standard Dynamic Range)

Before delving into the various HDR formats, it is important to first understand Standard Dynamic Range (SDR), which is currently the dominant standard for the production of video content. With SDR, each primary color is divided into 256 levels (2⁸, where 8 stands for 8 bits of color depth), so the total number of colors that can be displayed in SDR content is approximately 16.77 million (256x256x256).

HDR (High Dynamic Range)

HDR (High Dynamic Range) is a term that will be familiar to anyone who takes photographs on a regular basis. HDR provides image output with brighter highlights and deeper darks, resulting in more natural and lifelike image quality. HDR10 is one of the most commonly used standards today, with each primary color divided into 1024 levels of luminance (2¹⁰) and a color depth of 10 Bits, yielding a total of 1.07 billion colors.

HDR10+

Developed by 20th Century Fox, Panasonic Corporation and Samsung Electronics, HDR10+ is an upgraded version of HDR10. While regular HDR only uses static metadata, HDR10+ supports dynamic metadata, which can adjust or enhance image brightness, contrast and color saturation on a scene-by-scene basis, so that each scene can be independently adjusted for optimal HDR performance. With a color depth of up to 12 bits (2¹²), HDR10+ offers a remarkable 68.7 billion possible colors.

Dolby Vision

Dolby Vision is a video quality technology from Dolby Laboratories Inc. that supports 12-bit color depth to display over 68.7 billion colors. With the wide color gamut of Rec.2020, images at resolutions above 4K will appear more vivid and detailed to the human eye.

Chroma has launched video test modules for SDI, DisplayPort, HDMI, and USB-C interfaces for all of the above-mentioned video formats. Built-in test charts for both HDR10 and HLG video testing allow testers to target the factors that most affect viewers' visual perception. The modules are designed with reference to the GB/T 26270-2010, the CESI TS008-2016, and the TIRT-GK-JS-34-2016, and include test patterns for standardized items such as grayscale, color bars, windows, and nature.

The A223805 and A223814 are both HDMI 2.1 8K resolution test modules that come equipped with built-in test charts for HDR10, HLG, and Dolby Vision. The A223814 gaming monitor test module takes it a step further by supporting resolutions up to 10K and providing additional charts for HDR10+ video testing. To test compliance with the ST-2086 and ST-2094 specifications, users can freely adjust HDR metadata parameters such as display primaries, white point chromaticity, and maximum/minimum mastering display luminance. With this full array of HDR test specifications, including brightness, contrast, color, and sharpness, the modules provide all the test charts you need to comprehensively test to today's image output standards. For more information, please visit Chroma's website and leave your request and contact information, we will be happy to serve you!

                                                                                                                                   *Dolby Vision is a trademark of Dolby Laboratories.