What Are Business Considerations For Colorists Grading HDR/Dolby?

December 17, 2024

Is there a business opportunity for colorists grading in HDR? Can you charge more? What are the pitfalls? 3 professional colorists discuss.

Tutorials  /  Office Hours  /  What Are Business Considerations For Colorists Grading HDR/Dolby?
Series

September 2024 Office Hours: Practical Insights to professionally executing this technical workflow

Just because it’s there doesn’t mean you have to use it… 1000 nits doesn’t need to be your new highlight target.

On this edition of Office Hours Live, host and Mixing Light CEO Patrick Inhofer is joined by colorist Joey D’Anna, and finishing artist Zeb Chadfield. The trio tackles five member-submitted questions related to the business of offering and delivering HDR and Dolby Vision projects.

Question 1

For a seasoned colorist, what are the biggest differences in working on a shot in HDR vs SDR? (All else being equal)

What are the biggest pitalls to avoid?

Mike, Mixing Light Member

Question 2

Is there a common factor of time that a show will take to grade in HDR vs the same show in SDR?

How should billing account for grading the same show in HDR vs SDR? What charges may or may not be associated with additioanl HDR deliverables?

Mike, Mixing Light Member

Question 3

What tactics do you have for streamlining multiple deliveries from a single HDR timeline? (HLG UHD, Rec709 UHD, Rec709 HD)

Fred, Mixing Light Member

Question 4

Do you have any feedback on the FSI QD-OLED XMP310 as an affordable HDR monitor?

Goguet-Chapuis, Mixing Light Member

Question 5


Are commercials being produced and distributed in HDR for social platforms like YouTube, Instagram, Facebook or TikTok?

Eyal, Mixing Light Member

Mentioned in this Insight:

Chapters

  • 00:00 – Introduction to HDR Workflows
  • 02:40 – Differences Between HDR and SDR Grading
  • 05:00 – Controlling highlights is the biggest HDR difference
  • 07:59 – HDR display technology is still a wild west you need to navigate
  • 08:40 – The bolder your grade the harder it is to map down for lesser displays
  • 10:20 – How do you map SDR experience of IRE ranges to nits?
  • 11:05 – Creative considerations are key when grading in HDR
  • 13:28 – Satisfying clients who want both HDR and SDR
  • 14:19 – Benefits of starting with HDR and delivering trims
  • 16:44 – Still 5-10 years away from broadcasters moving to HDR
  • 17:51 – Scheduling and Billing for HDR Projects
  • 22:33 – HDR trim day as an internal QC pass
  • 24:45 – HDR investment considerations to your HDR rate
  • 26:22 – Presenting the value proposition of HDR
  • 27:36 – Trading time for practicing on an HDR project
  • 29:28 – Time as a negotiating factor
  • 32:28 – HLG deliverable workflow from PQ
  • 38:22 – FSI XMP310 QD-OLED thoughts
  • 46:10 – Sony BBM HX310 thoughts
  • 49:31 – Social media and the HDR opportunity
  • 55:56 – Review software for HDR content

What are your biggest HDR questions?

What is your professional experience of HDR? How are you managing the billing and deliverables? Are clients requesting HDR deliverables for the first time? Leave a comment and let us know!

– Patrick

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Patrick Inhofer
Joey D'Anna
Zeb Chadfield
Insight # ML 1364
Type Video
Duration 59:22
Skill Level Intermediate
Categories Dolby Vision HDR Hybrid Log Gamma (HLG)
Series Office Hours

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