High Hopes

With UHD and HDR revolutionising the way stories are told, we dive into the finer nuances of this technology

- Anisha Gakhar

As broadcasters, production houses, and content conglomerates are trying to keep pace with the magnifying consumer appetite for sharp storytelling and captivating, immersive viewing experiences, higher resolutions are proving to be the holy grail to bring consumers closer to the action. Content producers have no choice but to embrace both, UHD (Ultra High Definition) and HDR (High Dynamic Range). UHD is a type of display resolution which includes 4K UHD and 8K UHD, which are two digital video formats giving higher pixels as compared to traditional HD. HDR is a technique used in imaging and photography to reproduce a greater dynamic range of luminosity, than is possible with standard digital imaging or photographic techniques.

Until a while back, the frenzy of full HD was widespread, but with UHD offering a resolution four times better as compared to regular HD, it has become a go-to for most producers. The colour depth and black levels provided by UHD pictures is near stunning, and playing 4K videos and movies, without distorting the quality is a facile task.

On the other hand, HDR allows to offer a high level of colour contrast, enabling a realistic image. It is best explained by how bright the whites are and how dark the blacks are. HDR can arguably be rendered utmost importance amongst new video technologies, since the upgrade from SD to HD. Consumer trends indicate that adding HDR is gaining traction, making it a good bet for content producers. According to a recent study, shipments of HDR TV sets are forecast to surpass HD units by 2020 and reach 245 million units in 2022, representing a market worth around 37 billion by 2022.