High dynamic range (HDR) video offers a significantly wider range of luminance than standard dynamic range (SDR), enabling the display of brighter highlights and deeper shadows. This expanded tonal range provides a more realistic and nuanced representation of color, allowing for greater flexibility during post-production processes. For example, details previously lost in shadows or blown-out highlights can be recovered and manipulated, providing a more comprehensive canvas for creative adjustments.
The expanded color palette and luminance range facilitated by HDR offer substantial creative advantages in color grading. It allows for subtle adjustments that bring out intricate details and achieve specific aesthetic goals. This expanded latitude translates to more refined control over the final look of a project, allowing for greater color depth and more realistic representations of light and shadow. Historically, achieving this level of control required complex and time-consuming workarounds; HDR streamlines the process and expands the possibilities for creative expression.
