HDRmaster 8K: software for HDR analysis and HDR10+
Archive: press release from December 2018. The technical descriptions and quotations below refer to the version available at that time. For the current offer, see InnoPQ™ HDRmaster.
Munich, 10 December 2018— The new HDRmaster 8K for Windows 10 is a video application for quality control and metadata creation in HDR video productions. It supports resolutions up to 8K (7680 × 4320 pixels). HDRmaster 8K is the successor to HDRmaster v2, professional software used worldwide in Ultra HD Blu-ray authoring, broadcast, post-production, film studios and educational institutions. Download the complete original press release as a PDF in German here.
Where the HDR tools are used
To deliver high picture quality on HDR devices and displays, production facilities need control over the signal levels and HDR metadata in their deliverables. Poorly managed levels and metadata can compromise the viewer’s image and reduce compression efficiency, adding unnecessary data and compression artefacts.
“It is unfortunately not uncommon for mastered HDR content delivered to customers to contain incorrect or completely missing metadata,” said Florian Friedrich, managing director of FF Pictures and lead developer of HDRmaster 8K. “At present, only a few, often very expensive tools support detailed analysis and quality control of HDR content and metadata. Our HDRmaster 8K software provides the required functions at an affordable price, making the investment straightforward for professionals.”
HDRmaster 8K and the optional HDRmaster Toolset plug-ins for DaVinci Resolve, Adobe Premiere and Adobe After Effects were developed to give professional users detailed control of HDR levels and metadata. Tools identify and visualise luminance clipping and unintended gamut excursions. Experts have extensive settings, while less experienced users and automated environments benefit from HDR Inspector. It is designed to perform the important tasks automatically with one command. By analysing each frame, it also proposes static and dynamic metadata that can be saved separately or applied to existing video files.
“HDRmaster 8K is the tool I have always wanted for validating my work and delivering premium HDR content,” said Florian Friedrich. “At the QLED and Advanced Display Summit in Hollywood earlier this year, I received very positive feedback from HDR experts across the industry. Some felt that the product was too inexpensive for its capabilities—a criticism I can live with. Further suggestions led to many additions after that first demonstration, including 8K support and HDR Inspector.”
Analysers and modules
HDRmaster 8K provides ten analysis tools and modules, each fulfilling an important task:
- HDR Inspector(automated analysis and calculations for quality control and static/dynamic metadata checks)
- Metadata & Signal Levels(MaxCLL and MaxFALL analysis comparing actual signal levels with nominal file values)
- Statistics(advanced frame statistics using different calculations of luminance distribution)
- Chromaticity Diagram(representation of the video content in CIE 1976 and CIE 1931 colour diagrams)
- Color Analyzer(decoded values including luminance and colour coordinates for selected pixels)
- Histogram(RGB or luminance histograms with linear or logarithmic scales)
- Heatmap(false-colour representation of luminance, MaxRGB, colour saturation and hue)
- Oscilloscope(pixel profiles along image lines or between markers to analyse edges and transitions)
- Test Pattern Q/C(detailed analysis of individual patches in a supplied test pattern with pass/fail results)
- Dynamic Metadata(deriving and creating HDR10+ dynamic metadata, including graphical display, automated value suggestions and output to JSON or HEVC/MP4 files)
Supported file formats
At the time of this release, HDRmaster 8K supported several important file formats, with more planned. Its core purpose was checking and analysing compressed video for direct consumer distribution: MP4, TS, H.265 and H.264. That includes Ultra HD Blu-ray authoring files and intermediate post-production image sequences such as TIFF, DNG, DPX and OpenEXR.
Dynamic metadata
FF Pictures GmbH is an official adopter of HDR10+ technology (see hdr10plus.org/current-adopters/). “As a provider of tools and content for HDR10+, we have also created test videos for internal technology evaluations. We are proud to introduce an application with graphical metadata representation and tools for creating and editing dynamic metadata in existing content. Our mission is to support this standard in all its aspects by keeping our software up to date with new developments,” said Friedrich. “I look forward to more viewers recognising the value of dynamic metadata for HDR picture quality.”
Use cases
HDRmaster 8K can support education about HDR. Authoring studios use it for detailed video analysis and production reports in XML, CSV or TXT. Automated quality control is also possible, for example for OTT video-on-demand providers. HDR Inspector reports are already used to improve post-production workflows and support internal distribution at studios and video platforms.
“HDRmaster is an elegant application for adding and editing the required metadata in detail. It also provides valuable information about H.264/H.265 video and has significantly increased our workflow efficiency. I highly recommend HDRmaster.”
– Bhanu Srikanth
Jargon Technologies (Maker of Indigo Ultra, next-generation Blu-ray authoring technology)
“HDRmaster has been an integral part of our Ultra HD Blu-ray movie mastering toolset for a while, so we welcome the additions in this version. We use HDR displays with varying peak luminance, tone mapping and colour gamut. HDRmaster provides detailed video analysis and a better understanding of how content appears on different displays. Luminance Heatmap, Chromaticity Diagram, MaxCLL/MaxFALL calculations and HDR10+ support make it valuable for facilities producing and distributing HDR video.”
– David Mackenzie
Fidelity in Motion (Ultra HD Blu-ray authoring facility based in New York City)
In addition to HDR according to SMPTE ST 2084, HDRmaster supports SDR EOTFs with adjustable peak white and gamma. Hybrid Log Gamma (HLG) is also supported; it requires flags in the file but no additional static or dynamic HDR metadata.
When using HDRmaster 8K centrally, many functions can be run from the command line, including HDR Inspector tasks.
Price and availability
The current InnoPQ™ HDRmaster offer is EUR 799 excluding taxes as a one-time purchase. A licence allows one active workstation; after deactivation, it can be activated on another computer. New versions are currently free of charge. See the current package contents and applicable checkout taxes on the product page and at Digistore24.
Purchase and download links
HDRmaster 8K
HDRmaster Toolset: ask about availability
About FF Pictures
FF Pictures, based near Munich, specialises in services and solutions for innovative imaging technologies, particularly HDR and 8K at the time of this release. Its main customers work in post-production, camera technology and consumer electronics. Producing test and demonstration videos and delivering training programmes gives the company practical experience for developing quality-control software and tools. Managing director Florian Friedrich also contributes to the definition of video and display standards.