Video 1080 By 1920/24P - A New Standard

Color in 1080p24 and electronic cinema

New York, Friday, Nov. 11, 1999

45-minute opening session of full-day seminar
"Video 1080 By 1920/24P - A New Standard"

Presenter: Charles Poynton

Computer techniques have been used in motion pictures effects work for more than a decade. This involves "scanning-in" film, processing in the digital domain, then "scanning-out" to film.

Recently, HDTV cameras and electronic projectors have reached performance levels equivalent to motion picture film. Electronic capture and display of film-quality imagery is imminent. The most promising format has a format of 1920x1080 square pixels, progressive scan, and 24 frames per second. This format, denoted 1080p24, is closely related to HDTV standards.

HDTV, upon which the 1080p24 format is based, uses RGB primaries and involves additive color reproduction. HDTV has a certain color gamut, and assumes a limited contrast ratio at the display. Film uses CMY dyes, and involves subtractive color reproduction. The color range ("gamut") of film is quite different from that of HDTV. Also, film accommodates a larger contrast ratio than that of HDTV.

The differences in tone and color reproduction in HDTV and film present major challenges to the adoption of electronic cinema. This paper explores these differences.

Charles Poynton - Courses & seminars
1999-11-03