Dolby Vision

Dolby Vision is a set of technologies developed by Dolby Laboratories for high dynamic range (HDR) video. It covers content creation, distribution, and playback. It includes dynamic metadata that are used to adjust and optimize each frame of the HDR video to the consumer display's capabilities in a way specified by the content creator.

Dolby Vision was introduced in 2014, making it the first available consumer-oriented HDR format. HDR10+ is a competitor HDR format that also uses dynamic metadata.

Dolby Vision IQ is an update designed to optimize Dolby Vision content according to the ambient light.

Dolby Cinema uses Dolby Vision too; it uses 108 nits, compared to SDR cinemas' use of 48 nits and 2.6 gamma.

Description

HDR videos can sometimes contain brightness and color values that cannot be rendered by the consumer's display. Dolby Vision's dynamic metadata defines how each frame of the original HDR video should be adjusted to match the display's capabilities (i.e. black level, peak brightness and color gamut). The dynamic metadata allow the image adjustments to be defined by the content creator. This allows the artistic intents to be preserved on all Dolby Vision compatible displays, even if the display is not capable of rendering the original video. Dolby Vision uses Dolby's proprietary dynamic metadata defined in SMPTE ST 2094-10, while HDR10+ uses Samsung's dynamic metadata defined in SMPTE ST 2094-40.

Technically, Dolby Vision allows for a maximum resolution of 8K up to 12-bit color depth, maximum peak brightness of 10,000 nits and a color gamut up to Rec. 2020. However, Dolby Vision content or profiles can have a lower resolution ( FHD or 4K), 10-bit color depth and a peak brightness of 1,000 nits. Current displays cannot reproduce the full Dolby Vision brightness and gamut capability. In 2018, Dolby Vision required content to be graded for at least 4,000 nits. Today, Dolby requires at least 1,000 nits. There are no brightness and color gamut capability requirements for consumer displays. When the consumer display has lower color volume than the mastering display, the content is adjusted to the consumer display capability based on the dynamic metadata. Dolby Vision is considered to be future-proof.

Technical details

Mastering display

Dolby Vision mastering display require:
* EOTF: PQ
* Peak brightness: at least 1,000 cd/m²
* Black level: at most 0.005 cd/m²
* Contrast ratio: at least 200,000:1
* Color gamut: at least 99% of P3

Metadata

There are two versions of Dolby Vision metadata namely, CMv2.9 and CMv4.0.

CMv2.9 include:
* L0 (static): Mastering and target display characteristics
* L1 (dynamic): Automatically generated
* L2 trims (dynamic): Manually generated per frame or per scene
* L5: Timeline aspect ratio description
* L6 (static and optional): MaxCLL anLL (required for HDR10)
CMv4.0 (Dolby Vision 4.0) introduces new secondary trims for hue and saturation adjustment.
* L3 trims (dynamic): Manually generated per frame or per scene
* L8 trims (dynamic): Manually generated per frame or per scene (equivalent of L2 trims)
* L9 (dynamic): Mastering display color primaries

Profiles

Note: BL = base layer; EL = enhancement layer

Dual layer

Some Dolby Vision profiles are dual layer (for example: the profile 7 used for Ultra HD Blu-ray). The base layer (BL) and the enhancement layer (EL) are combined to produce a 12-bit video signal.

The enhancement layer can be full enhancement layer (FEL) or minimum enhancement layer (MEL).

File formats

* ISO Base Media File Format
** MP4
** DECE
** Common File Format (CFF)
** Protected Interoperable File Format (PIFF)
* HTTP Live Streaming
* MPEG-2 Transport Stream Format
* MPEG-DASH
* MKV

License

Dolby Vision is a proprietary solution by Dolby.

In 2021, compatible color grading systems can create Dolby Vision automatic metadata with no additional cost for content creators. A $2,500 annual license is required to activate the trims allowing content creators to manually adjust the video. OEM and manufacturer of a grading, mastering, editorial, or other professional application or device need to apply for a license.

Dolby SVP of Business Giles Baker has stated that the royalty cost for Dolby Vision is less than $3 per TV.

Adoption

Hardware

* TV:
** LG
** Panasonic
** Philips
** Sony
** TCL
** Toshiba
** Vestel
** Vizio
** VU
* Monitors:
** ASUS
* Smartphones:
** Display:
*** LG G6
*** Redmi: K50
*** Pocophone: F4, X4 GT
*** iPhone 8/8 Plus, X, XS/XS Max, XR, 11, 11 Pro/11 Pro Max, SE (2nd generation), 12/12 mini, 12 Pro/12 Pro Max and 13/13 mini, 13 Pro/13 Pro Max.
*** Xiaomi: Mi 11 Ultra, Mi 11 Pro, Xiaomi 12 lineup (12X, 12, 12 Pro, 12 Pro Dimensity, 12 Lite, 12S, 12S Pro, 12S Ultra)
** Camera:
*** iPhone 12/12 mini and 12 Pro/12 Pro Max and above
*** Xiaomi: 12S Ultra
* Gaming consoles:
** Xbox One X/S: Streaming apps only.
** Xbox Series X/S: Streaming apps and gaming.

Content distribution

* Ultra HD Blu-ray
* Streaming services:
** Video sharing platform:
*** Bilibili
*** Vimeo: Only for Apple devices
** OTT/VOD:
*** Netflix
*** Disney+
*** Hulu
*** Prime Video
*** HBO Max
*** Apple TV app (including Apple TV+)
*** Rakuten TV
**
On Air Events

Software

* Color grading:
** Autodesk Lustre
** Autodesk Flame 2021
** Blackmagic Design Davinci Resolve
** Digital Vision Nucoda
** Filmlight Baselight
** Grass Valley RIO
** SGO Mistika
* Encoder:
** x265: Profile 5, profile 8.1 and profile 8.2 (since version 3.0)
** Davinci Resolve: Profile 5, profile 8.1, profile 8.4 (since version 18)
** Final Cut Pro and Compressor: Profile 8.4 (since version 10.5.3)
* Media player:
** Exoplayer (open source, for Android)
** Shaka Player (open source, device dependent)
** Libplacebo (as part of VideoLAN project) implemented support for Dolby Vision profile 5's IPTPQc2 color space, MMR and reshaping, yet no support of dynamic metadata and NLQ yet.
** The first open source player to support profile 5 was mpv.

References

Dolby Laboratories
High dynamic range
American brands
American inventions
Audiovisual introductions in 2014
Ultra-high-definition television

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