Standard Dynamic Range
Standard Dynamic Range (SDR) for video refers to the traditional range of color and brightness used in video content and displays before the advent of High Dynamic Range (HDR) technology. SDR has been the standard for television broadcasts, DVDs, and early streaming services for many years. It sets a baseline for contrast, color depth, and brightness in video content, dictating how dark the darkest parts can be and how bright the brightest parts can shine, as well as the spectrum of colors that can be displayed.
In terms of technical specifications, SDR typically uses a color depth of 8 bits per channel, which allows for 256 shades of red, green, and blue, resulting in around 16.7 million possible colors. The brightness levels in SDR content are also more limited compared to HDR, usually peaking around 100 nits (a unit of brightness). While these parameters have been sufficient for creating enjoyable viewing experiences, they don’t fully capture the range of colors and brightness levels that the human eye can perceive.
Despite the rise of HDR, SDR remains widely prevalent and relevant. The majority of existing video content, including older movies, TV shows, and user-generated content, is in SDR. Additionally, not all viewing devices are HDR-capable, and producing HDR content requires higher budgets and more advanced technology, factors that can limit its accessibility. Therefore, while HDR offers an enhanced, more lifelike viewing experience, SDR continues to be a fundamental standard in the video industry, ensuring compatibility and accessibility for a broad range of content and devices.
Links
- Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Standard-dynamic-range_video
- ViewSonic: https://www.viewsonic.com/library/photography/what-is-hdr-hdr-vs-sdr/
- MUO: https://www.makeuseof.com/hdr-vs-sdr-whats-the-difference/