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 based on the content creator's intents. Dolby Vision was introduced in 2014, making it the first available 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 is using Dolby Vision too, it uses 108 nits while SDR cinemas use 48 nits and a 2.6 gamma. Description. Dolby Vision allows for a maximum resolution of 8K, up to 12-bit color depth, maximum peak brightness of 10,000 nits. However, according to the Dolby Vision white paper, as of 2018 professional reference monitors, such as the Dolby Vision HDR reference monitor, are currently limited to 4,000 nits of peak brightness. Dolby Vision includes the PQ transfer function, a wide-gamut color space (ITU-R Rec. BT.2020 in "YCC" or IPTPQc2), up to 8K  resolution, and for some profiles (FEL) up to 12-bit. It can encode mastering display colorimetry information using static metadata (SMPTE ST 2086) and also provide dynamic metadata (SMPTE ST 2094-10, Dolby format) for each scene or frame. This dynamic metadata or Dynamic HDR allows adjusting of brightness and contrast (in reality, the tone curve) on the scene by scene or even frame by frame bases as and when required and adjusts it many times during the video/movie. It is considered to be future-proof. Dolby Vision includes dynamic metadata that are used to adjust the brightness, color  and sharpness of each frame of the video to match the display color volume (i.e. the maximum and minimum brightness capability and the color gamut). It allows for the creative intents to be preserved on all Dolby Vision compatible displays. Dolby Vision and HDR10+ do not use the same dynamic metadata. Technical details. The Dolby Vision format is capable of representing videos with a peak brightness up to 10,000 cd/m and a color gamut up to Rec. 2020. Current displays cannot reproduce the full Dolby Vision brightness and gamut capability. 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 mastering display require: Metadata. Dolby Vision metadata include: Dolby Vision 4.0 introduces new secondary trims for hue and saturation adjustment. 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). 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.