This article covers the following frequently asked questions:

 

• What is the newly introduced analysis tuning?
• Are there other factors that influence the mapping?
• How can colorists benefit from the new analysis tuning?
• What are options for analysis tuning and their outcome?
• What if the selected analysis tuning doesn’t result in an intended mapping experience on single shots?
• How can I tell what mode was used when the content was analyzed?
• What if I want to change the analysis tuning after I’ve already analyzed?
• Which tools have implemented the new analysis tuning?
• Are those changes considered as new Dolby Vision CM version?
• What are the implications to the wider Dolby ecosystem?

 

What is the newly introduced analysis tuning?

• • The newly introduced analysis tuning empowers colorists to choose the strength of highlight retention and mapping from a predefined set of spatial filters. Based on user preference, the tuning options will filter out less relevant highlight details such as small speculars, noise, and compression artifacts so that the mapped image serves as a better starting point for trimming. Depending on the selection, L1 metadata values for the same clip may vary. The tunings range from very conservative/most highlight retention (and a darker image) to very aggressive/least mapping (and potentially clipped highlights)

 

 

Are there other factors that influence the mapping?

• • The new analysis tunings also include a new L1 mid measurement that better balances the importance of brightness and color within each frame. Further, the L1 min calculation was updated to improve the picture quality on mainstream and lower-end televisions and devices with more limited black response.

 

 

How can colorists benefit from the new analysis tuning?

• • If you use one of the newly introduced analysis tuning options, the image should be brighter and more balanced after analysis, retaining more of the original dynamic range.

 

 

What are options for analysis tuning and their outcome?

• • In tools that have implemented the new analysis tuning, a new selector will appear labeled “Analysis Tuning” with six options:

• • • Legacy CM4 L1
    • Most Highlight Detail / Most Mapping
    • More Highlight Detail / More Mapping
    • Balanced
    • Less Highlight Detail / Less Mapping
    • Least Highlight Detail / Least Mapping

 

• • Selecting the “Legacy CM4 L1” option matches the analysis of the original (very conservative) CMv4.0 algorithm. Older projects from software versions created before this change will open with this selected as the default.
  • The other five options select the new analysis algorithm, each with a different strength for the spatial filter.
    • The lowest strength filter, Most Highlight Detail / Most Mapping, retains the most highlight detail and should result in no visible clipping, but requires the most mapping. Clipping should be restricted to detail-less speculars, noise, and artifacts, but results in a darkest starting point of the new analysis options. This filter is still substantially stronger (brighter results after mapping) than filtering in the legacy option and the selection is far more tolerant to speculars, artifacts, and noise.
    • The highest strength filter, Least Highlight Detail / Least Mapping, often results in visibly clipped highlights, but exhibits the least amount of mapping (brightest images). The benefit is a brighter overall image mapping at SDR 100 nits.
    • Balanced strikes the balance of permitting clipping in some cases to reduce the strength of mapping, but keeping it minimized to preserve highlight detail. This is the default starting point for all new projects.

 

 

What if the selected analysis tuning doesn’t result in an intended mapping experience on single shots?

• • Analysis is a non-destructive process, and lost details can be restored using the trim controls. Typically, if a small amount of detail is lost, a small tweak to gain or highlight clipping is all that is needed to restore the lost detail while retaining the improved image mapping.

 

 

How can I tell what mode was used when the content was analyzed?

• • Our color correction partners have committed to providing labels attached to each shot that indicate the analysis mode. This will be slightly different in each tool:
    • In Resolve, hovering over the words “min”, “max”, or “avg” in the analysis pane will bring up a tool tip identifying the Analysis Tuning.
    • (When Baselight comes out) In Baselight, the analysis tuning will be printed in the analysis strip settings.

 

 

What if I want to change the analysis tuning after I’ve already analyzed?

• • Whatever the analysis tuning option is set to at the time the image is analyzed is the setting used for L1 analysis. Changing this setting doesn’t erase or invalidate existing L1 metadata and L1 values will not be updated until the image is reanalyzed.
  • Unless there’s a larger sequence or scene where an analysis mode isn’t working, it will be faster and easier to apply a small amount of trims to suboptimal shots than to change the analysis mode and reanalyze.

 

 

 

Which tools have implemented the new analysis tuning?

• • As of September 2023, the new analysis tuning is supported in DaVinci Resolve Studio version 18.6 and later. Other partner products such as Filmlight Baselight and Colorfront Transkoder will implement the new analysis tuning in their upcoming versions.

 

 

Are those changes considered as new Dolby Vision CM version?

• • No. This update only affects how the L1 metadata is generated and can be considered an update to the existing CM version 4.0.

 

 

What are the implications to the wider Dolby ecosystem?

• • As this update only impacts how the L1 metadata was generated, it’s fully transparent to the rest of the Dolby Vision ecosystem, meaning that the benefits will flow to all Dolby Vision enabled televisions and devices. It does not require a specification update to the XML and does not require service providers to update their encoding infrastructure before the new metadata is accepted.