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  • Hey all, just changed over the backend after 15 years I figured time to give it a bit of an update, its probably gonna be a bit weird for most of you and i am sure there is a few bugs to work out but it should kinda work the same as before... hopefully :)

HDRx™ and EasyHDR™ Unofficial FAQ

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Michael Olsen

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I've seen some people on these forums and around the internet commenting about how it has been difficult to follow all the news about HDRx and EasyHDR through the rather fast-flowing and spread out threads.

So I decided to write up a little FAQ and Video/Image Gallery to cover the information at hand. I'll post it here, as well as on a website for those that want to see it in a slightly more user-friendly format.

If you have any additions, corrections, etc, please post here or email as directed on the webpage.

Web Version >>>


INTRODUCTION
This document is unofficial. The author has no affiliation with the Red Digital Cinema Camera Company. All images and/or video located on this page were posted publically on the REDUSER forum unless otherwise noted. All rights, trademarks, and other legal goodies are RED's, including but not limited to the words "RED®, RED DIGITAL CINEMA, REDCODE®, RED EPIC SCARLET, HDRx, and EasyHDR.

Remember, this guide refers to technology and statements about technology which is in development. As always, specifications, pricing, and time tables may change.


HDRx
What does HDRx do?
HDRx is an imaging mode that extends the dynamic range on the Epic camera system up to and including 18 stops (SOURCE 1). The extent of dynamic range extension can be modified from +3 stops to +6 stops in one stop increments (SOURCE 1). Additionally, +2 may be added during development (SOURCE 1).


DSC test chart showing 18 stops of dynamic range. Click to view larger.


It is unknown how HDRx will ultimately affect the dynamic range of the 2/3" and S35 Scarlet systems.

How does HDRx work?
The exact method used to achieve HDRx remains unknown, but it has been made public that the camera captures two separate streams of data which can be mixed and manipulated in post to give a variety of motion and dynamic range effects (SOURCE 1, SOURCE 2).

There is an in-camera alternative to HDRx known as EasyHDR.

What cameras will provide HDRx capability?
HDRx is now planned to be on all next-generation RED Digital Cinema Cameras, including both the Epic and Scarlet systems (SOURCE 1). Scarlet will be "as capable as EPIC with regards to EasyHDR and HDRx" (SOURCE 1).

HDRx can not be implemented on RED ONE Mysterium or Mysterium-X cameras due to inadequate hardware.

Since HDRx is capturing HDR motion footage, how is the appearance of movement affected?
Motion using HDRx can be rendered in at least two ways: "Magic Motion," "More Normal Motion Blur (MNMB)," an option produced by the Foundry, or without any "x" frames at all, resulting in totally normal footage.

Using "Magic Motion”, the appearance of motion blur is variable and may be controlled and altered after acquisition (SOURCE 1). Varying motion blur will also (to some extent) vary dynamic range within the image (SOURCE 1).

Little is known about MNMB aside from its name.

It is also unknown how the software from the Foundry will affect the appearance of movement, though it has been said that it will allow for "any kind of motion perception that you want" (SOURCE 1).

After photography, one can decide not to use HDR and "Magic Motion" and revert to normal footage by disabling the "x" frame stream (SOURCE 1).

What are the implications and limitations of using HDRx?
Assuming REDCODE remains constant, HDRx will require twice the storage capacity and write speed as normal footage (SOURCE 1).

HDRx will work "up to 1/96th shutter base exposure" (SOURCE 1).

5K HDRx or EasyHDR will be limited to 50fps (SOURCE 1).

RED is looking into the possibility of enabling higher frame rate capture using HDRx by using a smaller frame size (SOURCE 1). It is unknown how well this option will work, or even if it will be offered.

The high data rates required for HDRx will permit only the 2/3” Scarlets to record on CF cards, and then only at certain REDCODE rates. Similarly, RED Drives may only function with HDRx at certain REDCODE rates (SOURCE 1). Otherwise, the camera must record to SSD (SOURCE 1, SOURCE 2).

How much will HDRx software cost?
HDRx processing capability will be included in REDCINE-X free of charge (SOURCE 1).

Further support may be available in Storm, from the Foundry, as well as in the SDK (SOURCE 1).


EasyHDR

What does EasyHDR do?
EasyHDR is an imaging mode that extends the dynamic range of future RED Digital Cinema Camera systems in a manner similar to HDRx. Unlike HDRx, however, EasyHDR processes the footage in the camera, requiring no work in post to configure the dynamic range (SOURCE 1).

How does EasyHDR work?
EasyHDR will probably work very similarly to HDRx, except that the image processing for HDR and motion rendition will occur in camera rather than in post (SOURCE 1). Presumably, one will be able to set an exposure value (e.g., +3) as well as a "Magic Motion" setting prior to photography.

What cameras will provide EasyHDR capability?
EasyHDR is now planned to be on all next-generation RED Digital Cinema Cameras, including both the Epic and Scarlet systems (SOURCE 1). Scarlet will be "as capable as EPIC with regards to EasyHDR and HDRx" (SOURCE 1).

EasyHDR can not be implemented on RED ONE Mysterium or Mysterium-X cameras due to inadequate hardware.

Since EasyHDR is capturing motion footage, how is the appearance of movement affected?
EasyHDR will only permit the use of "Magic Motion", not MNMB or only the second stream as does HDRx (SOURCE 1). This results in a baked in amount of "Magic Motion" and exposre.

What are the implications and limitations of using EasyHDR?
EasyHDR will produce a normal REDCODE RAW file, at normal filesize and data rate, with more dynamic range and "Magic Motion" (SOURCE 1). Unlike HDRx, there will be no ability to edit the HDR or motion elements of this footage in post.

Presumably, other limitations are equivalent to HDRx in terms of framerate and shutter speed.

How is EasyHDR different from HDRx?
EasyHDR records HDR footage as a single REDCODE RAW file. HDRx records HDR footage in two separate streams (SOURCE 1).

EasyHDR processes entirely in-camera and burns in the HDR and "Magic Motion" to the file. HDRx requires post processing to create an HDR shot. (SOURCE 1)

EasyHDR produces a fairly fixed result. HDRx remains editable in terms of HDR and "Magic Motion" after the fact.

Ceteris paribus, EasyHDR will use half the filespace and REDCODE rate as HDRx. (SOURCE 1)
 
IMAGE GALLERY
The images below are frames taken from motion capture using HDRx or EasyHDR. These are not "still photographs". When stills shot using HDRx are posted on REDUSER, they will be added to a "Stills Gallery" on this page.



Three different versions of the same frame showing variance in the way motion is represented. Manipulated via HDRx. 24fps 1/48.


Shot from inside a dark barn into the noon Nevada sunlight. Peter Lik and Mick Plumridge were present for the shoot. Made possible by HDRx. 17-50mm RPZ ISO 500 HDRx +4 5600K.


Ungraded image. Made possible by HDRx.


DSC test chart showing 18 stops of dynamic range. Made possible by HDRx.



MOTION GALLERY
Barn Interior

Shot from inside a dark barn into the noon Nevada sunlight. Peter Lik and Mick Plumridge were present for the shoot. Made possible by HDRx. 17-50mm RPZ ISO 500 HDRx +4 5600K.


Green Screen: Woman Spinning Pipe



+3 HDRx 1/48.Vegas at Night

This is the first posted HDRx test fotoage. Ungraded ISO 800 17-50 RED RPZ at T2.8 5ms read-reset REDCODE 50 24fps 1/48.
 
Couldn't two tracks mean REDCINE-X automatically will give you a non-HDRx normal exposure video and a HDRx track.

I'm just saying, but I think they are trying every which way to confuse us, because lets just look at the images... to me it looks like you need the typical HDR method to do it and the science is in the blur.

I just can't see the underexposure not being in these images.
 
nifty. How very thoughtful of you Michael. Thanks for putting the effort forth and making this.

Kyle, you're statements area bit confusing to me. I don't quite get what you're getting at. The "typical HDR" method has only applied to stills. Red has adapted the concept of HDR and applied to capturing motion/video in real time. How can you "see the underexposure not being in these images" and video, if they aren't actually underexposed in anyway?
 
Kyle Carter said:
Couldn't two tracks mean REDCINE-X automatically will give you a non-HDRx™ normal exposure video and a HDRx™ track.
Click to expand...

Well, that's about right. Perhaps it wasn't explained well enough above, but when using HDRx, the camera records 2 streams of data: one that is normal, and one that is an "x" stream. In post, one can mix the two to achieve a variety of HDR and "Magic Motion" effects. Or, one can drop the "x" stream altogether and be left with normal footage.

Kyle Carter said:
I'm just saying, but I think they are trying every which way to confuse us, because lets just look at the images... to me it looks like you need the typical HDR method to do it and the science is in the blur.

I just can't see the underexposure not being in these images.
Click to expand...

Well, we have been told there are two streams which are being combined. What we don't know (and what RED doesn't even seem to know to the fullest extent) is exactly what method of mixing them provides the best results.
 
Thanks for this thread Michael. I am sure it will be helpful to many people trying to sift through the mountains of info on this forum.
 
EasyHDR is on hold now and we are not sure it is going into production cameras. HDRx is going into all EPICs and Scarlets.

Jim
 
Thanks for noting that, Jim. This thread needs some updates with that kind of information. I'll get it taken care of soon.
 
Michael Olsen said:
Well, we have been told there are two streams which are being combined. What we don't know (and what RED doesn't even seem to know to the fullest extent) is exactly what method of mixing them provides the best results.
Click to expand...

No reason to start looking for Red conspiracy. Anyone can do just that, even in Photoshop, today. It had been done it already, as I had posted here:
http://reduser.net/forum/showpost.php?p=728249&postcount=87
http://reduser.net/forum/showthread.php?t=55606&postcount=1
 
There are several ways to combine HDRx tracks.

1. AB Blend with slider (most simple)... only issues are with "dancing" (extremely fast moving) bright highlights against a dark background.

2. Graeme's Magic Motion Button... actually a very powerful tool that deals with complicated motion.

3. The Foundry's MNMB (more normal motion blur) algorithm... available sometime in the future with Nuke and Storm.

4. Manual combining on professional grading tools.

Jim
 
I'm personally looking forward to doing it manually, as this would allow me to grade separate A and X tracks for ultimate control. I can easily see this used in wide shots with little motion, where if there is something with a lot of motion would use Foundry's algorithm. It's good to have options and it seems there will be:-)
 
Oh, I'm not trying to conjure up some Great RED Mystery. When that was posted, I don't believe there was as much knowledge available about the A-frames and B-frames as there is today. Not to mention, unless I'm mistaken, that we are still pretty much in the dark as to what forms of motion interpolation/correction may be used with HDRx™ in terms of how it actually works and what it is really doing to the image. I imagine as RC-X is updated with HDRx tools and the Foundry finishes their product, we'll know a lot more!
 
Don't discount Graeme's tools... when Simon Robinson (CTO of The Foundry) saw what Graeme had done, his comment was something like "are you sure you need us to do anything?".

Jim
 
Jannard said:
Don't discount Graeme's tools... when Simon Robinson (CTO of The Foundry) saw what Graeme had done, his comment was something like "are you sure you need us to do anything?".

Jim
Click to expand...

I don't think I could ever discount anything Graeme makes happen!
 
Jannard said:
Don't discount Graeme's tools... when Simon Robinson (CTO of The Foundry) saw what Graeme had done, his comment was something like "are you sure you need us to do anything?".

Jim
Click to expand...


Haha. :biggrin:
 
For the technically unadapted, like me: Do I understand it correctly that you choose before the shot whether you are going to work on the motion or on the dynamic range? Because if you choose dynamic range you choose two different exposures, and if you choose motion the exposures are the same, right? (sounds obvious to me, but I may be missing something :001_smile:)
Thanks for the thread by the way.
 
hans de vries said:
For the technically unadapted, like me: Do I understand it correctly that you choose before the shot whether you are going to work on the motion or on the dynamic range? Because if you choose dynamic range you choose two different exposures, and if you choose motion the exposures are the same, right? (sounds obvious to me, but I may be missing something :001_smile:)
Thanks for the thread by the way.
Click to expand...

Hi Hans,

As it has been explained the decision to use HDRx works like this:

1) Set up shot and expose as usual. If the shot works without extra DR (i.e., nothing in the highlights is clipping), then you are good to go. However, if highlights are clipping...

2) Turn on HDRx and set it to the appropriate amount of highlight protection (+2, +3, +4, etc.).

3) When HDRx is on, it will record two frames which can later be combined into one high dynamic range image in post, using the methods Jim outlined above, each of which would have a different impact on the appearance of motion in the footage.

I hope that helped!
 
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