As the UK’s leading suppliers of cheap televisions, we like to make sure that we’re on top of all of the latest trends in home entertainment. Since 3D TVs started to fill households across the country, we’ve been on the lookout for the next big thing in TV technology, and it seems that it’s finally here – in the form of HDR, or ‘High Dynamic Range’. If this doesn’t ring any bells then don’t worry: here’s a guide to everything that you need to know, so next time it comes up in the pub you won’t need to bluff your way through the conversation!
The Background: Still Life
If you spend a lot of time behind the lens of a camera then you probably already have a bit of background knowledge about HDR, as cameras have already been making use of the technology for decades. As with much of the up and coming technology surrounding TV and photography, the aim of High Dynamic Range is realism: the techniques being used are designed to make the colours pop from the screen, more lifelike than anything we’ve seen before.
Better Pixels for a Better Picture
While some new technology, such as 4K, has been all about adding more pixels to the image, HDR works with the pixels that are already there – a process which means that the benefits won’t only be visible to those who invest in monster screens, but also people with more modestly sized TVs. So how does it actually work? High Dynamic Range cameras work with an expanded range, making the dark shades darker and the light shades – you guessed it – lighter.
By striking a bigger contrast between the shadows and the bright areas of the image, HDR creates images which have more luminosity. If you’ve ever played about with the contrast slider on your favourite photo manipulation software then you already have a basic idea of how the process affects an image, although the fact that these videos are actually shot in HDR rather than edited afterwards makes the final result much more natural and, crucially, convincing to the eye.
Moving Forwards: HDR TVs
With some movies and content on online streaming platforms such as Netflix and Amazon Prime already embracing HDR, the future for this great technology is already here. However capturing the footage is only half of the story: it can only be displayed on devices that are HDR compatible. Luckily a whole range of manufacturers are getting on board, with top brands such as Sony, Panasonic and Samsung offering prototype HDR TVs, with some even announcing that the technology will be ready this year.
Before these TVs start finding their way to our living rooms, the best place to catch High Dynamic Range will be in cinema. Tomorrowland has already been released with HDR, while the upcoming San Andreas will be the next movie to embrace the trend; Pixar’s Inside Out and Disney’s The Jungle Book will follow over the next couple of years. Other films to feature the format are only rumoured for now, however both Star Wars: The Force Awakens and Tron Legacy are strongly tipped for potential HDR. This is a very promising list, suggesting that a lot of movie-goers will get the full benefit of the new technology in the future – especially useful for people who want to get a look at the results before deciding if they want their own, personal HDR TV.
In the mean time, you can take advantage of some of the great innovations in television technology that are already widely available – such as HD and 3D TVS. Better still, you can do it without breaking the bank, as we offer some of the cheapest high quality TVs in the UK! If it’s time to upgrade your old set then get in touch at 0121 327 3273; we’d love to help you out.
