What's so good about HDR? We asked a Hollywood colourist

By Joe Cox
published

High Dynamic Range might just be the most important picture technology since HD TV. But don't just take our word for it...

From TV manufacturers such as LG, Panasonic, Samsung and Sony, to content providers such as Netflix and the big Hollywood studios, everyone is talking about HDR (High Dynamic Range). If you want to get the very best possible picture quality in 2016, accepted wisdom says you need to be watching HDR video.

But what's so great about HDR? How does it work? And how does HDR affect the picture? We went to Warner Bros studio in London to speak to Dado Valentic, an HDR Colourist, to find out more.

As well as explaining his job and the role of HDR in the film-making process, Valentic told What Hi-Fi? why he thinks 4K only now makes sense thanks to HDR, his thoughts on HDR TV broadcasts and revealed the incredible number of different film masters now required thanks to the changing ways we consumer media. Watch the full interview below.

Convinced? You might need a new 2017 TV.

The good news is we've been seriously impressed by HDR on new TVs such as the LG OLED55C6V, the Panasonic TX-65DX902B, Samsung's UE55KS7000 and the flagship Sony KD-75XD9405. Roll on more HDR content...

MORE: HDR explained: What is it? How can you watch it?

Joe Cox
Joe Cox
Content Director

Joe is Content Director for T3 and What Hi-Fi?, having previously been the Global Editor-in-Chief of What Hi-Fi?. He has worked on What Hi-Fi? across the print magazine and website for more than 15 years, writing news, reviews and features on everything from turntables to TVs, headphones to hi-fi separates. He has covered product launch events across the world, from Apple to Technics, Sony and Samsung; reported from CES, the Bristol Show, and Munich High End for many years; and written for sites such as the BBC, Stuff, and the Guardian. In his spare time, he enjoys expanding his vinyl collection and cycling (not at the same time).