This downloadable ASUS Mini-course is a special six class version of Kevin Shaw’s 12 class An Introduction to HDR. It is available for free, exclusively to purchasers of selected ASUS Pro Art products.
After redeeming your free download, you’ll receive details with a special offer to upgrade to the full version. This includes seven more class instructional movies as well as Resolve projects with over 10GB of high quality footage files that you can use to follow along with Kevin’s course. You can find out more information about the full course by visiting this link.
Course overview
High Dynamic Range (HDR) has been available to consumers since 2016 and has been widely adopted in media and entertainment. But, do you really know what HDR is? This course, taught by Kevin Shaw, is much more than a tutorial. Structured classes will help you master HDR, learn about HDR displays, and how to grade HDR content. You’ll understand the different HDR formats, including Dolby Vision, HDR10 and HLG. While most of the course aims to be application-agnostic (HDR theory and not button pushing), you will also learn how to set up and grade HDR in DaVinci Resolve.
HDR is unanimously claimed as better, but it significantly affects workflow from capture and mastering through to delivery and display. With a deeper knowledge of HDR workflows, formats, and display technologies, you can better invest, implement and explore the possibilities the tech brings. Learn to differentiate good HDR from poor HDR and showcase HDR from technical HDR.
This course is much more than a one-off tutorial. Learn to take full advantage of new workflows and develop new skills for high dynamic range content. Experience how lighting, editing and grading are affected, and which tools are most useful to achieve bigger, better color. Learn the three essential workflows for HDR mastering. The course covers critical concepts and practical considerations for HDR production, workflow, grading, mastering, distribution, and viewing. You will also build your vocabulary around HDR and communicate effectively in technical and creative related discussion.
Course targeted towards colorists, VFX artists, DIT, editors, and more
This is an introductory level course ideal for colorists, engineers, cinematographers, DITs, VFX artists, and editors involved in HDR pre-production, production and post-production. It’s also useful for producers, directors and designers as they encounter demand for HDR, Dolby vision, UHD Premium, Rec 2020, and wide color gamut. If you are looking for a structured HDR tutorial, this course is for you.
An HDR display is useful for the practical exercises, but not necessary for the course. Ideally, you’ll want to take this course before investing in HDR if you can, as it will save you time and money.
Once you purchase this course, you can immediately download all class instruction videos. This course is not part of the normal fxphd membership and does not include access to our discussion forums or VPN software. Footage supplied with the course may only be used for learning (use in commercial or non-commercial projects is prohibited).
Class by class breakdown
CLASS 1: WHAT IS HDR?
What makes HDR displays different? Will they survive in the long term? We define dynamic range, high dynamic (HDR) range and many other terms that are related or confused with HDR. Introducing the electro-optical transfer function (EOTF) and working with HDR scopes.
CLASS 2: HDR DISPLAYS
Why is HDR so important? Is HDR future proof? Do you need an HDR display on set, in VFX , editing and grading? What HDR display is right for you today? Learn about HDR at home and in the cinema, and about the available HDR display technologies. Know the pros and cons of OLEDs and LCDs and the different types of each. Understand the UHD Premium and Dolby Vision specifications and the differences between HDR reference displays and consumer displays. How to use HDR flags and how to connect HDR displays. See how to set up HDR reference displays for grading and compare SDR and HDR signals.
CLASS 3: BETTER HIGH DYNAMIC RANGE
Why not continue to use gamma? Why is grading HDR is fundamentally different to SDR? How can HDR make better pictures? Understand the EOTFs – PQ (ST 2084) and HLG and why we need both of them. Consider the changes to bit depth, brightness, black level, and code values required by HDR. Learn how to optimize the HDR scopes. Introducing color management and ACES workflows. Learn to differentiate showcase HDR from “ordinary” HDR and consider the implications of creative intent on HDR mastering.
CLASS 4: HDR AND COLOR
Understand display color spaces and how to use wide color gamut. Working with BT. 2020. Learn to create evergreen masters. Explore the relationship between brightness and saturation and why that is important for HDR. Recognize different HDR formats and mis-matched display settings. Discover how to simulate HDR on a BT.709 display.
CLASS 5: HDR FORMATS
Why can’t we have a single HDR format? How might HDR change in the future? Learn about all the different HDR formats in use. Understand metadata and why HDR needs it. Get familiar with HDR workflows that deliver, HDR10, Dolby Vision and HLG. Know the SMPTE standards for HDR, delivery and mastering specifics and typical display standards from the UHD Alliance, Vesa and Dolby.
CLASS 6: HDR CREATION
What content can be mastered as HDR? Learn about shooting, editing, VFX and grading HDR. Setup preferences and settings for an HDR project in BMD Resolve.
The full version of the course includes seven more class instructional movies as well as Resolve projects with over 10GB of high quality footage files that you can use to follow along with Kevin’s course. After downloading the special Asus mini course, you will receive a special offer to upgrade to the full course, including the high resolution footage.
You can find out more information about the full Introduction to HDR course by visiting this link.
Kevin Shaw, CSI is a consultant, instructor and colourist with over 35 years of experience. He is currently President of Colorist Society International (CSI), co-founder of the International Colorist Academy (ICA), an Academy ACES mentor, Dolby Vision HDR consultant Xrite Coloratti and certified BMD Resolve 16 trainer. He is a member of the Professional Video Alliance (PVA) and a trained display calibration expert.
In 2009, he co-founded the International Colorist Academy to share his knowledge and experiences with the growing new generation of software colorists. In 2016 he co-founded Colorist Society International (CSI), which is the first organisation to represent professional motion picture colorists and he is currently serving as President. Since 2017 he has focused on HDR display work and is excited about the new opportunities that brings.