The new HDR10+ Advanced standard aims to tackle the notorious 'soap opera effect' that plagues motion smoothing. But can it truly fix this issue? Let's dive in and explore the details.
The Soap Opera Effect and Motion Smoothing
Motion smoothing, or motion or video interpolation, is a feature found in most modern TVs. It's designed to reduce 'judder' in films and TV shows shot at 24p or 25p and displayed on 60Hz or 120Hz TVs. However, it often results in the dreaded 'soap opera effect' and other visual artifacts, causing some viewers to cringe.
HDR10+ Advanced's Intelligent FRC
Samsung's HDR10+ Advanced introduces six new features, with its Intelligent FRC (frame rate conversion) being a standout. This feature allows content creators to dictate the level of motion smoothing for each scene, adjusting based on ambient lighting. By giving creators more control, it aims to prevent unnecessary 'soap opera effect' scenes.
Dolby Vision 2's Authentic Motion
Dolby's upcoming HDR standard, Dolby Vision 2, also addresses motion smoothing with its 'Authentic Motion' feature. This tool makes scenes feel more cinematic without unwanted judder, on a shot-by-shot basis, according to Dolby. It offers 10 levels of motion smoothing, as demonstrated on a scene from 'Paris Has Fallen.'
Will It Work?
While these standards offer more control to creators, they haven't proven that motion smoothing will look natural across different scales and shots. Visual artifacts like halos remain a challenge. Samsung's simulations are promising, but real-time performance on TVs is crucial.
Adoption and Availability
The success of these standards depends on TV makers and content creators adopting them. HDR10+ has been around since 2017, supporting 500 movies and 16 streaming services. Dolby Vision, introduced in 2014, supports 900 movie titles. The burden of mastering content for these standards is unknown, and widespread adoption is key.
The Long Road Ahead
With motion smoothing enabled by default on many TVs, these standards have a long way to go to make it look natural and win over industry giants. The battle to improve motion smoothing is far from over, and the future of cinematic visuals hangs in the balance.
