HDR10+ Advanced Aims to Eliminate the Soap Opera Effect
▼ Summary
– Motion smoothing is widely disliked by cinephiles and home theater enthusiasts for creating a soap opera effect and visual artifacts.
– The technology works by analyzing video frames and inserting additional frames to match a TV’s refresh rate, such as converting 24p content to 60p.
– HDR10+ Advanced and Dolby Vision 2 are new standards aiming to improve motion smoothing and align it more closely with creators’ original vision.
– HDR10+ Intelligent FRC is a key feature of HDR10+ Advanced designed to enhance motion smoothing performance.
– Critics, including Hollywood figures, argue that motion smoothing produces an unnatural look that deviates from the intended artistic presentation.
HDR10+ Advanced aims to eliminate the soap opera effect by introducing intelligent frame rate conversion technology. This new feature promises to address a common complaint among cinephiles and home theater enthusiasts regarding motion smoothing. Often referred to as motion interpolation, this process is found on nearly all modern televisions and attempts to reduce judder in content originally filmed at 24 or 25 frames per second when displayed on higher refresh rate screens. Unfortunately, the result frequently appears unnaturally smooth, creating what many describe as the soap opera effect along with other visual flaws.
Motion smoothing works by analyzing individual video frames and generating additional ones to match the television’s native refresh rate. For instance, a 60Hz TV would insert extra frames into 24p film content to simulate 60 frames per second playback. While some viewers perceive this as smoother motion, especially during camera pans or zooms, others find it detracts from the cinematic experience. Prominent figures in Hollywood and dedicated film fans argue that this artificial enhancement strays from the director’s original artistic intent, making movies look as though they were shot on video rather than film.
The upcoming HDR10+ Advanced standard, alongside Dolby Vision 2, seeks to transform how motion smoothing is implemented. These new formats intend to align motion interpolation more closely with content creators’ visions. Samsung recently unveiled details about HDR10+ Advanced, highlighting six new capabilities. The most notable innovation is HDR10+ Intelligent FRC, designed specifically to enhance motion smoothing quality. This intelligent frame rate conversion technology aims to deliver smoother motion without introducing the artificial appearance that has drawn widespread criticism. Whether these emerging standards can successfully eliminate the soap opera effect while preserving creative integrity remains an open question, but they represent a significant step toward more authentic home viewing experiences.
(Source: Ars Technica)
