4K resolution

Comparison of common broadcast resolutions

4K resolution, also called 4K, refers to a display device or content having horizontal resolution on the order of 4,000 pixels.[1] Several 4K resolutions exist in the fields of digital television and digital cinematography. In the movie projection industry, Digital Cinema Initiatives (DCI) is the dominant 4K standard. In television and consumer media, 4K UHD or UHD-1 is the dominant 4K standard. By 2015, 4K television market share had increased greatly as prices fell dramatically during 2014[2] and 2015. By 2025, more than half of US households are anticipated to have a 4K-capable TV (2160p), which would be much faster than the adoption curve of FullHD (1080p).[3]

Definitions

The name "4K resolution" refers to a horizontal resolution of approximately 4,000 pixels. The use of width to characterize the overall resolution marks a switch from previous television standards such as 480i and 1080p, which categorize media according to its vertical dimension. Using that same convention, 4K UHD would be named 2160p.[4]

There are two main 4K resolution standards:

Many manufacturers may advertise their products as UHD 4K, or simply 4K, when the term 4K is traditionally reserved for the cinematic, DCI resolution.[9][10][7] This often causes great confusion among consumers.[11][7]

YouTube and the television industry have adopted UHD-1 as its 4K standard and UHD-2 for NHK/BBC R&D's 7680x4320 pixels UHDTV 2 with their basic parameter set is defined by the ITU BT.2020 standard.[12][13][14] As of 2014, 4K content from major broadcasters remains limited.[15] On April 11, 2013, Bulb TV created by Canadian serial entrepreneur Evan Kosiner became the first broadcaster to provide a 4K linear channel and VOD content to cable and satellite companies in North America.[16][17][18][19] The channel is licensed by the Canadian Radio-Television and Telecommunications Commission to provide educational content.[20] However, 4K content is becoming more widely available online including on YouTube, Netflix and Amazon.[21][22] By 2013, some UHDTV models were available to general consumers in the range of US$600.[23][24] As of 2015, prices on smaller computer and television panels had dropped below US$400.[25]

History

The first commercially available 4K camera for cinematographic purposes was the Dalsa Origin, released in 2003.[26] YouTube began supporting 4K for video uploads in 2010 as a result of leading manufacturers producing 4K cameras.[27][28] Users could view 4K video by selecting "Original" from the quality settings until December 2013, when the 2160p option appeared in the quality menu.[29] In November 2013, YouTube started to use the VP9 video compression standard, saying that it was more suitable for 4K than High Efficiency Video Coding (HEVC); VP9 is being developed by Google, which owns YouTube.[28]

The projection of movies at 4K resolution at cinemas began in 2011.[30] Sony was offering 4K projectors as early as 2004.[31] The first 4K home theater projector was released by Sony in 2012.[32]

Samsung UN105S9 105 inch ultra-high-definition 4K television.

Sony is one of the leading studios promoting UHDTV content, as of 2013 offering a little over 70 movie and television titles via digital download to a specialized player that stores and decodes the video. The large files (~40GB), distributed through consumer broadband connections, raise concerns about data caps.[33]

In 2014, Netflix began streaming House of Cards, Breaking Bad[34] and "some nature documentaries" at 4K to compatible televisions with an HEVC decoder. Most 4K televisions sold in 2013 did not natively support HEVC, with most major manufacturers announcing support in 2014.[35] Amazon Studios began shooting their full-length original series and new pilots with 4K resolution in 2014.[36]

Home video projection

A JVC "e-shift" projector results in 4K pixel resolution on the screen.

Though experiencing rapid price drops beginning in 2013 for viewing devices, the home cinema digital video projector market saw little expansion, with only a few manufacturers (only Sony As of 2015) offering limited 4K-capable lineups, with native 4K projectors commanding five-figure price tags well into 2015 before finally breaking the US$10,000 barrier.[37] Critics state that at normal direct-view panel size and viewing distances, the extra pixels of 4K are redundant at the ability of normal human vision. On the contrary, home cinema employs much larger screen sizes without necessarily increasing viewing distance to scale. JVC has used a technique known as "e-shift" to extrapolate extra pixels from 1080p sources to display 4K on screen through upscaling or from native 4K sources at a much lower price than native 4K projectors.[38] This technology of non-native 4K entered its fourth generation for 2016.[39][40][41] JVC used this same technology to provide 8K flight simulation for Boeing that met the limits of 20/25 visual acuity.[42]

Inaugural broadcasts

In August 2015, British sports network BT Sport launched a 4K channel, with its first broadcast being the 2015 FA Community Shield football match. Two production units were used, producing the traditional broadcast in high-definition, and a separate 4K broadcast. As the network did not want to mix 4K footage with upconverted HD footage, this telecast did not feature traditional studio segments at pre-game or half-time, but those hosted from the stadium by the match commentators using a 4K camera—envisioning that if viewers wanted to watch studio analysis, they would switch to the HD broadcast and then back for the game. Footage was compressed using H.264 encoders and transmitted to BT Tower, where it was then transmitted back to BT Sport studios and decompressed for distribution via eligible BT Infinity internet (at least 25 mbps connection) and a 4K-compatible BT TV set-top box (the stream did not count toward bandwidth cap or fair usage policies).[43][44]

In late-2015 and January 2016, three Canadian television providers—including Quebec-based Videotron, Ontario-based Rogers Cable, and Bell Fibe TV, announced that they would begin to offer 4K compatible set-top boxes that can stream 4K content to subscribers over gigabit internet service.[45][46] Dome Productions, a joint venture of Bell Media and Rogers Media, constructed a "side-by-side" 4K mobile production unit to be shared by Sportsnet and TSN's first 4K telecasts, designed to operate alongside a separate HD truck and utilizing cameras capable of output in both formats. In the future, Dome plans to build additional 4K-specific units, with the original to stay at Rogers Centre to facilitate Sportsnet's 4K Blue Jays telecasts.[47]

On October 5, 2015, alongside the announcement of its 4K set-top box and gigabit internet, Canadian media conglamorate Rogers Communications announced that it planned to produce 101 sports telecasts in 4K in 2016 via its Sportsnet division, including all Toronto Blue Jays home games, and "marquee" National Hockey League games beginning in January 2016. TSN announced its own slate of 4K telecasts to begin on January 20, 2016, including Toronto Raptors games and a slate of regional NHL games.[48] [49][50]

On January 14, 2016, in cooperation with BT Sport, Sportsnet broadcast the first ever NBA game produced in 4K—a Toronto Raptors/Orlando Magic game at O2 Arena in London, England. On January 20, also during a Raptors game, TSN presented the first live 4K telecast produced in North America.[45][48][51] Three days later, Sportsnet presented the first NHL game in 4K.[52]

Resolutions

Format Resolution Display aspect ratio Pixels
Ultra-high-definition television 3840 × 2160 1.78:1 (16:9) 8,294,400
Ultra-wide-television 5120 x 2160 2.37:1 (21:9) 11,059,200
DCI 4K (native resolution) 4096 × 2160 1.90:1 (256:135) 8,847,360
DCI 4K (CinemaScope cropped) 4096 × 1716 2.39:1 7,028,736
DCI 4K (flat cropped) 3996 × 2160 1.85:1 8,631,360

Ultra HD

4K UHD is a resolution of 3840 pixels × 2160 lines (8.3 megapixels, aspect ratio 16:9) and is one of the two resolutions of ultra high definition television targeted towards consumer television, the other being 8K UHD which is 7680 pixels × 4320 lines (33.2 megapixels). UHD has twice the horizontal and vertical resolution of the 1080p HDTV format, with four times as many pixels overall.[1][53]

Televisions capable of displaying 4K resolutions are seen by consumer electronics companies as the next trigger for an upgrade cycle due to a lack of consumer interest in 3D television.[54]

Besides resolution, the UHD standard and related technologies (e.g. HDMI 2.0) include other higher specifications such as a wider Rec. 2020 color palette.[55]

Digital cinema

The Digital Cinema Initiatives consortium established a standard resolution of 4096 pixels × 2160 lines (8.8 megapixels, aspect ratio 256:135) for 4K movie projection. This is the native resolution for DCI-compliant 4K digital projectors and monitors; pixels are cropped from the top or sides depending on the aspect ratio of the content being projected. The DCI 4K standard has twice the horizontal and vertical resolution of DCI 2K, with four times as many pixels overall. DCI 4K does not conform to the 16:9 aspect ratio, so it is not a multiple of the 1080p display.

4K digital movies may be produced, scanned, or stored in a number of other resolutions depending on what storage aspect ratio is used.[56][57] In the digital cinema production chain, a resolution of 4096 × 3112 is often used for acquiring "open gate" or anamorphic input material, a resolution based on the historical resolution of scanned Super 35mm film.[58]

Streaming video

YouTube, since 2010,[59] and Vimeo allow a maximum upload resolution of 4096 × 3072 pixels (12.6 megapixels, aspect ratio 4:3).[60][61] Vimeo's 4K content is currently limited to mostly nature documentaries and tech coverage.[62][63]

High Efficiency Video Coding should allow the streaming of content with a 4K resolution with a bandwidth of between 20 to 30 Mbps.[64]

In January 2014, Naughty America launched the first adult video service streaming in 4K.[65][66]

Recording

Sony Handycam FDR-AX1

The main advantage of recording video at the 4K standard is that fine spatial detail is resolved well.[67] If the final video quality is reduced to 2K from a 4K recording more detail is apparent than would have been achieved from a 2K recording.[67] Increased fineness and contrast is then possible with output to DVD and Blu-ray.[68] Some cinematographers choose to record at 4K when using the Super 35 film format to offset any resolution loss which may occur during video processing.[69]

With the Axiom there is open source hardware available that uses a 4K image sensor.[70][71][72]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "The Ultimate Guide to 4K Ultra HD", Ultra HDTV Magazine, retrieved 2013-10-27.
  2. ↑ "First Quarter 2015 4K TV Growth Strong As Overall LCD TV Shipments Slow, IHS Says". IHS Inc. 8 June 2015. Retrieved November 24, 2015.
  3. ↑ Mark Hoelzel (2 September 2014). "4K TV Shipments Are Ramping Up Much Faster Than HD TV Did In The Past". Business Insider. Retrieved November 24, 2015.
  4. ↑ Anthony, Sebastian (2014-01-07). "No, TV makers, 4K and UHD are not the same thing". ExtremeTech. Retrieved 30 May 2014.
  5. ↑ Denison, Caleb (15 Jan 2014). "Your 1080p TV is old already: Everything you need to know about Ultra HD 4K". Digital Trends. Retrieved 31 May 2014.
  6. ↑ http://www.dr-lex.be/info-stuff/ultrahighdef.html
  7. 1 2 3 http://www.extremetech.com/extreme/174221-no-tv-makers-4k-and-uhd-are-not-the-same-thing
  8. ↑ http://www.dr-lex.be/info-stuff/ultrahighdef.html
  9. ↑ "The Best TV Deserves The Best TV - Samsung". Samsung Electronics America.
  10. ↑ "X Series - 4K TV : BRAVIA™ LED TV, Full HD Television, 4K TV, 3D TV : Sony India". Sony India.
  11. ↑ "4K vs. UHD: What’s the difference?". ExtremeTech.
  12. ↑ "Defining the Future of Television". BBC.
  13. ↑ "Leading Television Industry Players Line Up To Support ‘4K Ultra HD’". 2014 Press Releases (Consumer Electronics Association). 11 November 2014. Retrieved 18 December 2014.
  14. ↑ Lowensohn, Josh (9 July 2010). "YouTube now supports 4k-resolution videos". Tech Culture (CNET). Retrieved 18 December 2014.
  15. ↑ Brown, Heather (16 October 2014). "Good Question: When Will We See Broadcasts In 4K?". Local (CBS Minnesota). Retrieved 18 December 2014.
  16. ↑ "Canadian Serial Entrepreneur to Launch First 4,000-pixel Television Signal, Bulb TV". 11 April 2013. Retrieved 12 November 2013.
  17. ↑ "Young media mogul granted TV licence". 12 April 2013. Retrieved 12 November 2013.
  18. ↑ "Canadian Cat B Channel Plans 4K Video Feed". 16 April 2013. Retrieved 12 November 2013.
  19. ↑ "Bulb TV to turn on 4k". 12 April 2013. Retrieved 12 November 2013.
  20. ↑ "Broadcasting Decision CRTC 2012-268". 4 May 2012.
  21. ↑ Luckerson, Victor (12 November 2014). "Amazon Will Stream in Ultra-High Def 4K by January". Tech Companies (Time). Retrieved 18 December 2014.
  22. ↑ Anderson, Jim (17 December 2014). "4K Ultra HD, High Quality: Red". YouTube. Retrieved 18 December 2014..
  23. ↑ Cox, Joe (27 June 2013). "Seiki launches 39in 4K TV for $699". What Hi-Fi (Haymarket). Retrieved 21 January 2014.
  24. ↑ Greenwald, Will (28 June 2013). "Seiki SE39UY04". PC Mag (Ziff Davis). Retrieved 21 January 2014.
  25. ↑ "Viewsonic monitor". Newegg.com. Retrieved 21 November 2015.
  26. ↑ Frost, Jacqueline B (2009). Cinematography for Directors: A Guide for Creative Collaboration. Michael Wiese Productions. p. 199. ISBN 1-61593019-1. Retrieved 21 January 2014.
  27. ↑ "Best 4K Cameras". WeAreTop10.com.
  28. 1 2 Teoh, Vincent (25 December 2013). "YouTube Adds "2160p 4K" Option To Video Quality Settings". HDTVTest. Retrieved 24 May 2014.
  29. ↑ "Youtube puts in new 2160p 4K option for video-settings". Neo win. Retrieved 24 July 2014.
  30. ↑ Truong, Alice (August 6, 2013). "4K is already playing at a theater near you, but you probably didn’t even notice". Digital Trends. Designtechnica. Retrieved 24 May 2014.
  31. ↑ "Sony Unveils New "4k" Digital Cinema Projector" (press release). Projector Central. June 3, 2004. Retrieved 24 May 2014.
  32. ↑ Quick, Darren (May 31, 2012). "Sony releases world's first 4K home theater projector". Gizmag. Retrieved 24 May 2014.
  33. ↑ Denison, Caleb (September 4, 2013). "Sony feeds starving 4K early adopters with over 70 titles of 4K movies and TV shows". Digital Trends. Retrieved 31 May 2014.
  34. ↑ "Breaking Bad is now streaming in 4K on Netflix", Gizmodo.
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  36. ↑ Kerr, Dara (17 December 2013). "Amazon Studios to begin shooting original series in 4K". CNET (CBS). Retrieved 30 May 2014.
  37. ↑ Katzmaier, David (March 30, 2015). "Sony VPL-VW350ES review". CNET. Retrieved December 7, 2015.
  38. ↑ Pendlebury, Ty (September 26, 2013). "JVC debuts cheaper pseudo-4K projectors". CNET. Retrieved December 7, 2015.
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  41. ↑ Cohen, Steven (October 19, 2015). "JVC Readies New eShift 4K D-ILA Projectors with HDR". High-Def Digest. Retrieved December 7, 2015.
  42. ↑ Turnbull, Grant (November 25, 2015). "I/ITSEC 2015: New training approaches for Boeing". Shephard Media. Retrieved December 7, 2015.
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  44. ↑ "Behind the scenes of BT Sport's 4K Ultra HD revolution". Techradar. Retrieved 23 January 2016.
  45. 1 2 "4K content becomes a reality in Canada". Toronto Star. Retrieved 21 January 2016.
  46. ↑ "Why you should add a 4K television to your holiday shopping list". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved 16 January 2016.
  47. ↑ "Dome Productions Preps for Arrival of Live 4K Sports in Canada". Sports Video Group. Retrieved 16 January 2016.
  48. 1 2 "TSN delivers live 4K broadcast of Raptors-Celtics". TSN.ca. Retrieved 15 January 2016.
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  50. ↑ "Rogers announces Ignite Gigabit internet, 4K sports broadcasts". CBC News. Retrieved 16 January 2016.
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  52. ↑ "Sportsnet to produce first NHL game in 4K". Sportsnet.ca. Rogers Media. Retrieved 24 January 2016.
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  55. ↑ Pullen, John Patrick (December 8, 2015). "Everything to Know Before Buying a 4K Television". Time, Inc. Retrieved December 16, 2015.
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  57. ↑ "4K resolution Definition from PC Magazine Encyclopedia". PC Magazine. 1994-12-01. Retrieved 2010-05-28.
  58. ↑ James, Jack (2006). Digital Intermediates for Film and Video. Taylor & Francis. p. 125. ISBN 0240807022. Retrieved 21 January 2014.
  59. ↑ Jukic, Stephanie. "4K & Ultra HD Resolution". 4K.com. Retrieved 26 November 2014. YouTube has had a 4K channel running since as early as 2010 and other developments are definitely on the horizon, especially in countries or regions with excellent internet connectivity that goes above the normal speeds available to most people.
  60. ↑ Ramesh Sarukkai (2010-07-09). "What's bigger than 1080p? 4K video comes to YouTube". Archived from the original on 16 July 2011. Retrieved 2011-08-20.
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  62. ↑ Ohannessian, Kevin. "Where Can You Get 4K Video?". Toms's Guide. Purch, Inc. Retrieved 26 November 2014. YouTube and Vimeo already stream 4K content. Most of the videos are of the nature/documentary variety, with some tech media coverage thrown in the mix. However, Google recently announced plans to make a much larger selection of 4K video available on YouTube, using its new compression technology, called VP9. If your computer has a powerful graphics card that supports 4K and HDMI version 1.4 or higher, you can connect your computer to a 4K television via an HDMI cable. You will likely need high bandwidth to stream the video without any issues, though neither YouTube nor Vimeo has specified the minimum data speed needed for 4K streaming. In addition, Asus, Dell and Sharp already have 4K computer monitors (with more coming this year) that can be used with your computer to watch 4K content.
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  67. 1 2 Wootton, Cliff (2005). A Practical Guide to Video and Audio Compression: From Sprockets and Rasters to Macroblocks. Taylor & Francis. p. 47. ISBN 0-24080630-1. Retrieved 21 January 2014.
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  69. ↑ Sawicki, Mark (2007). Filming the Fantastic: A Guide to Visual Effects Cinematography. CRC Press. p. 114. ISBN 1-13606662-4. Retrieved 21 January 2014.
  70. ↑ "Axiom Alpha".
  71. ↑ "Zynq-based Axiom Alpha open 4K cine camera proto debuts in Vienna hackerspace". 2014-03-20.
  72. ↑ "Axiom Alpha: Die Open-Hardware-Kamera" [Axiom α: the open hardware camera]. Heise (in German). 2014-05-22.

External links

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