(NAB) — Eizo is at the 2017 NAB show with its new ColorEdge Prominence CG3145, a 31.1-inch reference monitor with DCI-4K resolution (4096x2160). Designed for professional HDR post production workflows, the CG3145 is able to correctly show both very bright and very dark areas on the screen without sacrificing the integrity of either.
The monitor achieves the 1000 cd/m2 (typical) high brightness level needed for HDR content display. It is also one of the first LCD monitors to achieve a typical contrast ratio of 1,000,000:1 for displaying true blacks. The name Prominence refers to the phenomenon known as a solar prominence – a flame-like eruption that extends from the Sun’s surface. This image of the bright sun shining against the deep black of space lends to the monitor’s ability to accurately display both bright and dark content.
This professional color-grading monitor is the first to overcome the severe drawbacks of other HDR technologies that are available in the market today – ABL and local dimming. ABL (Auto Brightness Limiter) is equipped in other HDR OLED monitors and limits the monitor’s ability to display lighter scenes with tones over a specific range in order to prolong the device’s lifetime. This causes those light areas to appear dimmer and the color duller as a result. Local dimming uses an area control backlight system which adjusts the brightness in sections of the screen depending on the content displayed. However, when an object on the screen falls outside of the area of the backlight that is adjusted, a “halo” effect appears. The CG3145 achieves a true HDR visual experience without ABL or the halo effect to ensure users always see accurate colors and brightness in every pixel.
There are two gamma curves used for HDR video creation – HLG (hybrid log-gamma)1 and PQ (perceptual quantization) curve. HLG is suitable for live television broadcasting and the PQ curve approximates the human visual system in terms of color and light perception, making it ideal for films, streaming, and other video content. The CG3145 supports these gamma curves so professional creators can rely on a monitor compliant with industry standards for HDR video.
The ColorEdge Prominence CG3145 supports various video formats, including HDMI input compatible with 10-bit 4:2:2 at 50/60p. The DisplayPort input supports up to 10-bit 4:4:4 at 50/60p. The monitor will begin shipping in early 2018.