Blackmagic Forum

I am grading a feature film. Working on a 2K DCI timeline. Using Eizo CG277 for reference monitor. I have been outputting from Resolve through DeckLink Mini Monitor 4K via HDMI to the Eizo. Only getting 1080p, could not go higher. I thought it was a DeckLink HDMI output limitation, so I bought the SDI to HDMI 6G Mini Converter. DeckLink 4K manual says outputs 2K signal through SDI. But I still get 1080p in the Eizo.
Not sure if this is an Eizo limitation (I have tried the Eizo in video mode and PC mode). Or if I have something wrong configured in the Resolve-DeckLink4K-SDI-HDMI-Eizo chain.
It is strange if I output from computer via HDMI, the Eizo gets 2560x1440 resolution (which is it's native resolution).
I think it has to do something with the signal itself. If the signal received in the Eizo is "video" signal, then it can not get higher than 1080p? Because the signal that comes from the computer goes higher!
I have configured Resolve and DeckLink4K in many different ways. I even tried to go higher and work in 4K timeline... I know that for HDMI the native resolutions are 1080p and 4K (not 2K). But I thought that maybe doing the SDI to HDMI conversion, it would work.
Any ideas?

What are your monitoring setting in Resolve?
Those are separate from Resolve project timeline settings.

Hi Andrew,
I have tried different settings. As far as I know, in Resolve there are 3 tabs where you can set resolution and output signals:
- The Timeline Resolution where I choose the resolution I am going to work and I have tried different sizes such as 1920x1080, 2048x1152, 4096x2160....
- Video Monitoring where I suppose you choose what kind of signal you are outputting from Resolve and it is linked to the Desktop Video Setup.
- Image Scaling / Output Scaling, where you either can match timeline settings or choose the output resolution you want.

I am trying to set this three Tabs correctly, but no matter what I choose, the Eizo tells me the signal is 1080p. Same HDMI cable connected straight to the computer raises up the resolution and Eizo tells me that its resolution now is 2560x1440.
I think there is something going on when the signal comes into the Eizo... where it realizes if it is a video signal (generated by DeckLink or a signal from the graphic card of the computer).

According to https://www.eizo.de/coloredge/cg277-bk/technische-daten/, your monitor supports these resolutions: (I couldn't find an english version of that page, click "Spezifikationen" to get to that list.)

2560 x 1440, 1920 x 1200, 1600 x 1200, 1680 x 1050, 1280 x 1024, 1024 x 768, 800 x 600, 720 x 400, 640 x 480, 480i (@ 60 Hz), 480p (@ 60 Hz), 1080i (@ 60 Hz), 720p (@ 60 Hz), 1080p (@ 60 Hz), 576i (@ 50 Hz), 576p (@ 50 Hz), 1080i (@ 50 Hz), 720p (@ 50 Hz), 1080p (@ 50 Hz), 1080p (@ 30/25/24 Hz), 2560 x 1440 (@ 30 Hz)

Chances are your monitor simply doesn't support DCI 2K resolutions. So your best approach would be to set your timeline resolution to the appropriate 2K format and then your output monitoring to 1080p with letterbox. Your monitor will upscale that to its native resolution though, so it's not ideal either way.

If 2K resolution is not on list of supported ones then it will be tricky to get it working in case of BM card.
Under Pc/Mac you can add custom resolution and it should work, but when connected to BM card then this is not so easy. Try asking Eizo. Maybe there is a firmware which adds 2K DCI resolution. Monitor needs to signal to the card that resolution is supported. There may be way with some box which can simulate EDID.

The DeckLink 4K Mini Monitor which I am using to output Resolve signal says that 2K is only supported if I output through SDI. That is why I bought also a SDI to HDMI 6G converter, thinking that then I could input that signal in the Eizo... none of this works.
I also have tried going higher in resolution and configuring everything in 4K (2K is not so standard format for HDMI, I think it does not support). But even in 4K, Eizo is not taking advantage of its native resolution and scales the image to 1080p.

The manual for your SDI to HDMI 6G converter states:

If your converter detects an HD monitor or TV connected to the HDMI output and has Ultra HD connected to the SDI input, the Ultra HD source will be automatically down converted so you can view the Ultra HD source on an HD monitor.

As your monitor does not support UHD resolutions, it will likely identify itself as HD, which would cause your converter to down-convert to 1080 either way. Besides, the product page doesn't list any 2K resolutions on the HDMI resolutions list, so it might down-convert those always. You best check with Blackmagic directly. I am not that familiar with HDMI, it might simply not include non-TV resolutions.

Lastly, since you wrote DCI, I assume we're talking 24fps? The only resolution listed as 24 Hz is 1080p. So even if you found a way to place your 2K image in a 2560x1440 raster and feed that to your monitor, it might not like 24Hz in that resolution.

So either contact BM and Eizo and ask for clarification or just call it a day and monitor in HD.

Hi Christian and thanks for the replay.
Yes, I will try to contact Blackmagic and Eizo... lets see if I can solve this problem...
I am also thinking of upgrading to a higher resolution Eizo, hoping to work in 4K also.
About the DCI, you are right, I am working on a 2K scope project, 24p

Christian Lessner wrote:
Lastly, since you wrote DCI, I assume we're talking 24fps? The only resolution listed as 24 Hz is 1080p. So even if you found a way to place your 2K image in a 2560x1440 raster and feed that to your monitor, it might not like 24Hz in that resolution.

So either contact BM and Eizo and ask for clarification or just call it a day and monitor in HD.

You most likely (95%) can monitor 2K at 24p with Eizo (as it supports 24Hz and up to 2.5K resolution), but only by making custom resolution setup, which is only possible when used with PC or Mac. With BM card everything happens automatically and you have no way (at least easy way) of overwriting it.

How didi you solve the problem?
Because I have quite the same problem.

Hi KrischanR. Well, I did not resolve the problem entirely. Even if I work in a 2k or 4k timeline, the grading I do it in 1080p in the Eizo. At the end, I can grade well even if I am not able to see all the details.

Most if not all BM cards don't do 2K over HDMI.
Your only solution is SDI to HDMI/DP converter, but in this case I would avoid BM (can't find any with 2K support on HDMI- even Teranex Mini doesn't do it).
AJA should do 2K over HDMI on some models and cheapest would be probably:
https://www.aja.com/products/hi5-plus#techspecs
which is just 2K 60p max (no 4K support). It allows to centre crop 2K to HD as well in case of end device is not supporting 2K.