How to grade HDR footage on Macbook?

I'm currently setup with Davinci Resolve Studio on Windows, with a DeckLink card to output the live HDR metadata to my reference monitor. This seems to be the only way, since Resolve does not allow you to live preview HDR content in the normal preview window, even when using a HDR capable monitor as your main display.

This solution is great for while I'm editing at my proper workstation, but with all the exciting releases in version 17 with support for the new apple M1, I'm wondering if a laptop setup for HDR grading would be possible?

As far as I know, the only way to live preview HDR content on Apple computers (including desktops), is to buy a separate external PCI enclosure for the DeckLink card, but this is too bulky for on the go editing.

Are there any future plans to just support previewing the live HDR grades in the normal preview window when using something like a MacBook Pro that has a HDR capable screen? Or possibly allow for previewing on monitors connected via usb-c (as from what I understand, there is some limitation over just HDMI which the DeckLink is required for).

Or, am I missing something entirely, and you don't actually need a DeckLink card to see HDR grade previews in real time?

Any help would be greatly appreciated!

HDR capable by the narrowest possible definition, Apple laptops are 400-500 nits so mostly no.

Good Luck

I don't think you can. With an external calibrated display and a color-managed output, you can do Rec709. Read what Steve Shaw has to say about the issue:

https://www.lightillusion.com/grading_displays.html

HDMI connect to HDR monitor, Win and Mac can directly turn on HDR, and preview HDR

截屏2021-03-29 下午12.23.35.png (197.3 KiB) Viewed 2508 times

I'm currently setup with Davinci Resolve Studio on Windows, with a DeckLink card to output the live HDR metadata to my reference monitor. This seems to be the only way, since Resolve does not allow you to live preview HDR content in the normal preview window, even when using a HDR capable monitor as your main display.

This solution is great for while I'm editing at my proper workstation, but with all the exciting releases in version 17 with support for the new apple M1, I'm wondering if a laptop setup for HDR grading would be possible?

As far as I know, the only way to live preview HDR content on Apple computers (including desktops), is to buy a separate external PCI enclosure for the DeckLink card, but this is too bulky for on the go editing.

Are there any future plans to just support previewing the live HDR grades in the normal preview window when using something like a MacBook Pro that has a HDR capable screen? Or possibly allow for previewing on monitors connected via usb-c (as from what I understand, there is some limitation over just HDMI which the DeckLink is required for).

Or, am I missing something entirely, and you don't actually need a DeckLink card to see HDR grade previews in real time?

Any help would be greatly appreciated!

First, there are no MacBooks or iMacs with HDR displays, so it is not possible to use their displays for grading HDR. Secondly, the UltraStudio 4K Mini is a compact and popular solution for connecting a Mac to an external display. If portability is a requirement, an UltraStudio Monitor 3G is tiny and only costs around $100. An I/O is necessary to bypass your Windows or macOS color management.

I'm currently setup with Davinci Resolve Studio on Windows, with a DeckLink card to output the live HDR metadata to my reference monitor. This seems to be the only way, since Resolve does not allow you to live preview HDR content in the normal preview window, even when using a HDR capable monitor as your main display.

This solution is great for while I'm editing at my proper workstation, but with all the exciting releases in version 17 with support for the new apple M1, I'm wondering if a laptop setup for HDR grading would be possible?

As far as I know, the only way to live preview HDR content on Apple computers (including desktops), is to buy a separate external PCI enclosure for the DeckLink card, but this is too bulky for on the go editing.

Are there any future plans to just support previewing the live HDR grades in the normal preview window when using something like a MacBook Pro that has a HDR capable screen? Or possibly allow for previewing on monitors connected via usb-c (as from what I understand, there is some limitation over just HDMI which the DeckLink is required for).

Or, am I missing something entirely, and you don't actually need a DeckLink card to see HDR grade previews in real time?

Any help would be greatly appreciated!

First, there are no MacBooks or iMacs with HDR displays, so it is not possible to use their displays for grading HDR. Secondly, the UltraStudio 4K Mini is a compact and popular solution for connecting a Mac to an external display. If portability is a requirement, an UltraStudio Monitor 3G is tiny and only costs around $100. An I/O is necessary to bypass your Windows or macOS color management.

Thank you so much! This was the closest solution on the go! And almost exactly the answer that I was looking for, aside from grading directly on the laptop.

For the others yes, I get that the macbook screen is not at least 1000 nits, but it is for sure over 100, and I guess I was hoping for some kinda mapping, where Davinci Resolve could read the max nits of the device screen, and map the luminance range either linear or in some simulated curve for luminance over 100 (but yes, i guess i'm just dreaming). Would have a similar result to creating the mapping when having dolby vision setting on, and running the mapping to 100.

HDMI connect to HDR monitor, Win and Mac can directly turn on HDR, and preview HDR

截屏2021-03-29 下午12.23.35.png

Is this when connecting to an HDR capable monitor that had a thunderbolt 3 input? If so, I may have to look into this! But as an aside from on the go grading.

I'm currently setup with Davinci Resolve Studio on Windows, with a DeckLink card to output the live HDR metadata to my reference monitor. This seems to be the only way, since Resolve does not allow you to live preview HDR content in the normal preview window, even when using a HDR capable monitor as your main display.

This solution is great for while I'm editing at my proper workstation, but with all the exciting releases in version 17 with support for the new apple M1, I'm wondering if a laptop setup for HDR grading would be possible?

As far as I know, the only way to live preview HDR content on Apple computers (including desktops), is to buy a separate external PCI enclosure for the DeckLink card, but this is too bulky for on the go editing.

Are there any future plans to just support previewing the live HDR grades in the normal preview window when using something like a MacBook Pro that has a HDR capable screen? Or possibly allow for previewing on monitors connected via usb-c (as from what I understand, there is some limitation over just HDMI which the DeckLink is required for).

Or, am I missing something entirely, and you don't actually need a DeckLink card to see HDR grade previews in real time?

Any help would be greatly appreciated!

First, there are no MacBooks or iMacs with HDR displays, so it is not possible to use their displays for grading HDR. Secondly, the UltraStudio 4K Mini is a compact and popular solution for connecting a Mac to an external display. If portability is a requirement, an UltraStudio Monitor 3G is tiny and only costs around $100. An I/O is necessary to bypass your Windows or macOS color management.

Thank you so much! This was the closest solution on the go! And almost exactly the answer that I was looking for, aside from grading directly on the laptop.

For the others yes, I get that the macbook screen is not at least 1000 nits, but it is for sure over 100, and I guess I was hoping for some kinda mapping, where Davinci Resolve could read the max nits of the device screen, and map the luminance range either linear or in some simulated curve for luminance over 100 (but yes, i guess i'm just dreaming). Would have a similar result to creating the mapping when having dolby vision setting on, and running the mapping to 100.

Sure thing. The MacBook could be 1,000 nits, but without full array local dimming it is not HDR. Apple will be releasing MacBooks with miniLED displays later this year according to rumors. That may be just what you’re looking for. FWIW, Final Cut Pro tone maps HDR for the display, but it may not be used for grading.

HDMI connect to HDR monitor, Win and Mac can directly turn on HDR, and preview HDR

截屏2021-03-29 下午12.23.35.png

You cannot just plug the computer into the display. It is not a clean signal. You have to bypass Windows or macOS color management. You absolutely need an I/O box.