What are the latest trends in video compression and encoding for 8K and HDR?

The latest trends in video compression and encoding for 8K and HDR content involve the adoption of more efficient codecs like AV1 and VVC (Versatile Video Coding) to handle the increased data requirements of higher resolution and dynamic range. To optimize storage and streaming bandwidth, the industry is focusing on content-aware encoding techniques that dynamically allocate bits to different parts of the video, emphasizing key areas for enhanced quality. Additionally, the integration of artificial intelligence and machine learning in video compression processes is becoming more prevalent, allowing for better optimization and delivery of high-resolution, HDR content in a more bandwidth-efficient manner.

The latest trends in video compression for 8K and HDR involve advanced codecs like AV1 and VVC (H.266), leveraging improved compression efficiency. Dynamic metadata in HDR content, such as Dolby Vision, enhances visual quality. Perceptual video coding optimizes compression for human visual perception, ensuring superior quality.

8K and HDR are feature sets that improve the way that filmmakers and content creators can record, edit, and package the film and art that they are meaning to create. 8K allows a filmmaker to record at the highest quality they can to get as much information in their recordings as most current cameras can. Having 8K allows flexibility in editing for cropping and resizing. Just in case a change in vision arises in post. HDR unlocks the ability for filmmakers to record scenes more closely and more immersive to how the human eye sees the world and how that recorded footage is edited and presented through dynamic range that surpasses old CCDs and camera sensors which can't yet reach what the human eye can do.

I have found that it is best to be more focused on producing than upping the quality of the production. Get into the habit and work flow with smaller more manageable files than getting caught up in that quality is king. Consistency is key for out put.

The challenges of editing and recording in 8K and HDR are for one, storage constraints. In recording, editing, and working with 8K footage, the storage requirements in both bandwidth and capacity scales exponentially larger than those required by 4K or even 6K cameras. Another big thing with using 8K is the processing power and required hardware that you'd need to even record the footage in the first place. These cameras are very expensive and hard to get for most, even big budget productions still use 6K cameras often due to the availability and diminishing quality improvements they'd get from using 8K cameras. Not to mention the separate development that takes place in 8K sensor technology that would take time to catch up. ^Res ≠ ^Qual

Massive file sizes that eat a lot of consumer data causing them to avoid the expense on their internet consumption. Not everyone has fiber speed internet and there is a benift and authenticy to standard quality content

Compressing and encoding 8K HDR clips is surprisingly simple and easy these days. Most NLEs (Non-Linear Editor) software can process and package 8K videos simply and in a user friendly way. In post, intermediate codecs like DNxHR or CineForm or similar codecs can help improve and speed up the editing process. For packaging, you can always use codecs like HEVC or AV1 which is already in mainstream use in software like Davinci Resolve or Premiere Pro and accepted by platforms like YouTube. These codecs can package 8K HDR videos just fine, you don't need the cutting edge codecs like VVC, a predecessor of HEVC to package these videos. Especially since use and implementation of VVC specifically is not widespread yet.

Once you have worked on compression guidelines for film festivals, satellite projections and other mediums of video broadcasting and Cinema it becomes clear how data compression is such an important aspect though. Coming to speak of it 8k is way to much for the audience to assess and differentiate. Film projections technology in Cinema in global south specifically is not even more than 4k resolution. Then comes the problems of data intelacing, noise reduction, bit rate, bit samples and the most important aspect the target audience. So if one is making a movie for digital release and consider shooting on an 8k format with a 70 mm film gate it's kind of a rough choice on oneself.

The benefits of shooting in 8K and HDR mostly lies in the post-production stage. The quality and QoL improvements come in the form of flexibility. 8K helps editors with reframing and crops, and HDR (more precisely LOG color profiles and usually Camera RAW recording) help with color grading flexibility, allowing colourists to tune and edit scenes in darker or brighter environments without too much loss in detail. The consumers and end users get benefits too, but the usability and feasibility of those benefits would be worthless to 99% of users today. 8K TVs are not new, but it's not widespread either. It's a niche and even when you do have one, it doesn't always look the best with current technology. It's mostly impractical for the user.

One thing to consider with producing content in 8K HDR is that while the actual spec and technology behind it is mostly mature, its not yet practical enough to use in day-to-day workflows and even in most mid-budget film productions. 9 times out of 10, the average viewer will be watching through their phones, usually 1080p up to 4K, with HDR support, yes. But most are half baked and the experience can be janky. Plus, releases on different media formats introduce more compression and quality loss, it's just not the time yet for 8K HDR, especially as a packaging format. Not even IMAX screens have 4K resolutions, the only type of cinema projection that would benefit from 8K realistically is spherical or dome projections. Which is very niche.

I think there is no need in consumption of 8K content at a large scale - most of us consume content in hand held device, we don't go beyond the native resolution of the device we are in that's all that is our boundary - Now a days increase in innovation in the Devices we are in so we shift our focus on content which is device specific i guess ( as they before ) - interactive story, organic looking compositing of content to human reality situations, more