Black Level Visibility as a Function of Ambient Illumination

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Publisher: SMPTE — White Plains, NY, USA
Doc Type: Journal Article
Content Type: Original Research
Abbreviated Title: SMPTE Mot. Imag. J
Volume: 128, No. 4, pp. 38–47
Abstract: One of the key new attributes of high-dynamic-range (HDR) imaging and displays is the ability to present many stops of shadow detail and, with the best systems, a perceptually pure black. Displays perform at their best in a dark room as no ambient illumination impinges on the surface of the display, which can elevate the display’s perceived black level. In addition, the viewer can see the most shadow detail when the region surrounding the display is also dark. In addition to applications where a display is viewed in a dark-surround environment, there are also viewing conditions where higher ambient light levels occur. Knowledgeable viewers prevent ambient illumination reflecting from the display, but even then, surrounding luminance will be increased. To understand the impact of this surrounding ambient illumination on black level visibility and shadow detail, and to further guide ambient compensation algorithms, we performed a psychophysical study to assess the human visual system’s ability to perceive detail when impacted by surround luminance. For the stimuli, we used a Gabor signal to probe the visual system’s best capability. For the display, we used a Pulsar HDR display with a large neutral density filter placed over the display to enable black levels as low 0.0006 cd/m², relevant for organic light-emitting diode display and cinema applications. The surround luminance levels ranged from fully dark up to 100 cd/m², and for each of these, shadow detail thresholds were measured as a function of display mean luminance levels from 0.001 to 400 cd/m². The results are useful for perceptual display performance assessment and tone-mapping applications. Further analysis that found they are consistent with an existing surround effect visual model, which has basis in the behavior of cone photoreceptors.
Publication Date: 2019-05-01
DOI: 10.5594/JMI.2019.2901208
ISSN: Print: 1545-0279 | Electronic: 2160-2492
Link: https://doi.org/10.5594/JMI.2019.2901208
Author(s): Scott Daly
Pavel Korshunov
Touradj Ebrahimi
Timo Kunkel
Robert Wanat
Keyword(s): Black Level, Display Quality, Psychophysics, Visibility Threshold, Visibility
Copyright: © 2019 SMPTE

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Scott Daly, Pavel Korshunov, Touradj Ebrahimi, Timo Kunkel, and Robert Wanat; Black Level Visibility as a Function of Ambient Illumination, SMPTE Motion Imaging Journal ( Volume: 128, Issue: 4, May 2019); SMPTE, 2019. Available at https://doi.org/10.5594/JMI.2019.2901208

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Scott Daly, Pavel Korshunov, Touradj Ebrahimi, Timo Kunkel, and Robert Wanat; Black Level Visibility as a Function of Ambient Illumination, SMPTE Motion Imaging Journal ( Volume: 128, Issue: 4, May 2019); SMPTE, 2019. Available at https://doi.org/10.5594/JMI.2019.2901208

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<span class="citation">Scott Daly, Pavel Korshunov, Touradj Ebrahimi, Timo Kunkel, and Robert Wanat; <cite>Black Level Visibility as a Function of Ambient Illumination</cite>, SMPTE Motion Imaging Journal ( Volume: 128, Issue: 4, May 2019); SMPTE, 2019. Available at <a href="https://doi.org/10.5594/JMI.2019.2901208" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://doi.org/10.5594/JMI.2019.2901208</a></span>

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Scott Daly, Pavel Korshunov, Touradj Ebrahimi, Timo Kunkel, and Robert Wanat; Black Level Visibility as a Function of Ambient Illumination, SMPTE Motion Imaging Journal ( Volume: 128, Issue: 4, May 2019); SMPTE, 2019
doi: 10.5594/JMI.2019.2901208
url: https://doi.org/10.5594/JMI.2019.2901208

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Scott Daly, Pavel Korshunov, Touradj Ebrahimi, Timo Kunkel, and Robert Wanat; <cite id="bib-10-5594-jmi-2019-2901208">Black Level Visibility as a Function of Ambient Illumination</cite>, SMPTE Motion Imaging Journal ( Volume: 128, Issue: 4, May 2019); SMPTE, 2019
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