Table Of Contents
Remote Desktop/Application Control
Calibration and Working/Viewing Environment
This recommendation and guidance is meant for a wide audience and may not apply to your production. Please reach out to your Netflix Representative with any questions.
Introduction
Remote review and collaboration during the look development, color grading, and final review process has become increasingly important.
This document outlines various scenarios and solutions, along with their associated risks and benefits, to provide information on the available technologies that align with our technical expectations. It is important to note that this is not a requirements document, nor is it an official endorsement of any specific solutions mentioned.
The most suitable solution will depend on the specific requirements of each production and the capabilities of the parties involved. The information provided here is intended to foster collaboration, encourage discussion, and share our knowledge. We encourage you to reach out to your designated Post Management contact at Netflix for guidance tailored to your specific title(s).
Setting Proper Expectations
A remote color grading or review setup will be compromised in comparison to expertly designed facility environments that adhere to industry standards for calibration and room lighting. The compromises will vary for each setup, and ultimately have an effect on color appearance. This may be acceptable, especially if the title is looking to make progress in the color grade, versus achieving final delivery.
Potential Compromises
- Calibration / Color Accuracy - limitations in color consistency across devices
- Image Quality - any form of video streaming requires compression of some kind
- Viewing Environment - non-standard lighting, wall color, and room design
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Bandwidth limitations - QoE (latency issues, image quality, compression artifacts)
- Regional throttling scenarios
- Security of content - Home Studio Security Guidance
- Time - non-standard workflows will require additional time for setup and adjustment
Monitoring Scenarios
While accurate monitoring for color grading and creative review is important, we understand there may be scenarios where a remote review is required. The following are some possible scenarios for remotely monitoring HDR and SDR projects. .
HDR Grading and HDR Review
There are very few options for reference viewing of HDR if grading can not be performed at the post facility in a professional color suite. For colorists, this would mean that an HDR reference monitor is used for at-home grading scenarios.
A Dolby Vision HDR title must have its final pass of the color grade completed on a professional HDR reference monitor. However, a colorist may still make progress on the color grade by temporarily using a recommended flagship/high-end HDR consumer monitor (see “Displays” section below), and subsequently completing the grade with a HDR reference monitor.
For HDR creative review by talent or studio executives, please reach out to your Netflix Post Management contact for guidance on the best solutions.
HDR Grading and SDR Review
For situations where at-home HDR monitoring is not possible for a creative (such as a director, show-runner or cinematographer), a review of the Dolby Vision-derived SDR version is possible. SDR video streaming for remote review is standard practice in the industry and supported by many video review and live-streaming solutions. This may be a good option for shows that want to continue to make progress grading in HDR while reviewing in SDR (using the Dolby Vision-derived SDR) and expect to be able to do a final pass in HDR.
SDR Grading and SDR Review (for an HDR title)
While we want to continue with grading in HDR when a show has already begun doing so, a show can still make progress in the color grade using only SDR monitoring. If the project is color managed properly, the grading work can still be used as the basis for a final pass performed later when HDR reference monitoring is available.
For example, if a show is working in ACES, the colorist can use an SDR Output Transform and preview in SDR in order to keep progress going, while keeping the ability to switch back to HDR Output Transform for final checks and reviews. An SDR trim pass using the Dolby Vision tools would still be required when going back to finish in HDR in this scenario.
SDR Titles
For titles finishing in SDR the guidelines of this document still apply. Please see options below for SDR color review and monitoring.
Image Monitoring Resolution
Many of the streaming solutions referenced in this document are limited to HD (1920x1080) resolution. HD monitoring and review should be considered acceptable for color decisions, but final approval of image texture (grain, sharpening, blur, etc) should be done in UHD (3840x2160) if critical. Even then, compression involved may not be able to fully represent the image texture compared to a review of uncompressed images which may not be possible outside of the post facility.
Creative Color Review
The solutions in this section, at their core, have functioned as video streaming solutions to play content on multiple platforms for various needs. To date, there has not been a solution that can operate at global-average home internet speeds while maintaining the fidelity required for color critical work.
Most review solutions are based on the H.264/AVC codec at 8-bit. This is usually sufficient for general viewing, but due to the 8-bit nature, it may induce banding or other artifacts that may introduce questions about the grade. This is something to be aware of when working with any 8-bit video solution. When codecs can take advantage of 10-bit, the images can achieve higher fidelity.
Non-Live Streaming Color Reviews
In an asynchronous scenario, a colorist completes their work, renders out a file, and uploads it for review by creatives at a later time. Session-based watermarking should be enabled for any review solution.
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Dolby Vision vs. HDR10: Some remote review solutions support HDR10 and some support Dolby Vision. When a consumer device/display is being used for color review and Dolby Vision is an option, it is recommended to use Dolby Vision. This is because the color accuracy of Dolby Vision will usually be higher (particularly on devices like the iPad Pro), but HDR10 can also provide an approximate HDR experience to continue making progress on an HDR grade. |
Solutions
There are many non-live review solutions available that can support SDR. It should be noted that HDR solutions are beginning to emerge but remain bleeding edge.
In certain scenarios (e.g. bandwidth constrained), local files on iPad Pro (5th gen+) can be transferred and played using Apple Files (SDR, HDR). See playback instructions and recommended security settings for guidance.
Live Streaming Remote Color Reviews
In this scenario a colorist works on a calibrated monitor, either at a facility or at home, and streams a synchronous video feed to the creative reviewing in real-time. Authentication and encryption must be enabled for all solutions. Two-factor authentication (2FA) is recommended where possible.
Solutions
- Streambox (SDR or HDR)
- Sohonet ClearView
- Nevion
- Colorfront Remote Streaming
Data Management and Custody
Below are guidelines provided by Netflix Studio Information Security on the key aspects for data management and custody.
File Integrity
Anytime a file is transferred (physically or via internet) checksums should be run to ensure the files' integrity. A checksum (e.g. md5, mhl) manifest should be provided along with the media assets for verification on the receiving end.
Solutions
Transferring Content
Transferring content using home internet services may become a hurdle due to bandwidth limitations. When possible, transferring files via the internet using a secure transfer protocol like Aspera is the best case scenario; Aspera is commonly used by most major facilities as well as Netflix Content Hub. When bandwidth is limited, the only other option for moving digital assets is using fully disk encrypted hard drives.
Secure Network File Transfer (preferred)
- Content Hub
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Vendor/Facility offered secure file transfer solution
- Aspera or Signiant
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If other please reach out to your Netflix representative.
Physical
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Fully Disk Encrypted Hard Drives
- Hardware encryption is preferred and will provide the best performance
- Software encryption is acceptable but there will be a sacrifice to performance
- For a list of recommended drives please refer to the Home Studio Security Guidance
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iPad Pro (content is copied directly to the iPad's storage)
- Make sure to run the latest versions of iPadOS and movie player apps (i.e. Apple Files).
- Use a passcode (6 digit minimum) and/or biometric controls (TouchID, FaceID) for access.
- Enable ‘Find My’ functionality. This is available on iPadOS and it helps locate and/or wipe a missing device.
- Do not use any App Stores other than the official Apple App Store.
- Any lost or stolen device containing content should be reported to your Netflix representative. This includes personally owned devices as well as those issued by Netflix or our Production partners.
Working Storage
The working storage system used during the actual grading session must also be fully disk encrypted. We recommend Windows Bitlocker or macOS Filevault to encrypt the storage.
Data Custody
Please refer to the Storage Policies within the Home Studio Security Guidance doc. Below are some key factors.
- All disks must be fully disk encrypted
- When media is not being used it must be stored in a secure location (safe, locked file cabinet or room, etc.)
- Once media on temporary storage is no longer needed it must be deleted.
Color Grading
In any color grading scenario, a professionally calibrated display is the most important item to be moved to the home. The display should be calibrated in the new environment.
Color Management
Especially in remote review scenarios, utilizing proper color management, such as frameworks like ACES, is highly encouraged. Color management provides the flexibility to change between different display types, i.e. HDR vs. SDR, at the facility vs. at home, while maintaining color decisions and color appearance across displays.
Remote Working Scenarios
There are several remote color grading scenarios that may be considered depending on the accessibility of facility based systems and the level of engineering experience required for setup. Below are considerations for some of the scenarios. Due to the variability of the circumstances for a given project, please reach out to Post Management contact at Netflix for guidance on your specific title(s).
Colorist at Home, Content/Hardware at Home
- Facility setup is moved to Colorist's home/remote working location and the Colorist can work independently.
Colorist at Home, Content/Hardware at Facility
- Hardware remains at facility, colorist is remotely controlling the machine using Remote Desktop/Application Control solutions (listed in the next section), while viewing using a live streaming solution from the section above (e.g. Streambox).
- This scenario is highly dependent on the facility having physical access and engineering support to set up, and the home having sufficient bandwidth (>100 Mbps) for both remote desktop control and live streaming of video.
Content Mirrored Remotely
- Content is mirrored in two or more locations and all locations are sharing the same color project/database to keep in sync.
- Sharing projects and databases remotely will require some form of VPN and advanced networking setup to allow secure connection to remote servers.
Rendering Deliverables/IMF
If the plan is to render the IMF straight from the color grading project, please be aware that this is highly dependent on the version of the color grading software being used. We highly recommend that before starting a new color grading project, the latest version of the color grading software is used. For example, only the latest version of Resolve (16.2.4) is able to create a properly tagged Dolby Vision IMF straight from the color grading project (no need to create the IMF from a VDM).
Remote Desktop/Application Control
These solutions require dedicated bandwidth and low-latency connections. For Color Grading, these solutions are dependent on the colorist's tolerance for latency.
Solutions
- Teradici
- HP RGS
- Mechdyne TGX
Displays
This list is not exhaustive, but includes some of the more common displays we recommend for their tier of general use. We always recommend that displays be calibrated to industry standards. Color Grading & Calibration Guidelines provides minimum specifications for HDR and SDR displays as well as calibration and viewing environment guidelines.
Recommended SDR Displays - Calibrated for Rec.709/BT.1886 at 100-nits
Most of the modern professional and consumer displays are able to meet the standards of SDR color grading. Below are some common displays used for SDR grading/viewing.
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SDR (only) Reference Options
- Sony PVM-A250
- Sony BVM-F250
- Dolby PRM-4220
- Flanders FSI DM250
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SDR Consumer Options
- LG OLED C-Series and G-Series, Model years 2022 and newer
- Sony OLED Bravia series, Model years 2022 and newer
- Panasonic OLED series, Model years 2022 and newer
- Apple iPad Pro
- Apple Pro Display XDR
- EIZO CG319X
- HP Dreamcolor z27x, z32x
Recommended HDR Displays - Calibrated for SMPTE 2084 PQ / P3-D65*
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HDR Reference Options
- Must meet Dolby Vision grading requirements
- HDR Consumer Options
These HDR Consumer options are for review purposes or pre-grading only, and not to be used for final color grading work.
- LG OLED C-Series and G-Series (model years 2022 and newer)
- Sony OLED Bravia series (model years 2022 and newer)
- Panasonic OLED series (model years 2022 and newer)
- Apple iPad Pro (5th generation or higher, latest iPadOS version)
- Apple devices with Liquid Retina XDR displays (latest macOS version)
* Certain scenarios that use HDR10 signals may require calibration to PQ / Rec. 2020
Calibration and Working/Viewing Environment
We understand that having the proper working or viewing environment at home can be difficult to achieve on such short notice. If proper viewing environment guidelines can not be met (Color Grading & Calibration Guidelines) then please make sure the working and viewing environments are not completely dark or extremely bright. A dimly lit environment with neutral (6500K) color temperature is the best guidance we can give.
Recommended Bias Lighting for Home Setups
- MediaLight 6500K Bias Lighting Systems
Recommended Calibration Probes for Home Setups
- Portrait Displays C6 HDR2000 (Probe Only)
- Portrait Displays C6 HDR2000 & VideoForge PRO (Probe and Signal Generator)
- X-Rite i1 Display Pro Plus (Probe)
Note: The Portrait Displays C6 HDR2000 is only compatible with Calman 2019 R2 and future software releases.
Recommended Calibration Software
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Light Illusion LightSpace
- Free 3-Day LightSpace licenses for the duration of the lock-down. Please use their website Contact Form to request a free 3-Day LightSpace license.
Change Log
2024-06-14
- Updated language in Introduction section
- Updated display recommendations