QUANTUM DOT OLED TECH
BD: The majority of OLED solutions were either not bright enough for use in HDR applications, would suffer from colour volume collapse or, if bright enough, were hyper-expensive. QD-OLED gives users HDR luminance levels and a truly additive colour volume, all at a fraction of the cost of many traditional mastering monitors. DEF: For colourists working in HDR and wide-gamut spaces, what practical advantages are offered by QD-OLED? BD: Many colourists have used WOLED displays, which can work well for SDR, but struggle in HDR due to their non-additive behaviour. WOLEDs use a fourth white subpixel to boost brightness, so they can’t maintain both luminance and saturation for bright, saturated colours – this results in colour volume collapse. In contrast, QD-OLED is RGB-additive. This means, if a display
is rated for a certain peak white output, you can reliably expect corresponding peak outputs for red, green and blue – essential for maintaining creative intent in HDR. QD-OLED helps colourists achieve reference-level HDR colour volume and contrast without compromise. DEF: From a calibration and reliability standpoint, how well does QD-OLED hold up over time in a colour-critical environment? deuterium, a heavy hydrogen isotope that significantly extends lifespan and improves efficiency. Combined with excellent linearity and stability, QD- OLED makes for a highly reliable display solution. In our own XMP series monitors, we’ve paired QD-OLED with our GaiaColor AutoCal system, which enables accurate calibration without the need for external software or computers. The result is a display that not only performs exceptionally, but is also easy to keep in specification over time. BD: QD-OLED panels use blue OLED materials enhanced with DEF: How are you seeing QD- OLED tech used in the field – are DITs/editors/post houses adopting it differently, and what kind of feedback are you hearing? BD: We’ve seen strong adoption of our 31.5in XMP310 QD-OLED monitor in production environments, particularly among DITs. Previously, HDR adoption on-set was limited by three common obstacles: high costs (often $30,000+), extreme weight (60lb or more) and high power draw requirements that made battery or DC operation impractical. The XMP310 changed that – it’s roughly a third the weight and cost of similar monitors
and supports battery power, making HDR monitoring on-set far more accessible. However, its size could still be a challenge for compact DIT carts, especially where multiple monitors are needed on the same cart. That’s why we have been particularly excited to introduce the XMP270 this year – a 26.5in QD-OLED with a footprint closer to traditional 24in monitors. It brings all the benefits of QD-OLED into an even more portable package. Both of these units are enabling HDR to be monitored earlier in the creative process, giving filmmakers greater control over the look and feel of their work from the outset. And because QD-OLED is also used in post, the continuity between set and post has never been stronger. DEF: Looking to the future, where is QD-OLED technology heading – and what are your predictions for the future of professional colour monitoring more generally? BD: QD-OLED continues to evolve rapidly, with significant investment driving improvements in peak brightness, as well as expanded size and format options. I expect these trends to continue over the next few years. Looking further ahead, electroluminescent quantum dot (EL-QD) technology – which replaces the OLED layer entirely by directly exciting quantum dots with electrons – could be the next leap forward, although likely not for at least another four or five years. It promises many of the same benefits as QD-OLED, with even greater efficiency and durability. While EL-QD isn’t ready for widespread adoption just yet, its use of quantum dot materials similar to QD-OLED suggests it might be a smooth evolutionary path when the time comes.
NEW HORIZON Flanders Scientific’s XMP series monitors will be the future of display tech, streamlining the filmmaking process from set to screen
QD-OLED IS AVAILABLE across a broad range OF USE CASES, creating a RARE OPPORTUNITY”
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