The upcoming HDR10+ Advanced and Dolby Vision 2 standards aim to address the issue of motion smoothing, a feature that has been criticized for causing the "soap opera effect" in many films and TV shows. This effect, characterized by an unnatural, exaggerated look, is often unwanted and can detract from the viewing experience.
To tackle this problem, HDR10+ Advanced introduces Intelligent FRC (frame rate conversion), which allows creators to set per-scene motion smoothing levels, giving them more control over how their content is displayed on different TVs. This feature will be available on Samsung's 2026 TVs and is expected to debut on Prime Video.
In a similar vein, Dolby Vision 2 features Authentic Motion, a technology that uses a "creative-driven" approach to motion control, allowing creators to set the level of motion smoothing for each scene. This feature will be available on high-end TVs supporting Dolby Vision 2 Max and is expected to enhance the viewing experience by reducing the soap opera effect.
However, despite these advancements, it remains unclear whether these standards can successfully address the issues associated with motion smoothing, such as visual artifacts like halos, which appear when a TV struggles to determine how frames should be inserted. The impact of these features on adoption and availability, particularly among creators, also needs to be carefully considered.
While there are some concerns that younger viewers may be more susceptible to the soap opera effect due to their limited exposure to low frame rates and interpolation-free TVs, it is essential to note that this issue affects a minority of the population. Nevertheless, the shift towards higher refresh rate screens, gaming, and increased TV usage has contributed to the growing concern about motion smoothing.
Ultimately, the success of these HDR standards will depend on their ability to deliver a natural viewing experience without the soap opera effect, while also addressing the visual artifacts associated with motion smoothing. As both technologies continue to evolve, it is crucial for creators, manufacturers, and viewers to work together to optimize the use of motion smoothing in films and TV shows.
To tackle this problem, HDR10+ Advanced introduces Intelligent FRC (frame rate conversion), which allows creators to set per-scene motion smoothing levels, giving them more control over how their content is displayed on different TVs. This feature will be available on Samsung's 2026 TVs and is expected to debut on Prime Video.
In a similar vein, Dolby Vision 2 features Authentic Motion, a technology that uses a "creative-driven" approach to motion control, allowing creators to set the level of motion smoothing for each scene. This feature will be available on high-end TVs supporting Dolby Vision 2 Max and is expected to enhance the viewing experience by reducing the soap opera effect.
However, despite these advancements, it remains unclear whether these standards can successfully address the issues associated with motion smoothing, such as visual artifacts like halos, which appear when a TV struggles to determine how frames should be inserted. The impact of these features on adoption and availability, particularly among creators, also needs to be carefully considered.
While there are some concerns that younger viewers may be more susceptible to the soap opera effect due to their limited exposure to low frame rates and interpolation-free TVs, it is essential to note that this issue affects a minority of the population. Nevertheless, the shift towards higher refresh rate screens, gaming, and increased TV usage has contributed to the growing concern about motion smoothing.
Ultimately, the success of these HDR standards will depend on their ability to deliver a natural viewing experience without the soap opera effect, while also addressing the visual artifacts associated with motion smoothing. As both technologies continue to evolve, it is crucial for creators, manufacturers, and viewers to work together to optimize the use of motion smoothing in films and TV shows.