Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/526086
www.postmagazine.com 38 POST JUNE 2015 PICTURE THIS! projects. "Every job has a 4K component today and there's an interest in monitor- ing those pictures. But from my perspec- tive, HDR monitoring isn't ready to invest in yet; once there's some agreement on HDR specs, I'll be ready to spend my money," he says. "Also, there are no wire- less 4K systems that I'm aware of that would be practical on-set. So I'm sticking with HD for now." HARBOR PICTURE COMPANY New York City's Harbor Picture Company (www.harborpicturecompany.com) has embraced myriad display solutions for its feature, episodic television and commer- cial work in formats from HD to 4K. The company's six projection theaters are equipped with Barco 4K and 2K and NEC 2K projectors. The theaters have ste- reo 3D capabilities and are DCI compliant. "When we're doing a theatrical release, we grade on projection," says president Zak Tucker. "We try to emulate the audi- ence experience. We want to create an environment that best emulates the audi- ence's local multiplex. For theatrical picture post or mixing, projection is a must." Tucker explains that, "the light emis- sion from a projector is different from an LCD or plasma. And it's a very different experience to review content on a screen larger than 40 inches." He admits that "a different skill set" is required for scoping and calibrating projectors, but Harbor's technical and engineering staff are "well versed" in the process. Harbor acquired its NEC 2K projectors first then added the Barco 4Ks and final- ly the Barco 2Ks. "The quality of the 4K projectors is excellent," Tucker says, "and the smaller form factor of projectors today certainly helps with space issues. We're eagerly anticipating small 4K, DCI-compliant laser projectors; there's a certain amount of promise concerning what they can do." The company uses Flanders Scientific professional reference monitors for qual- ity control, picture editorial and some color grading. "We've had good success with them," Tucker says. "They're solid monitors for certain applications." A mix of Sony OLED monitors and TV Logic displays are deployed in dailies and also in picture editorial suites. "Near-set and dailies require very accurate reference-grade representation of the image, so OLEDs are often the choice," Tucker reports. Right now the Holy Grail in moni- tors is "a true 4K HDR reference-grade, client-size monitor" that would replace Harbor's Panasonic reference-grade plasmas, says Tucker. "It doesn't exist yet. Whether you're doing broadcast color correction or a video pass for theatrical, clients are used to 50- to 65-inch screens for review. We looked extensively at NAB and all the manufacturers know this type of monitor is on our wish list, but there are no release dates that I know of." Regarding the wide swing in monitor price ranges, Tucker believes that, "you still get what you pay for. You don't find calibrated, high-end reference-grade monitors on the low end. And consumer monitors are not an option for us." ViewSonic ships Ultra HD 4K monitor line BREA, CA — ViewSonic Corp. (www. viewsonic.com) is now shipping its line of Ultra HD monitors, which includes 28-, 27- and 24-inch models. The 27-inch VP2780-4K is the com- pany's 'pro' model and is designed for color-critical applications, including graphic design, photography and video editing. The LED monitor offers 3,840x2,160 at 60Hz native resolution. With SuperClear IPS panel technology and 1.07 billion color capability, the VP2780-4K delivers accurate color performance for wide-angle viewing. Equipped with advanced EBU color space and wide-range gam- ma setting, the Ultra HD monitor provides optimized screen adjust- ments for different viewing scenarios. The model is one of the first Ultra HD monitors to feature HDMI 2.0 to support 3,840x2,160 content at 60Hz. The VP2780-4K also includes advanced DisplayPort, dual MHL, and four-port USB 3.0 connectivity. The MSRP for the VP2780-4K is $1,091. "As more 4K content comes into the market, there is a demand for Ultra HD displays," notes Kenneth Mau, senior product marketing manager at ViewSonic. "As a leader and innovator in display solutions, ViewSonic continues to deliver a complete line of Ultra HD monitors that fit with just about any budget and purpose, from entertainment to professional applications." Harbor Picture Company's Sound Studio A. The facility is home to Barco and NEC digital projectors.