Skip to content
What's After the Movie?

Jump to
What's After the Movie?
Filmmaking Camera, lighting, sound, editing and the crew roles behind every shot.

HLG Curve: Meaning & Definition in Film

A hybrid log-gamma transfer function for backward-compatible HDR broadcasting.

  • 4 sections
  • 1 min read
  • Updated
On this page 4 sections

HLG Curve Explained

HLG Curve: Definition

Hybrid Log-Gamma (HLG) is an HDR transfer function jointly developed by BBC and NHK that combines a logarithmic curve for high luminance with a gamma curve for low levels. This design enables HDR signals to be displayed in SDR systems without special metadata.

HLG Curve: Technical Characteristics

HLG uses a 10-bit signal where the breakpoint between gamma and log segments sits around 50% code value. The logarithmic tail compresses highlights up to ~1,000 cd/m², while the gamma head preserves shadow detail.

HLG Curve: Applications

HLG is widely used in live broadcast, sports, and news where backward compatibility with SDR receivers is essential. It requires no scene-metadata, simplifying workflows for real-time production and distribution.

See the vocabulary at work in real films

Look up any movie for its ratings, cast and crew, box office run and where to watch, or read the full plot with the ending explained.

Browse movies
Filmmaking

More Filmmaking Terms

Entries filed on the same shelf as HLG Curve, each with the one-line answer first. They are the words that usually come up in the same conversation.

All 913 terms

  • Studio Logo

    A studio logo is the animated emblem of a film production or distribution company that appears at the beginning of a motion picture.

  • Storyboard Artist

    An artist who visualizes a script by sketching sequential panels to plan cinematic storytelling.

  • Swing Day

    A swing day is a transitional day in a production schedule that shifts the workweek, often by providing a single day off between two workweeks.

  • Aputure Nova

    The Aputure Nova is a line of powerful RGBWW LED light panels known for offering professional-grade features at a more accessible price point.

  • Topper

    A topper is a type of long, narrow flag used in lighting to control light spill by cutting it off from the top of the frame.

  • Tone

    Tone is the filmmaker's attitude toward the film's subject matter and audience, as conveyed through the deliberate use of cinematic style.