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What SMPTE ST 2084 defines
An electro-optical transfer function describes how display-referred signal values correspond to light produced by a display. PQ uses a nonlinear, perceptually informed mapping and is tied to absolute luminance: a given PQ value has a defined luminance meaning rather than a relative gamma value that can be scaled arbitrarily.
For Rec.2100-PQ, the W3C CSS Color HDR Module draft describes normalized channel values from 0 to 1 and a PQ encoding ceiling of 10,000 cd/m² (nits). It gives 203 cd/m² as reference, or diffuse, white. The ceiling is the range the encoding can represent, not a claim that a typical television can sustain 10,000 nits. W3C describes such a peak as a brief, small-area highlight, while content is typically mastered to a lower peak. W3C CSS Color HDR Module Working Draft
The W3C document is a Working Draft that presents the equations and Rec.2100-PQ values; it is not the normative SMPTE ST 2084 publication. For standards conformance or production implementation, use the current SMPTE standard and applicable ITU-R BT.2100 edition.
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How PQ fits into HDR television
ITU-R BT.2100 specifies image parameters for HDR television production and international programme exchange. Its current listed edition is BT.2100-3, dated February 2025 and in force; earlier editions -2 (2018), -1 (2017), and -0 (2016) are superseded. BT.2100 includes both PQ and Hybrid Log-Gamma (HLG) transfer-function options. ITU-R BT.2100 recommendation and editions
PQ and HLG are different transfer functions
PQ is display-referred and maps signal values to absolute luminance. HLG is a separate BT.2100 option built around a different operating model. They are not interchangeable labels. A meaningful comparison needs to account for the transfer function, reference and viewing assumptions, target display behavior, metadata and production workflow, and delivery constraints—not just the name of the curve.
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A transfer function is only one part of the signal
ST 2084 does not specify the whole HDR delivery. It is distinct from color primaries and gamut, bit depth, chroma sampling, video codec, and metadata. HDR10 and Dolby Vision are broader HDR systems or formats that can use PQ; PQ itself is not either format, nor does it prescribe a codec or metadata scheme. ITU processing guidance treats PQ characteristics alongside separate choices such as color sampling, bit depth, and AVC/HEVC coding. ITU-R BT.2390 processing guidance
What the 10,000-nit figure means
The 10,000 cd/m² figure is PQ’s maximum encodable luminance, not a display requirement or a description of routine viewing brightness. The cited W3C draft places reference/diffuse white at 203 cd/m² in its Rec.2100-PQ presentation and notes that real content is typically mastered below the encoding ceiling.
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A separate historical figure should not be confused with a current performance claim: SMPTE-hosted Engineering Report ER0997-2015 reported that research concluded a system spanning 0.001 to 10,000 nits would satisfy about 84% of viewers across devices ranging from tablets to large TVs and theatrical displays. That is a finding reported by the 2015 engineering report, not a newly verified or independently validated survey result. SMPTE Engineering Report ER0997-2015
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Using PQ values in software or production
The PQ mapping is defined by equations, so a graph or rounded rule of thumb is not sufficient for precise conversion. The W3C draft provides forward and inverse equations and constants for converting between normalized PQ values and linear-light values. Use those equations or the normative standards text for implementation; do not infer exact code values from a rough graph.
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For conformance work, consult the current normative SMPTE ST 2084 text together with the applicable BT.2100 edition. The W3C draft is a useful accessible rendering of the equations and Rec.2100-PQ values, but it should not be treated as a substitute for those standards.
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