Performance evaluation of reverse tone mapping operators for dynamic range expansion of SDR video content

When displaying Standard Dynamic Range (SDR) video on High Dynamic Range (HDR) displays a reverse tone mapping operation can be employed to expand the dynamic range of the SDR video to that offered by the display. This paper presents a subjective performance evaluation of existing reverse Tone Mapping Operators (rTMOs). The presented study evaluates the performance of rTMOs acting on both well exposed SDR video and video that exhibits exposure variation, as is often the case with user generated content (e.g. captured on mobile phones). The paper highlights flickering artefacts that arise in such cases and evaluates the effect on perceived quality of an adapted de-flickering method.