A Thesis: RED’s 8K Reduces Data Rate and File Size due to Compression Resistance

BSC EXPO shared a video discussing the benefits of an 8K RAW Workflow. I found the last session of the video much interesting since it explains a few interesting facts about the RED’s compression methodologies and their advantages on 8k acquisition. This article aims to explain briefly the REDCODE principles regarding 8K resolution and data rate.

The presentation has been conducted by Michael Cioni, VP Products at Panavision. I’d like to refer you to the last 15 minutes of the presentation which are focused about the REDCODE advantages in regard to 8K resolution.

Super smart compressions methods

Michael says that REDCODE is one of the most significant strengths and secret weapons of the RED cameras. There are numerous other manufactures cameras with extra ordinary image quality, but none of them have something like REDCODE which simplifies workflow by super smart compressions methods.

Edit 8K on a laptop thanks to WAVELET compression methodology

RED uses WAVELET compression methodology, like Jpeg2000.  Contrary to blocks that resulted in “pixelization” (or Macro Blocking), the Wavelet compression is much more smart compression. For example, a Digital Cinema Package (DCP) which we all have been watching in the theaters is wavelet compression and it looks magnificent and with the fraction of the file size. That’s exactly how RED compression works.

RED is the only company in the world that compresses images in WAVELET methodology

There is no need (sometimes) to uncompress further in RED because of the efficient compression of the WAVELET compassion characteristics, means that the image looks sharp and clean without further decompression. Moreover, you can compress it further to achieve smaller file size without damaging the image or quality being impaired. That’s the advantages of the RECODE!

REDCODE described by RED: “REDCODE is critical for managing the massive detail in 8K imagery which translates into saved time and money for shooters. Also, REDCODE allows for non-destructive editing and stores the original material without modifying or requiring a duplicate copy of the material. This makes grading fully reversible, maximizes image quality, and reduces storage requirements.”

REDCODE is critical for managing the massive detail in 8K imagery which translates into saved time and money for shooters. Also, REDCODE allows for non-destructive editing and stores the original material without modifying or requiring a duplicate copy of the material. This makes grading fully reversible, maximizes image quality, and reduces storage requirements.

In the case of using MPEG (macro blocking) you will have to use a very low compression in order to make the image looks good and thus may resulted in a very large file sizes.

Same method like DCP

Back to DCP (Digital Cinema Package): A movie is about 150 gigabytes only and it looks sharp. Imagine the case of decompressing a feature film in macro blocks….You will get an insanely huge file size.

RED takes the principles we used to distribute film, and transformed it to the way we capture images. It’s the same technology, but protected by RED’s patents.

Don’t afraid to compress further 8K images

The more pixels you have, the more you can compress them. If you shoot 4K, compress it 1:5 in order to get fined images. If you shoot 8K, feel free to compress to ratio 1:8 and you’ll get excellent images as well, since the images have more pixels.

More pixels can cause to higher resistance to compression, which means that you can compress more using 8K resolution and thus get a smaller file size. Yes, you heard right! 8K can resulted in higher quality and reduced file size comparing to 4K, and that’s because the durability of 8K to compression.

===> Shooting 8k with higher compression is preferred than shooting 4K with less compression!

Check out below the whole presentation: