informitv

PERSEUS video compression

8K

4 April 2015

Prepared for

2016 informitv. All rights reserved.

Contents

informitv

Contents
1 Summary

2 Objectives

3 Methodology

3.1
3.2
3.3
3.4

Source
Compression
Output
Evaluation

4 Results
4.1
4.2
4.3

Data size
Visual inspection
Objective metrics

5
5
5
5

5 Conclusions

A Images

The informitv name and logotype, Connected Vision, Broadband meets

broadcast and Connect to the network are either registered trademarks or
trademarks of informitv in applicable territories.
All other product and service names mentioned are registered trademarks or
trademarks of their respective owners.

PERSEUS video compression 8K

3
4
4
4

Summary

informitv

Summary
V-Nova commissioned the independent consultancy informitv to develop a
formal methodology to evaluate the performance of PERSEUS video
compression for deployment in various scenarios.
This evaluation covers the use of PERSEUS for compression of images at 8K
resolution, corresponding to the UHD-2 format of 76804320 pixels.
The evaluation was performed with sample images supplied by informitv at
16-bits 4:4:4 colour depth.
Each image was compressed using PERSEUS at a range of compression ratios.
The output was then decompressed and compared to the input image.
The results demonstrate that PERSEUS can deliver visually lossless output at
compression ratios around 40:1. This would allow full 8K compressed images
to be delivered with the same bandwidth and storage requirements as
uncompressed high-definition video. The resulting uncompressed images
have 16 times the spatial resolution and 64 times the sampling precision,
resulting in significantly higher fidelity than a conventional high-definition
video image.

PERSEUS video compression 8K

Objectives

informitv

Objectives
The objective of the study was to evaluate PERSEUS compression on an 8K
still image, corresponding to the UHD-2 format of 76804320 pixels.
The purpose was to demonstrate that PERSEUS could handle resolutions
higher than 4K UHD-1 format and to assess the compression performance at
such resolutions.
The source image was provided in 16-bit per channel format to demonstrate
that PERSEUS can handle such bit depths.
The evaluation was designed to test the hypothesis that an 8K image could be
compressed to the file size of an uncompressed HD image and remain
visually lossless, while offering significantly higher spatial resolution and
colour sampling precision.

Methodology
The study was designed, conducted and documented by Dr William Cooper
and Dr Sue Farrell of the independent consultancy informitv, with the
assistance of Balzs Keszthelyi of V-Nova for the PERSEUS compression.
The evaluation involved offline compression of still images and comparison
of the output to the source using standard objective metrics.

3.1

Source
The evaluation was performed with still images to provide high-resolution
sources. The source images were captured on a Canon 5DS R camera as
86885792 50-megapixel frames in CR2 raw format. The raw images were
cropped to 76804320 pixels. The results were stored as 33-megapixel
images in RGB 16-bit TIF format, at just under 200MB per frame. The 16-bit
range exceeds the sensitivity of the camera sensor, which has an effective
dynamic range of around 12 stops of exposure. Prime L-series lenses were
used to maximise the effective image resolution.

PERSEUS video compression 8K

Methodology

informitv

A set of sample images was selected to exhibit varying visual complexity, with
a wide range of tones and colours, including fine lines, textures and
gradients, intended to reveal possible compression artifacts. See Appendix A
for image details.

3.2

Compression
The source images were converted to YUV format and compressed using a
V-Nova PERSEUS research encoder. The 8K sources were compressed at a
range of compression ratios, from 20:1 to 1600:1, to evaluate distortion rates
around the 5MB target, equivalent to 40:1.

3.3

Output
The compressed output images were decompressed to 16-bit YUV files for
comparison with the input images.

3.4

Evaluation
The compressed frame data size was compared to the target for each
compression ratio to verify that the achieved compression was within
acceptable tolerances.
The displayed images were inspected for visual artifacts on screen at 1:1
resolution.
The peak signal-to-noise-ratio or PSNR and the multi-scale structural
similarity index or MS-SSIM were calculated, both averaged across the YUV
samples. The PSNR represents a measure of distortion in decibels (dB) and
higher numbers indicate less distortion. MS-SSIM is a measure of the
similarity between two images, where an index of 1 means the images are
effectively identical.

PERSEUS video compression 8K

Results

informitv

Results
4.1

Data size
The achieved frame data size was compared to the target for each
compression ratio. The variance over the usable range of compression ratios
was within 0.7%, indicating consistent rate control across the test images.
At a compression ratio of 40:1, the achieved frame data size ranged from
4.97 MB to 4.98 MB.

4.2

Visual inspection
The output images were inspected visually at 100% size. There were no
apparent artifacts in the images compressed with PERSEUS at a ratio of 40:1.
Minor artifacts were visible at a ratio of 100:1.

4.3

Objective metrics
The PSNR for the images compressed using PERSEUS at a ratio of 40:1,
producing a frame size of just under 5MB, ranged from 51.38 to 56.96 dB. The
average across the three sample images was 53.37 dB. The PSNR rose to an
average of 56.37 dB at a compression ratio of 20:1, producing a frame size of
just under 10MB. A PSNR of over 50 dB indicates low distortion, consistent
with visually lossless compression, although PSNR does not necessarily
correspond to subjective image fidelity.
76804320 YUV 16-bit 4:4:4
PSNR (dB)

60
Bridge
Flowers
Rose

50

40

Compressed Frame Size (MB)

PERSEUS video compression 8K

10

Conclusions

informitv

MS-SSIM is considered to provide a reasonably reliable proxy for subjective

image fidelity. The MS-SSIM results at a ratio of 40:1 ranged from 0.9990 to
0.9995, with an average of 0.9992. This indicates a very high degree of
structural similarity with the input images, just below the maximum possible
value of 1. The MS-SSIM rose to an average of 0.9997 at a compression ratio of
20:1, demonstrating no substantial benefit for double the frame data size.

76804320 YUV 16-bit 4:4:4

MS-SSIM
1.00

0.99

0.98

Bridge
Flowers
Rose
1

10

Compressed Frame Size (MB)

The PSNR and MS-SSIM results are consistent with being visually lossless at a
compression ratio of 40:1 for the sample images. Depending on image
complexity, visually lossless results could be achieved at higher ratios
resulting in even lower data rates.

Conclusions
PERSEUS delivered visually lossless compression of 8K images at

compressed frame size of 5MB, equivalent to the data size of an

uncompressed HD frame.
The PSNR and MS-SSIM metrics were acceptable at a compression ratio of
80:1 and consistent with visually lossless at a compression ratio of 40:1. The
objective metrics indicate minimal benefit in using higher data rates.

PERSEUS video compression 8K

Conclusions

informitv

The results were achieved using YUV 16-bit 4:4:4 images, demonstrating that
a 76804320 image at full 16-bit sample resolution can be compressed to the
same frame data size as an uncompressed 1920x1080 10-bit image with 4:2:2
chroma sampling.
The evaluation was performed using a research encoder. Real-time
compression of 16-bit 8K video is currently limited primarily by the
bandwidth required to input uncompressed source video at 80 Gbps or more.
The evaluation suggests that it would be possible to carry compressed 8K
UHD video within the same bandwidth as uncompressed HD video. This could

be achieved not only without visual compromise, while providing 16 times the
spatial resolution and 64 times the sampling precision, without chroma
subsampling.
Full 8K 4:4:4: 16-bit video at a rate of 60 frames per second compressed at a
ratio of 40:1 corresponds to a data rate of 2.4Gbps, which can be carried over
existing 3G SDI links. Even at 120 frames per second, this equates to less than
5Gbps, which could be carried over a 6G SDI link or a 10Gbps data network.
PERSEUS is capable of visually lossless compression of 8K UHD-2 images in

full 16-bit 4:4:4 sample resolution, demonstrating that it is not only able to
deliver video using less bandwidth or storage, but that it can also enable
higher quality than conventional uncompressed high-definition video.

PERSEUS video compression 8K

Images

Images

BRIDGE
Image of St Pauls Cathedral from the Millennium Bridge over the
River Thames in London.
Canon 5DS R camera with Canon EF 24mm f/1.4 L II lens. Shot in
CR2 raw format at 86885792 pixels, debayered and cropped to
76804320 pixels in 16-bit TIF format.

FLOWERS
Colourful bouquet of flowers.
Canon 5DS R camera with Canon EF 100mm f/2.8 L macro lens.
Tripod. Studio flash. Shot in CR2 raw format at 86885792 pixels,
debayered and cropped to 76804320 pixels in 16-bit TIF format.

ROSE
Close-up image of a single rose
Canon 5DS R camera with Canon EF 100mm f/2.8 L macro lens.
Tripod. Studio flash. Shot in CR2 raw format at 86885792 pixels,
debayered and cropped to 76804320 pixels in 16-bit TIF format.

Images 2016 informitv

PERSEUS video compression 8K

informitv

informitv

informitv
Advising people and organisations around the world, informitv provides independent research, expert
analysis and confidential consultancy on the transformation of television and video services through
new and emerging media technologies. Clients range from investors and new ventures to major
multinational corporations.
informitv.com
V-Nova
V-Nova is a London-headquartered company providing advanced video and imaging processing
hardware, software and embedded solutions. Its novel compression technology, PERSEUS is based
on principles underlying human vision.
V-Nova was founded in 2011 by an experienced team, including experts involved in the development
of first generation codecs (e.g. MPEG/JPEG), as well as business leaders, technology finance veterans,
product development and intellectual property experts. A strong global consortium comprising
leading partners from multiple industries including media & broadcasting, telecommunications,
hardware and consulting supports V-Nova.
V-Nova serves numerous sectors, including media & broadcasting, telecommunications, aerospace,
defence, security, video conferencing, digital signage, medical imaging, telematics and video games.
For more information contact:
V-Nova Ltd.
One Sheldon Square
London W2 6TT
United Kingdom
info@v-nova.com
+44 (20) 7046 6270
v-nova.com

PERSEUS video compression 8K