Core MK2

HDR dynamic tone mapping

HDR10 content can contain highlight information far above the luminance a projection screen can reproduce. Envy analyses HDR frame by frame and maps that source range into the measured capability of the cinema. Its DTM workflow includes controls for highlight recovery, contrast recovery and shadow-detail recovery, so the objective is not simply to make the image brighter; it is to preserve intent while keeping the picture readable, dimensional and consistent.

For projection, this becomes particularly useful because the real peak luminance may be 80, 120, 150 or 250 nits depending on screen size, gain, lens, calibration and laser level. That real number matters more than the lumen figure printed on the carton.

Aspect ratio, scope and subtitles

Envy can detect aspect ratio changes automatically and react without waiting for a manual lens-memory command. That is valuable with 2.39:1 scope screens, 16:9 screens and increasingly common 2:1 content. Non-Linear Stretch can be used when the owner prefers to reduce black bars without simply cropping the frame, while subtitle management can keep subtitles visible when they would otherwise fall into the letterbox area.

In a masked cinema, aspect detection can also become part of a broader automation strategy: projector geometry, screen masking and image placement can behave like one system rather than three unrelated products.

Scaling, chroma and source clean-up

Envy performs its image processing internally at high precision, including scaling, chroma upsampling, deinterlacing, sharpening and artifact-management tools. The value is most obvious when the source mix is inconsistent: UHD disc, streaming, broadcast material, older Blu-ray and games do not all arrive with the same quality.

AI upscaling is not a substitute for native high-resolution content, but it can make lower-resolution sources cleaner and more coherent on a very large screen. Chroma processing is also important because consumer video is commonly stored at reduced chroma resolution; reconstructing colour detail cleanly can matter when the image is several metres wide.

Calibration and LUTs

Envy supports very large 3D LUT and 1D LUT calibration workflows, allowing a professional calibrator to correct the complete signal path rather than relying only on the projector's internal CMS. This can be particularly valuable with wide-gamut RGB-laser systems, where colour accuracy, gamut mapping and grayscale tracking should be treated as part of the same system.

External processing also creates continuity when the projector is upgraded later. The calibration and signal-management philosophy can remain consistent even if the display changes.

Why choose Core MK2

Core MK2 is the sensible starting point when the room does not need Geometry Correction or MotionAI, but you still want Envy's fundamental HDR and screen-management workflow. It is particularly attractive for premium JVC, Epson and Sony systems, and for smaller Barco systems where the signal-management requirements are sophisticated but geometry is conventional.