A US brand asks its China production partner for an HDR hero film of a gloss-black espresso machine. The retail listing and the launch screen are different destinations. A bright reflection can make the machine look premium on one screen and hide the edge of the controls on another. The brief should identify where each master is expected to play.
Buy an output for a known destination
The ACES Output Transforms documentation, checked November 6, 2026, explains how scene-referred image data is rendered for specific displays and viewing conditions. It describes output transforms for both standard and high dynamic range. That is a reason to name the intended output, not a promise that any retailer preserves HDR. Get the channel’s delivery spec and preview process before locking the production quote.
Run the ONCE three-shot, two-endpoint check
Select three risk shots before grading the full film: a known brand color, a bright reflective surface, and a dark control with important detail. For the espresso machine, use the physical finish sample to agree on the black casing, then check the highlight across its lip and the legibility of the dark control area. Watch the export on the appropriate reference display, then check a test upload or intended player. Document which detail must survive each view.
If the export passes but the uploaded version fails, check the upload and playback path before paying for a creative regrade. If both fail, ask the colorist to revisit the input or grade. Do not judge the handover by a screenshot passed between teams.
Quote the second finish separately
When a real HDR placement is confirmed and the campaign also needs SDR, ask for separate lines for output setup, shot-level trim, export and playback verification. Request the three-shot sample before approving the whole second master. If there is no verified HDR destination, commission the accepted format now and agree which source and project files will support a later finish. For another example of testing what survives the actual slot, see ONCE’s playback check for product proof.
