BlackCobbler - High-End Computing

What We Do

BlackCobbler® provides end-to-end Color Management services, remotely, to Studios, Post Production Houses, Colorists, Editors, Visual Artists, Photographers, High-end Home Theater owners, Printing/Scanning service providers etc. worldwide. We have high level of expertise in generating and manipulating color transforms (3DLUTs/ICC profiles), for display calibration, color processing, creative imagery, printer calibration, scanner calibration, camera calibration, camera color space conversion etc.

Display Calibration

Display Calibration services & consultancy can be provided, remotely, as well as on the client site.

We can calibrate any display to any standard, under the physical limitations of the display, including:

Home & Studio SDR Calibration: Rec709 Gamma 2.4 (or custom gamma), DCI-P3 Gamma 2.6, Rec601 Gamma 2.2 etc.
Home & Studio HDR10, HDR10+ and Dolby Vision Calibration: Rec2020 ST2084 EOTF, DCI-P3 ST2084 EOTF (or custom primaries), Rec709 ST2084 EOTF etc.
Other HDR Calibration: BBC HLG, Philips HDR5K, Philips HDR10K, EclairColor HDR etc.
DCI Cinema Calibration: DCI XYZ Gamma 2.6
Photography/Graphics Monitor Calibration: sRGB, Adobe RGB, ProPhoto RGB etc.
Medical/Surgical Display Calibration: Dicom, sRGB
Office Monitor Calibration: sRGB
Print Soft-Proofing Monitor Calibration: Printer color space
Any Custom Calibration

We use some very sophisticated methods for complete volumetric calibration of the displays via precision color transforms. This involves generation of 3DLUTs and/or sophisticated ICC profiles. This form of calibration is much superior to the Hardware Calibration method, which involves the use of controls and settings in a display to align its color response.
Nevertheless, if it is required, we can provide Hardware Calibration services too, but that will not be done remotely.

We provide (3DLUT based) remote calibration service for Lumagen Radiance Pro, madVR software and madVR Envy based setups as well.

We have our own software/soft tools/algorithms which we primarily use. We also have access to various other calibration/analysis/LUT/ICC software (more info). With a rich collection of software, we can generate and modify 3DLUTs, 1DLUTs, shaper curves, ICC profiles, matrices etc., as needed.

HDR Tone Mapping

We have our own HDR tone mapping implementation – BlackCobbler^® HDR TM. The algorithm is hue preserving and is thereby a complex algorithm. As we humans are quite sensitive to hue changes, preserving hue during tone mapping while at the same time keeping saturation in control results in images/videos which perceptually match well to the original HDR images/videos as seen on a calibrated HDR display.

Using this algo, we can create 3DLUTs which do both HDR tone mapping as well as calibration. Our implementation works for all types of HDR (including HDR10, HLG, DCI HDR, and even Camera HDR captures). Although we have our algorithms for creating optimized HDR tone mapping curves, we can use third party curves too. So, one can share their custom HDR curve and we shall be able to create tone mapping + calibration LUT for them employing that curve.

Image Processing Services

We can provide various image/video processing services like:

Video/Image Upscaling or Downscaling: We can use some very sophisticated neural network based algorithms to upscale or downscale videos or images. For e.g., we can do a very high quality FullHD to UHD 4K conversion.
As Anamorphic stretch/compression is also scaling, we can do that as well in very high quality.
Removal of Artifacts: We can remove (or significantly reduce) certain kinds of artifacts from videos or images, like presence of ringing, banding or quantization distortion, noise, compression artifacts like blockiness, pixelation, etc.
Sharpening: We have some good sharpening algorithms too, but generally we don't recommend that any deliverable is sharpened.

Video Look Matching of Deliverables for Streaming Platforms

Studios working on deliverables for Streaming Platforms often face the problem that the mastered video after uploading on the specific streaming platform looks rather different.

We can attempt to investigate such issues and provide assistance in setting up a workflow such that at least a reasonably good color match between the master and the uploaded content can be achieved. The required processing can be converted to a 3DLUT. The studio will just have to process their deliverable with this 3DLUT and then upload it on the streaming platform.

The content can also be routed through us, wherein we will process the deliverable with the difference 3DLUT via sophisticated processing with 32bit floating point precision.

Other Color Management Services

We also provide services related to 3DLUT/ ICC conversions and processing, which include all kinds of color space conversions as well.
Some examples:

LUT Format/ICC Conversion: We can provide services to convert 3DLUTs or 1DLUTs to ICC profile and vice-versa. LUTs and/or ICC profiles can also be combined one LUT/ICC profile which does all.
Technical Conversion 3DLUTs: We can provide Technical Conversion 3DLUTs, for e.g. to convert sRGB images to Adobe RGB, Rec709 images/videos to DCI-P3 (or DCI XYZ for DCPs). We can also directly process your images to give you the converted images without you having to bother with 3DLUTs (all the processing will be done in high floating-point precision). Our Technical Conversion 3DLUTs are highly accurate as these are based on direct color transform output.
Image Color Matching: We can create or provide assistance in creating a 3DLUT which captures color processing of a processed image, such that when the 3DLUT is applied to the reference image, we get an image matching the processed image. Any other image(s) or video(s) can be processed with this 3DLUT to get the same processing/effect. We can even directly process your images/videos with the created 3DLUT (with high precision processing).
3DLUT Modification: Modifications can be made to 3DLUTs or 1DLUTs, to change their behaviour or to use them in a specific environment. For example, a 3DLUT can be modified such that it does greyscale and white balance processing only.
We provide assistance in setting up color processing pipeline, in analysis and processing of color data, in highly accurate color space conversions, color matching of different displays and other color related research/testing.

Video Playback Solution

BlackCobbler^® provides Ultra High-End video playback solutions for both High-End Private Theaters as well as Broadcasting and Post Production houses. BlackCobbler^® Media Player not only presents HD/ Ultra HD (4K, 8K and 10K) in pristine quality but also upgrades any low quality low resolution and artifact ridden content to HD quality with very high precision. With a dedicated color management engine inbuilt, BlackCobbler^® Video Playback solution is ideal for critical evaluation of mastered content in Studios and Post Production houses.

High-End Private Theater Setup and Consultancy

We set up and also provide consultancy in setting up a Projection System based Dedicated Theater in Private venues powered by BlackCobbler^® Video Playback Solution.

Image Viewing Solution

Our Image Viewing Solution provides forensic level image viewing capabilities, with complete color management, for presentation and scaling of images faithfully in high quality. The high precision processing coupled with sophisticated algorithms ensure there won’t be any artifacts like blockiness, pixelations, noise etc upon zooming into the images. These solutions are based on BlackCobbler^® systems and can be useful for enthusiast photographers, print professionals etc. and in professional settings where color critical and faithful image visualization is required like medical institutes, hospitals and nursing homes for viewing and scaling of medical scans, digital XRays, digital MRI images etc. This solution could also be used for forensic level 2D images analysis.

Pro Gaming Systems and Consultancy

We provide consultancy for setting up Pro Gaming systems and environment. Pro Gaming setups are PC based high-end video gaming machines powered by multiple graphics cards and often deployed in private theaters, private gaming zones etc.

High-End Computer Hardware

We provide computer parts as well as complete systems for all computationally expensive work that includes running servers, pro-gaming, ores mining software, video editing, broadcasting and post production systems, workstations, AutoCAD designing etc.

High-End Laptops (Temporarily not available)

BlackCobbler^® builds custom laptops for all user needs spanning the range from mainstream to high-end technology. No matter whether you need to run mobile servers, workstations, media centers, gaming, home theaters, 3d designing/ modeling, or you have any special requirement, we have a BlackCobbler^® Laptop model solution for you. The laptops made by us are of premium quality and build, have a long lifespan, are upgradable and more future-proof than most other laptops. The team here does rigorous testing of the laptops before they are shipped to our customers.

Our Philosophy

BlackCobbler^® is based on the philosophy of providing customers exactly what they need and require in a mobile computer. BlackCobbler^® custom builds each and every laptop to the exact requirements of each customer. From the beginning of the purchase process the customer is in control, they can choose the laptop they desire and then configure that system with the internal components they need. BlackCobbler^® then puts each system through a series of stress tests before going through a final check inspection before being sent to the customer. All BlackCobbler^® products are engineered for highest quality, best performance, long-term stability and serviceability. State-of-the-art technology is coupled with superior customer service to generate an excellent overall experience.

Blockchain Products and Consultancy

We provide technical services and consultancy in building or enhancing the products based on blockchain technology. Blockchain is a disruptive technology that has the potential to serve as the backbone of almost every real-world application thereby making the transaction more secure, transparent, immutable and free of middlemen and counterparty risk. We also build decentralized applications that can run on Ethereum or Hyperledger.

We have the core expertise and understanding of Ethereum blockchain and its smart contracts. We believe in efficient implementation of the contract codes in Ethereum to minimize the usage of the overall gas consumed. Our algorithms intelligently assign ether values at the time of contract calling so that the least amount of ether is consumed overall. We have the ability to harness the platform to the fullest extent and have some great ideas of building products that can change the world.

We can also take client requirements and build blockchain products under business associations and agreements.