What Is High Definition Broadcasting And How Does It Effect Make Up And Hair Artists

High definition (HD) broadcasting offers a far clearer and more lifelike quality to television productions. Some of the main television channels such as BBC1 now offer an HD channel alongside the analogue picture. There are two different types HD picture quality, the first being 720p and the second 1080p. The P stands for the number of pixels available. 1080p is five times more clear than standard television picture quality and to receive HD channels you will need to have an 'HD ready' television.

Although the picture quality offers a higher standard for viewers, it has brought up new challenges for production teams such as set designers as well as make up and hair artists. The increased picture quality means that errors and poor quality sets are highlighted and more evident once on screen. It is difficult to get away with dents and damaged props.

Make up artists have had to use new skills and techniques, as any errors that once were not able to seen, such as poor blending and cakey heavy make up, are now more noticeable making attention to detail far more important. It is now very important that primers and thin foundations are used as HD exposes imperfections such as pores and wrinkles. The use of primers helps combat this by making the skin look more smooth. Close up shots are also difficult for make up artists as there is nowhere to hide, especially if a female actress has hair on their cheeks as this is far more prominent in HD filming. Make up artists working on HD are now encouraged to use airbrush systems as this applies a light even coverage of foundation that dries quickly and sets to a matte finish. The coverage is also very full, but feels lightweight which is good for the actors on set as they forget that they are wearing make up. As written in the book, 'Broadcast Announcing Worktext: A Media Performance Guide', 'Less is more' when working with HD broadcasting. It is also now important for make up artist to do screen tests,  this is where the actor or actress stands in front of the camera and any errors or flaws with the make up are highlighted meaning changes can be made. It is also important to make sure that the monitors used for screen tests are set up for HD otherwise it is impossible to see what the make up really looks like.

When working with hair, especially wigs, attention to detail is extremely important as written on the website 'www.broadcastnow.co.uk'. It is important that the lace used to attach the wigs is not noticeable to the naked eye as, if it is, it will be picked up by the cameras. Frizzy and loose bits of hair also become much more noticeable under HD cameras so more sprays need to be used to keep fly aways smooth.

Sources:
Book:

Broadcast Announcing Worktext: A Media Performance Guide

http://www.which.co.uk/reviews/televisions/article/advice/what-is-hd-tv

http://www.broadcastnow.co.uk/hd-perfectionists-at-work/858852.article