Embodiments of the invention relate generally to computer-based image processing, and more particularly, to systems, computer-readable mediums, methods, and apparatuses to operate a rear modulator in a high dynamic range display to, among other things, characterize input images into pixel characteristics which may be data-reduced representations of a group of pixels corresponding to the input image, and to relate a modulation value intensity image to a weighted combination of the pixel characteristics. The modulation value intensity image may be used to derive a rear modulator drive signal, which, turn, may be configured to control one or more modulating elements to generate a low resolution image of the input image at the rear modulator.