Gamma myth with FCS2?

[Kaku Ito]

I started sorting out FCP/Color gamma facts in my newly established site to share. It's not completed but I want to put together the most updated information there so users can save time.

brightminds website

I will cover more about using MXO, MXO2, MOTU V4HD, Multibridge Pro for R3D editing.

Also provide informations using MOTU Digital Performer and the audio hardware products for film sound track production.

 

[Sanjin Jukic]

Kaku,

great and thanks a lot.

 

[Tico Llaurador]

Kaku, U DA MAN!

どうもありがとう。

 

[Rosferatu]

Domo domo domo
well put, I hope you keep up the info on your blog. Its got amazing potential (as a FCS2, Cineform Neo 4k, RED Owner)!
Cant wait to see more
thanks
-Ross

 

[Kaku Ito]

Thank you all for your kind words.

This is for myself, too to sort out my workflow to explain to my clients and also use it for my magazine columns. So, it won't stop.

 

[Uli Plank]

Danke, merci, muchas gracias, obrigado, arrigato !

We got to get down to every detail of it right now and hope Apple reads carefully!

 

[Kaku Ito]

Danke, merci, muchas gracias, obrigado, arrigato !

We got to get down to every detail of it right now and hope Apple reads carefully!

Uli,

I hope so but you know Apple, they want to do it with their own ways.

 

[Luca Immesi]

Thanks a lot Kaku. Really good overview.

 

[James Press]

Thanks Kaku--a really big help--my system was set up wrong until reading your review...explains a lot.

 

[NateWeaver]

I've never felt I had gamma problems between the two programs. Now I know why. The people complaining about it are talking about what they see on their computer monitors! What you see on your computer monitors is untrustable for multiple reasons. Display Profiles is one. FCP making gamma adjustments for 1.8 global gamma is another. The fact that a computer monitor is neither NTSC, nor PAL, nor Rec. 709 is yet another.

The only output that matters (unless you're doing work for web) is what comes out the Decklink or Kona.

I CC to Kona output, and then if I have gamma/blackpoint issues for web, then that's another correction during the web encoding.

 

[Kaku Ito]

Hello Nate,

It's the same Nate that I know from DVinfor right?

Thanks for your input. I think Apple does give impression that people can work professionally with software only, so we'd surprised how many people are doing this without hardware addition.

I wanted to ask one question about Kona. When I tried to use AJA software 10-bit RGB codec from Color, the gamma shift dramatically on the output. everything goes down by 10% or so. Does that happen when AJA hardware is installed or this happens only with the software codec. I search for the right setting to compensate this but I could not find.

 

[Dave Dessel]

The Big Question

The Big Question

Thanks very much for this info, it's very helpful. The big question is what gamma setting is RedCine? Since we can't grade with a Kona or Decklink card when using this software, what should we do?

 

[Kaku Ito]

Dave, thanks for the compliment.

I think REDCINE is running gamma 2.2 over 1.8 system gamma setting.
So, just like FCP, set the display profile with 1.8 gamma to work.
After setting the display with calibrators like i1, then the computer display looks pretty consistent to my master monitor. So, I don't worry too much of getting really close since it's one light anyway.

You can also use MXO with master monitor to grade with REDCINE but it only displays 8-bit.

 

[James Press]

I use AJA IoHD to JVC CRT monitor, which displays an image when I'm in FCP and Color. Does this mean the gamma settings don't really matter, since I only color grade according to the image on the CRT?

Also, what gamma setting should I use for my apple monitors when using RedAlert (which displays on my apple monitors, not the JVC), in which I make my initial settings like kelvin, contrast, exposure?

 

[Kaku Ito]

If you are working with gamma 2.2, REC709 then gamma in REDAlart! would be REDSpace (more contrast) or REC709 (more gradation). Then your display should probably set to be gamma 1.8 (we have to see everyone's opinion on this).

 

[James Press]

Wow--thanks for the quick reply Kaku! I will check this tomorrow...

 

[Kaku Ito]

Forgot to mention your IoHD output should be 2.2.

Only issue I see is that Kona software codec out from Color seems to shift gamma a lot. I'm not sure if this is true when you have the hardware, though.

 

[Loren White]

When you say set your display to gamma 1.8 do you mean computer monitor?
I am temporarily grading off of a computer display using color's dual display mode.
what is Color's gamma and what is FCP's? Everything is a little bit darker on FCP's canvas

 

[Kaku Ito]

I guess my explanation is not cutting well enough.

Since you are using two desktop display environment, in Color, in default, you are monitoring 1.8. In FCP, it's 2.2, so what you saw in Color appears darker in FCP because of that.