The best way to interpret R3D in AE for compositing

[Emir Ezwan]

Hi guys,

I can't seem to find the best resources for R3D AE workflow for compositing.

This is my workflow :

- INTERPRET R3D as Universal Camera Film Printing Density (UCFPD) with Gamma2 & RedLogFilm

- COMPOSITE in UCFPD & linear

- RENDER out DPX with UCFPD as output profile

-- AE by default interpret R3D as HDTV Rec. 709
-- I find if I interpret R3D as UCFPD, details pop up better & I could manipulate the exposure
just like using the Source Settings (right click footage and click on More Options...)
-- but by doing this the highlights seem to be a bit too much sometimes (would it be because Im using a basic monitor?)

I'm trying to retain as much information as the original R3D footages for grading.

What is the best interpretation settings & render settings for R3D in AE for compositing?
Am I doing the right way?

 

[PatrickFaith]

Here's some of the exact steps I know some people use:
in ae project settings menu set:
32 bits per channel (float)
working space to sRGB IE61966-2.1
Select Linearize Working Space
select compensate for scene-referred profiles
in ae on r3d file ... on interpret footage main:
on color management tab:
select working space sRGB IE61966-2.1 (linear)
select interpret as linear light On for 32 bpc
click more options to go to r3d source settings
select redcolor3 and linear
(when rendering to vfx ... click on color management tab ... make sure they are set the same as above).

There are right now a couple of good classes on this in fxphd.com .

 

[Emir Ezwan]

*sorry i mean redcolor3 not gamma2

Im working on 32bits, linearize working space with compensate for scene-referred profiles.

Would your workflow works for film since I'm working on a feature film? As I understand sRGB IE61966-2.1 is mainly for web.

Kind of confused which to follow since its totally different from the adobe color management workflow pdf
http://wwwimages.adobe.com/www.adob..._management_workflow/ae_color_mgmt_wkflow.pdf

But I would definitely try this out and checkout fxphd.com. What file format would you use for rendering out? DPX?

Thanks mate!

 

[PatrickFaith]

...
What file format would you use for rendering out? DPX?
Thanks mate!

I have cut over to using openexr for all my workflow, is a bit bigger but it's easier for my brain to have a linear DI (i.e. when I am going between compositing and vfx i'm using openexr). For final render out to color grading i use dpx though. I'm doing my first feature with vfx too ... so this is from my notes from the experts. Also from multiple conversations, I moved from AE to NUKE ... I think it's doable doing this in AE (especially since there are a couple of classes on how to do this in AE) ... but at a certain point it starts to become easier to do in nukex.

On the film question, i am compositing between super 8mm, 16mm, old vhs, and r3d. In nuke there are some nice ways of moving everything to linear. In AE there are some utilities to move from log film formats to linear, but I found myself dealing with some color shifts that i then had to use color correction on, before compositing. Some of the 3D Lut's (from your film stock to linear) i think might work better in AE then what i was trying to do, but you need to find the appropriate LUT (also the 1D LUT's just produced icky results).

 

[Emir Ezwan]

With my workflow, I've managed to get my output DPX the same look as the original R3D but I'm not too certain when it comes to grading.

Only problem during compositing is, for certain shots the highlights blown too much till I have to convert my composition to log so I could see clearly.

Wish we could use nuke but too bad our local film budget here wouldn't agree with us.

 

[K_rrusel]

Hi Emir... did you make it work?

Just to tell you that your settings look fine for me... These are the same I use since they seem to give me the best look for compositing work in AE with native r3d for filmout or DCP
Adobe says to interpret r3d as HDTV Rec.709 but that never worked for me if I want to stay in a Linearized Space working with RedLogFilm (everything turned too dark). For me, that is fine if I plan to stay in HD using RedGamma instead of RedLogFilm.

so I usually work in 32Bits Linear UCFPD Working Space, then assign UCFPD as Profile (not linear) and set the r3d to Gamma2 (or 3) and RedLogFilm if the project is going out to film or DCP.

Then export as DPX with UCFPD as Output Profile (so you dont need to deal with the Cineon settings)
Checking the scopes in both my project and the DPX I exported with Test Gear they look almost identical (except the DPX seems to loose some information)

I hope this helps... if anybody got different methods they will be very appreciate... not too much info about AE Red Settings for filmout or DCP