Turn your Apple monitor into a color accurate display in DaVinci Resolve

[rand thompson]

By Cullen Kelly

Grab the macOS Viewing Transform from the video to unlock your Apple display:
Apple Display Transform (procolor.ist)

 

[Patrick Tresch]

Isn't it dangerous to work with a LUT that pushes tthe blacks and when you take it off for your render you have crushed blacks?

 

[rand thompson]

Isn't it dangerous to work with a LUT that pushes tthe blacks and when you take it off for your render you have crushed blacks?

When did he push or crush the blacks? He stated that the default Color Space for Apple displays is 'P3-D65" Gamma 2.2 to get the best Color Results. He wants to Output a Correct looking REC709 gamma 2.2 image, the Color Space and Gamma for the Web, Laptops ipad whatever. He's selected the "USE MAC DISPLAY COLOR PROFILEs FOR VIEWERS" so that the MAC OS can "SYNC" the difference between its "Native" Color Profile of "P3-D65" Gamma 2.2 and REC709 Gamma 2.2. This makes the LOOK of the Images in the "Viewer Windows" look correct for REC709 Gamma 2.2 on a Mac Display which is "Natively" "P3-D65" Gamma 2.2.. The Mac Sync feature does a good Job, However the Lut is designed to make the REC709 Gamma 2.2 Image look even more correct on the Native P3-D65 Display than the MAC Sync function would all by itself. Then when you wanted to export out the Image meant for REC709 Gamma 2.2, you remove the LUT which again was meant to make the REC709 Gamma 2.2 designated image look correct on the Apple's P3-D65 display so that it looks correct on an actual Rec709 Gamma 2.2 display capable device. No Blacks where ever affected in the final render out.

 

[Josh Rainey]

This does seem like an interesting trick, but wouldn't it just be better to calibrate your apple Display and work in that generated profile?

I don't have an apple display any more and currently work on a the new Dell 6k and and Eizo 2700x. However, I don't use a decklink or other video card for the Eizo, and just run it through the graphics card with "clean feed". I know this isn't ideal, so a decklink 4k is in my future.

But grading for web delivery I put the Eizo in sRGB profile which is gamma 2.2, instead of Rec709 2.4.

I am looking forward to a pure video signal output as the gamma issue does drive me nuts, so I'm in the process of removing the variables. I do use the remote feed option to my phone to just keep an eye on what the iPhone is doing. Also, I try to be a slave to the scopes on my final passes.

 

[rand thompson]

This does seem like an interesting trick, but wouldn't it just be better to calibrate your apple Display and work in that generated profile?

I don't have an apple display any more and currently work on a the new Dell 6k and and Eizo 2700x. However, I don't use a decklink or other video card for the Eizo, and just run it through the graphics card with "clean feed". I know this isn't ideal, so a decklink 4k is in my future.

But grading for web delivery I put the Eizo in sRGB profile which is gamma 2.2, instead of Rec709 2.4.

I am looking forward to a pure video signal output as the gamma issue does drive me nuts, so I'm in the process of removing the variables. I do use the remote feed option to my phone to just keep an eye on what the iPhone is doing. Also, I try to be a slave to the scopes on my final passes.

Cullen states at the latter part of the video that this is not a replacement for having a Calibrated Reference monitor for " Professional " Color Grading. This is only a way for those whom can't afford to invest in Reference Monitor to get a more trustworthy color grade from their Apple Displays for a less " mission critical " work.

 

[Zack Birlew]

Why in the world would Apple not fix this gamma issue after over a decade of problems!? Honestly, wouldn't it just be easier to work on PC with different codecs?

 

[Josh Rainey]

Cullen states at the latter part of the video that this is not a replacement for having a Calibrated Reference monitor for " Professional " Color Grading. This is only a way for those whom can't afford to invest in Reference Monitor to get a more trustworthy color grade from their Apple Displays for a less " mission critical " work.

Sure, my point was just that getting a x-rite/calibrite sensor and calibrating your imac or studio display that way is affordable while still giving you an actual calibration of the monitor. Not perfect, but close enough. Think about all the professional photographers that just work off an iMac display, and run a calibrator.

Spending time on Lift Gamma Gain has made me a neurotic, but plenty of people are making good stuff without that level of control, so I try to balance it out.