What COLOR SPACE do I work on?

[AnthonyFaust]

Hello everyone,

I am color correcting RED ONE footage. The r3d files have a profile of sRGB to it. I brought the r3d file into the AE CS4.....when I color correct it, what profile should I assign to it? Should I assign an HDTV color space to it? I intend to go to tape, and show it at a theatre on an HDCAM or Blu ray.

Thanks,

 

[jimhare]

Most people are using REDcolor2 and REDgamma2 as it makes gorgeous skin tones. Others like REDlogFilm but you need to know a bit more about grading to use it as a starting place.

Best starting place is RC2 and RG2, then bump up saturation and put an S-Curve on it. Will look fantastic.

Obviously your final output will be Rec709 but you can protect those levels in AE, don't do it at the RAW stage.

 

[AnthonyFaust]

Jim,

Thanks, but when I go to the After Effects Color Management tab (I'm using AE CS4), I don't see that as an option. I've been using HDTV Rec709 up until now. You're saying if I have this REDcolor2 color space that it'll make the image look better? How do I get that into my Color space options in AE?

 

[jimhare]

Hi Anthony,

Sorry, I was talking about the color space when "developing" the RAW R3D files. This is different to your project color space.

Not sure how they are accessed in AE but are definitely there.

For this reason I'm going to let someone familiar with using R3Ds in Adobe comment. My comment was purely based on getting the most out the RAW file, not setting up AE for output.

 

[David Battistella]

I am not sure whether CS4 can handle the new color space.

I would suggest that you download and install the latest PREMIER pro drivers for RED. They change often so maybe you are using an old version of the driver.

It might be that the new driver only works with the mercury engine. But definitely check the drivers.

REC 709 will not give you the most pleasing images from an r3d file.

Read Jim's thoughts and tips thread for how to approach initial color correction.

David