Workflow for 3K to DI to 35mm release print

[mike holding]

Hi Guru's !

This question for Graeme N and other rocket scientists who understand pixie magic and workflows. I am about to shoot a wildlife feature film primarily in 3K. (see thread http://www.reduser.net/forum/showthread.php?t=30756 for the rationale for shooting in 3K not 4K)

My question is: are there any known issues working through a project in 3K? The current workflow is, as I understand, to shoot 3K, offline in Final Cut using Pro Res proxies, ingest Red Raw files into a Baselight system in 3K for the conform and grade, then take the project down to 2K DPX for final DI back to 35mm, Arrilaser, Deluxe. Particularly are there any pitfalls with extraction from 3K Raw to 2K DPX?

Any advice appreciated

Thanks

Mike

 

[Dan Hudgins]

3K to 2K

3K to 2K

I just added better resize for going from 5K-4K-3K to 2K or smaller to get better results without as much noise and aliasing, its up to try out for "freeish".

The input/output would be uncompressed 48bpp TIF for the "best" results if you want them... The TIF could be converted into DPX to downgrade them if you need to save disk space (4bytes per pixel rather than 6).

 

[mike holding]

Thanks Dan
I'll see if my post house has tried it yet..

 

[Dan Hudgins]

Sample CC of TIF

Sample CC of TIF

Thanks Dan
I'll see if my post house has tried it yet..

If you would like me to do a sample CC on a few 16bit REDLOG TIF output from REDCINE without any adjustments there I can, that would let you see the results without having to learn or install anything.

One cannot make judgements about image quality from a JPG, and Log DPX require a LUT to be calibrated, that is one of the reasons why I am using video gamma 16bit (48bpp) TIF, they look much the same on any PC monitor that is "un-calibrated" operating at its natural gamma of between 2.22 and 2.40 about. So frames CCed with my programs can be swapped between FreeDOS, ME, and XP Home without having to match LUT or other sources or error, and look about the same on any PC that have straght SVGA to a CRT HI-RES monitor. LCD monitors should not be used for grading if the image changes as you move your head around to different viewing angles. TIF hold all 12 to 14 bits of sensor data from the Digital Cameras or from S16/35mm film scans, so you have more grading range without histogram gaps and other image losses.

To finish 3K you would need a few cheep PC, one running ME to edit and mix on, one running XP Home for general file backup and other tasks such as formatting large disks FAT32 using a freeware program from the internet, and 5 to 40 running FreeDOS (or ME boot floppy etc.) to process frames depending on how fast you need to get done. If you want to DIY filmout you would need to use one running ME boot floppy since XP Home can have problems with the high resolution video modes. The sound negative can be made at a lab, the film is run both ways so the stock and processing only cost maybe $750 (you can get sound stock from Kodak and Agfa etc., and many people can transfer sound on their optical recorder or you can make one). Each print to expose yourself costs maybe $1200 to $1500 for stock and processing (the lab may mark up the processing, but you can get Kodak and Agfa print stocks direct).

You do not need a "post house" to use my DI system, but if they want to they can see my licence also.

If you have any questions or would like to see sample CC on your data, feel free to PM or email me anytime. That goes for other REDUSERs as well.