Mon Nov 09, 2020 11:15 pm
A completely new Video mode for Gen 5 has been added to Blackmagic RAW and is available early in Resolve 17.
This now uses Rec.709 primaries with a far more useable gamma curve with lots of highlight roll off (6 stops over middle grey with another 3 stops in specular highlights) - this should be a good option for those wanting a more "accurate" starting point that still has a pleasing gamma curve. To accomodate this rolloff middle grey is shifted very slightly down from the standard 40.9% for Rec.709 to 40.34%.
The starting point for Ext Vid Gen 5 has also been slightly tweaked but is still based on Blackmagic Wide Gamut with contrast and saturation applied, and can be customized as always using the gamma controls in the RAW panel. The most notable (existing) differences to the new video mode come from the magenta/green axis having less saturation (more typical of print film etc), and even more highlight rolloff than the new video mode which causes highlights to desaturate more (a flatter gamma curve results in less saturation).
Both options should be very useable starting points depending on your scene and intention. Gen 4 Video is basically the standard Rec.709 gamma with only ~2.5 stops over middle grey so was more intended for matching to Broadcast cameras using Rec.709 gamma, but for those workflows Rec.709 gamma/colourspace is already available in the Blackmagic RAW panel or you can switch back to Gen 4 if desired.
**Any post by me prior to Aug 2014 was before i started working for Blackmagic**