ASC CDL support

I use the open source Blender software. In Blender it is possible to create linear outputs and store those scene-referred imagery with OpenEXR. Is there an "ASC CDL" function in DaVinci to grade those images ?

Is there an "ASC CDL" function in DaVinci to grade those images ?

BMD Resolve does support ASC CDL.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ASC_CDL

CDL is about as basic a correction as it is possible to pass between systems.

jPo, CSI

although a CDL is not a good tool to grade linear light exrs....

although a CDL is not a good tool to grade linear light exrs....

Could you perhaps explain ? I am rather new to scene-referred images ....

In Blender it is possible to create a Wide Dynamic View on scene-referred (linear) imagery. Then you can use the ASC CDL node for grading. Now I thought maybe you can do that also in DaVinci. As I understand it I can store scene-referred images with OpenEXR and open those files in DaVinci. How would you recommend to grade these linear imagery ?

By the way ... I am also rather new in DaVinci. One of the reasons that I have started learning DaVinci is that they told me it is possible to work with OPenEXR files in DaVinci. What I want is bringing the scene-referred images in and grade those in DaVinci

Is there an "ASC CDL" function in DaVinci to grade those images ?

BMD Resolve does support ASC CDL.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ASC_CDL

CDL is about as basic a correction as it is possible to pass between systems.

jPo, CSI

Please, see my other reaction. If you could explain things I would be most thankful

At is core intent, ASC CDL is not a grading mode or "function", it is primarily a list exchange file to assist in translating corrections made in one application to appear in another.

The CDL can only describe RGB adjustments, as various other secondary qualifications, tracking, power windows, noise reduction, and everything else are not part of the protocol.
If you wish to start your treatment of an image in some other application, that's fine, if you want to continue your work for some reason in another, then exporting a CDL will be a step toward keeping the basic framework of the RGB adjustments that were made. A quick search seems to indicate to me (having never used Blender) that the list export is not a feature. It appears that the notional repurposing of the vocabulary simply uses the term "CDL" (away from its actual meaning of Color Decision List) to adopt the processing algorithms defined by the ASC that can be interpreted by other color applications to replicate the intention of the originating operator -- whether that is an on-set DIT, a cinematographer preparing a 'look-chart" for an online colorist, or an editor passing along notes to a finishing suite.

Where the confusion might set in is that Blender then uses different language and mathematics to describe the analogous processes of lift, gamma, gain (in Resolve, for example) and instead refers to them as Slope, Offset and Power.

Here is an article from Mike Most on the subject:
http://mikemost.com/?p=299#more-299

You will encounter the term "display-referred", which is more important to processes affecting the absolute values of an image with respect to the colorspace it resides within. For example, the differences between P3 DCI space and Rec709. The RGB values defined to reproduce the same visual impression in the different displays will be quite different, and its why we have LUTs in the first place that are not simply "looks."

jPo, CSI

or avoid the LUT's and just use ACES ODT's

but yea, CDL sucks for much of anything beyond very very basic P/S/O +s, and won't get you far

or avoid the LUT's and just use ACES ODT's

but yea, CDL sucks for much of anything beyond very very basic P/S/O +s, and won't get you far

Hi

I am really a beginner in DaVinci. And I just learned about the concept of Scene Referred Color Management. If I would store the scene-linear image (rendered in Blender, no post-production) and store it in OpenEXR, how would I best continue with this image in DaVinci. How to grade such a scene-linear image ?

- set the project to ACEScc
- set your ODT to 709
- drop the exr seq into the media pool
- grade to taste

that simple at the core

- set the project to ACEScc
- set your ODT to 709
- drop the exr seq into the media pool
- grade to taste

that simple at the core

I did follow up your recommendations but I still have a very dark image. The Open EXR / Rec709 file contains a linear image and somehow there is a view transformation necessary to transform the linear data to a 0..1 range and I think that does not happen. So I would expect a view transform function available in Resolve to do that. Maybe in the form of a LUT (although I am not very familiar with LUT's) ??

If you don't have any problems with working with OpenEXR in Resolve could you tell me in more detail how you do that ?

Jan;

you may need to try diffent IDT's if the EXR are not what ACES is expecting

i see a fair bit of VFX shots coming in as linear EXR mainly from Nuke centric houses, and only very rarely is there an issue, it's been pretty solid workflow for me

i usualy add the shots to the media pool, my usual setting is ACEScc / no project IDT / monitor refered ODT, and cut the shots into the timeline