Re-learning color workflow

You are here:
< Back to Wiki

 

Quick Jumps:

 

First up, throw out all that 0-255 talk

The industry is finally moving away from this concept. From now on all colors will be talked about in the correct 0 – 1 colors space. The old 0-255 is a hold over from when we could only work in 8 bit colors, we now have better options.

8 bit space : Real Color Space

Red = 255

 Red = 1.0

Green = 0

 Green = 0.0

Blue = 255

 Blue =  1.0

 

 

 

What is Linear vs sRGB vs Others (yes there are more)
  • LINEAR () : A color value goes from 0-1 in a linear fashion. If you were to check half way from 0-1 you would get a value of 0.5
  • sRGB (LINK) : Adjusts the colors to give you more colors in the mid ranges while crunching blacks and white. Mostly for Computer monitors.
  • rec709 (LINK) : Use for HDTV. Your TV maybe converting this before you see the image
  • rec2020 (LINK) : HDR Monitors

Why use Linear?
When using a file in Nuke the math needs to be correct. When you apply a sRGB curve you are messing the math up. For example 50% gray is now more like 70% gray.

*JPEG under the hood adds a sRGB curve to the image without you seeing it.

 

The correct way to use color in a pipeline
3d software Compositing software Editing Software
 

Rendered in sRGB space

 

 Limited color correction, wrong math applied Crunched colors, limited color corection
Rendered in linear space Best color correction availability Best color correction availability and ability to add a LUT

 

Save your file in a correct file type
TYPE COLOR SPACE WORKFLOW COMPRESSION BEST USES
EXR Full 32 bit, Linear workflow Non-destructive compression From 3d package to Compositing to Editing
TGA 8 bit (with an Alpha) sRGB workflow Non-destructive compression File that are originally 8 bit ( scans, user made textures )
JPEG 8 bit sRGB workflow Destructive compression Output to client to view on the web or email
PNG 24 (Possible 32 bit) sRGB workflow Destructive &  Non-destructive compression Some games engines support this but mainly output only to web or email

 

TL;DR

  • Digital created files should always be saved as a linear file.
  • The fact that your are looking at your render on a monitor, its already sRGB