AMA linking, gamma / after effects

[Andrew Mckee]

AMA will generally try and figure out whether a file is 709 or RGB and if it is RGB, remap it to 709. If you don’t want this to happen you will have to change the source settings.

Andrew McKee
Editor/Colourist
Avid Certified Instructor – MC5.5
Apple Certified Trainer – FCP7
Pixelwizard.net

[Stig Olsen]

How is it possible to remap to RGB?
I dont think its possible to remap or change the source settings if its not a RED-file? I know its possible to right click and change on RED-files, but I dont think its possible on other files.

[Michael Phillips]

With version v5.5 you can right click->source settings and set levels for QT files to be stretched to graphic levels, constrained to video levels, or remain untouched.

Michael

Michael Phillips

[Stig Olsen]

I see, guess I should update.
But, since the material through AMA is a bit dull, low contrast I assume its 709 already and switching to RGB will probably just make it more contrasty, isnt that right?
The problem is that I dont really know how it should look like.

If its supposed to be dull with less contrast it is as it should be imported with AMA now. But then its wrong in After Effects because there is it more contrasty.

What is correct?

[Hans Sieber]

In my experience it`s not just simply the remapping to full range or vice versa. Apart from “locked” codecs like DNxHD/XDCAM you always have a not so slight gamma shift when using AMA. Maybe that`s what you are facing right now. I`ve been talking to several Avid guys during the last 2 years and never got a satisfying answer. But working with log files it shouldn`t matter that much as you should grade the original files. I don`t know Davinci Resolve but I might guess that it could be able to grade the clips as they were shot. Using a EDL/AAF sequence export e.g.
And no, you can`t apply a LUT on the files during Import or AMA. At my post house we are shooting on RED/Alexa and do the baselight grading using the Nucoda Filmmaster. These files are being prepped for import into Avid. Afterwards we revert back to the Original files.
Yours sincerely
Hans

[Stig Olsen]

Thanks for your answer!

I guess its ok with the gamma not being 100% correct with AMA-import as we grade the original files in Resolve.
But, when the original files are imported in After Effects the colors and gamma is VERY different.
Its like the original files in Avid (AMA) is more dull (709) with no contrast, as it should be – and in After Effects they are treated more like RGB. And yes, I have changed the color profile to 709, but it doesnt matter, it still looks like RGB with hard contrast.

That is a problem, because it should be possible to see the clips in 709 or more like the originals, as the VFX often is adjusted related to the colors and gamma.

I guess the question is: Is it not possible to see the S-log files in AE with the same gamma (709) as in a ama-workflow in Avid?

The thing that confuses me even more is that the gamma (when viewing the file in quicktime) is more contrasty/ more like in AE, but I guess this can be a quicktime-player problem.

As the original files look almost the same in quicktime player and in After Effects, its easy to assume that THEY are treating the footage correct and that AMA Avid is not.
But, if AMA Avid views it correct, then Quicktime player and After effects is not showing it correctly.

[Hans Sieber]

I`ll try to give my best shot. I´m no AFX expert, but are you able to apply the correct LUT for the S-Log files during “import”? I think there might be a trap waiting for you in your workflow. Are integrating CG in AFX or are you doing 2D work? Without the correct LUT being applied I don´t see how you could integrate CG without a lot of back and forth.
But I´m no expert in that! Just a guess from my experience.
Are the Avid and AFX on the same platform? (MAC/Windows) cause there is a problem viewing ProRes files. They tend to look diferent on either platform. With what version of QT are you watching them? QT X supersaturates/HiCons all content. QT 7 is far more reliable.
In the end I would not trust the AMA! As already mentioned in my other post, the AMA is still under counstruction and not to be trusted if you`re not working with propitary codecs.
Youts sincerely
Hans