Resolve Colour Science Explained
Resolve Colour Science Explained
In digital imaging systems (Resolve), colour management is the controlled conversion between the colour spaces of various devices, such as digital cameras, monitors, TV screens, film printers, computer printers etc.
DaVinci Colour Management allows us to remap our footage (from whatever source) to a common standard and then deliver to another deliverable standard. It preserves maximum image integrity throughout the colour pipeline from acquisition to delivery.
It has the following 3 features
1. Being able to work with multiple camera types and have them remapped into the same colour workspace - good
4. Image quality, gamut, colour depth, bit depth, etc is preserved throughout.
2. Able to deliver to multiple standards - change output colour space for cinema, broadcast, HDR, sir etc without needing to create a different project each time.
3. The project is future proofed for when display technology improves
The default setting for DaVinci colour management is DaVinci YRGB. Known as “Display Referred” colour management. This means that Resolve has no information about how the source media used in the Timeline is supposed to look; you can only judge colour accuracy via the calibrated broadcast display you’re outputting to. Essentially, you are the colour management, in conjunction with a trustworthy broadcast display that’s been calibrated to ensure accuracy.
DaVinci Resolve 12 introduced a colour science option called “DaVinci YRGB Color Managed,” or “Resolve Color Management” (RCM). Known as “Scene Referred” colour management. With this you can match each type of media you’ve imported with a colour profile that informs DaVinci Resolve how to represent each specific color from each clip’s native color space.
In other words two clips can contain the same RGB value for a given pixel, may in actuality be representing different colours at that pixel dependent on their colour space. Using Resolve Color Management will account for this and represent the colours correctly.
The Input, Timeline, and Output Color Space
The colour space of the camera used. This will be DaVinci Wide Gamut. This is usually Rec.709 Gamma 2.4
Input Colour Space
This is the colour space the camera was set at during the shoot. It is essential you have this information from the camera team. Dependent on the clips supplied DaVinci will be able to automatically read the colour space, or you can manually enter the information.
Timeline Colour Space
This is the intermediate colour space that all your source clips will be transformed into. In our use case we will be choosing DaVinci Wide Gamut so whatever source material you use will always react predictably to grading controls and enables you to transform into all the major delivery colour spaces.
Output Colour Space
During grading this will be set to whatever display device you are using - Rec.709 Gamma 2.4 for our grading monitors. You then have the option to change the option dependent on your various deliverables.
Setting up for Resolve Color Management
Enabling RCM
Goto Setting>Color Management
Use the following selections>>>>>
Selecting your input colour spaces
In the Media Pool right click in the column headeer and make sure Input Color Space is selected
In the Media Pool right click in the column header and make sure Input Color Space is selected.
If your camera colour space is not automatically detected you can manually select it by right clicking your clips
With your colour management set up. You are now ready to grade.
