Bit depth and Cineon/DPX questions.

[Anonymous]

Hello. I have a question: DPX and Cineon format have 10 bits color depth (logaritmic). Is this the same that 14 bits color depth (lineal)? If it,s the same, why flame works with 12 bits lineal only?
Other question: if my workflow is scanner (spirit), Flame and return to the film with Arrilaser at the end working with 2k images, should I use a look up table? Is not a good idea to convert the original color information from logaritmic to lineal, because the destiny is again film format, correct?

[Anonymous]

There have been and often are lengthy debates over the ability of 12 bit linear to equal 10 bit log. The end result is perhaps that most people agree that you can maintain unity via using the correct 10bit to 12 bit log conversion and inverse output. In other words no, it is not a problem to work 12 bit linear on cineon material.. so long as your doing the correct LUT manipulation.
Just to confuse you 😉 many people also do work with cineon files imported but NOT converted. this means that 10 bit log is read as 12 bit linear – never converted and then output again without a LUT. Instead of manipulating the data – a monitor LUT is used to just display the frames correctly – ( but by ‘tricking’ the monitor). I have worked like this very happily.. but you do need to watch your mattes.. and check them in both unmonitor LUT gamma and with monitor LUT, as a matte will appear black when really it is only dark grey.
This method sounds weird but it works fine and of course provides unity through the pipeline.

mike

[Author]

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