May
Pomfort has released a new software for color management on set, called LiveGrade. This new system has been announced for quite some time, and was recently shown during NAB. In addition, a beta version has been tested in different productions (commercials, television and film productions) for 3 months with excellent results.
LiveGrade is an innovative solution that allows color management and look creation in order to obtain an image as close as possible to the final image from the shoot. In this way, dailies can also be generated with integrated LUTs, which makes it much easier for the whole team when it comes to the viewing process.
One of the qualities of LiveGrade is that it is not a stand-alone software, but works in conjunction with Blackmagic Design’s HDLink device. HDLink allows the monitoring of images (in 2D or s3D) from HDTV up to 2K, allowing the inclusion of LUTs, 4:4:4:4 video quality and audio output. This Blackmagic device is available from $495.
Currently, LiveGrade is capable of working with two modes: “CDL Grade” and “Alexa Looks”. One of the reasons, according to members of the company, why this system was created was to be able to faithfully and reliably handle Alexa Looks. To do this, it took into account the journey already taken with the Silverstack software (also from Pomfort) and integrated its technology along with that of the HDLink devices.
Working with the Alexa camera, therefore, we will use the “Alexa Looks” mode, designed to work with Log-C, with support for export and import of “Alexa Look” files. However, if you want to work with other cameras such as Sony, Canon or RED, we will use the “CDL Grade” mode, which offers ASC-CDL controls (via SDI signal). In this mode you can import and export all types of ASC-CDL files, as well as import 3D LUTs.
These two modes can be operated directly from the software functions or through external controllers. Right now this can only be done with the Avid Artist Color or Tangent Wave controllers, but in the future it will also be possible with the Tangent Element.
The HD-SDI signal from the camera is transmitted through HDLink, passing to LiveGrade via a USB connection so that it can take control and adjust the parameters (lift, gamma, gain, saturation, etc.).
LiveGrade also supports ICC profiles (which are loaded to display the camera signal) for the use of computer monitor calibration profiles with HDLink devices.
Cube-O-Scope
Included within LiveGrade, also comes Cube-O-Scope; a new way of visualizing the result of a 3D LUT. A color cube illustrates clearly and simply how to interact with the color controls in the software, providing additional test and control options for creating the looks.
LiveGrade is currently available for $479 (379€) from the Pomfort website. You can also download a 14-day trial version from here.
