Color management workflow in Adobe After Effects CS4
2
Why use color management in your After Effects projects?
In addition to allowing correct representation of color appearance in your project and faithful
reproduction on your computer display, use of a color management system also gives you the
ability to do the following:
View accurate color and tone when using linear light (gamma 1.0) for compositing.
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After Effects CS4 allows you to composite colors using a gamma of 1.0. This option
allows for more photorealistic blending operations in your compositions. Color manage-
ment allows you to view this linear light encoding accurately on your computer monitor.
Repurpose material for different output conditions.
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In some cases, you may have
content that has been composited but will be displayed on different output media.
It may be necessary to change the color values for those different output media (for
example, digital cinema, high-definition video, or a website). This can be done by
selecting a specific output color space when it is time to render the composition.
Work on projects using different computers.
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The ICC profile that defines the colors
in your project is embedded in the project when the project is saved. Workstations
with accurate monitor ICC profiles allow you to view colors consistently across these
workstation displays. This includes workstations using different operating systems.
Manage footage from multiple sources.
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When you import footage into your After
Effects project, colors can be correctly interpreted based on the technology used to
capture or create them.
View color consistently in other applications.
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If you are using Adobe Photoshop®
or other Adobe Creative Suite® components in your workflow, you will be able
to view color consistently across these applications. Both Photoshop and
Adobe Illustrator® will use ICC profiles embedded in your files. Currently, Adobe
Premiere® Pro does not support color management.
Simulate different output conditions without altering color values in your project.
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You may be working on a project that will be delivered in multiple formats (for
example, Cineon files for film-out or QuickTime for high-definition video). You can
simulate how colors will appear when output to these formats by simulating their
appearance in After Effects.
Tips for accurate color viewing
Before moving on to the workflow chapters, here are a few tips to help set up a presentation
environment that will work well with the color management features in After Effects CS4:
Calibrate and profile your computer monitor.
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This is a very important step for
achieving accurate and consistent color. There are several high-quality software
and hardware packages available that will enable you to calibrate and profile your
computer monitor. An accurate monitor profile allows the color management system
used by After Effects to accurately adjust colors for display on your monitor.
Work in a consistent environment.
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You may have an accurate profile for your
monitor, but if that monitor is located next to a window that provides inconsistent
lighting, the colors you view may not be as consistent as those viewed in a more
controlled environment.
Remove strongly colored objects in your field of vision.
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Your eyes are sensitive to
ambient lighting and colors that surround your computer monitor. Reducing the
amount of saturated colors in your field of vision will allow you to see colors more
accurately. For this reason, it is also a good idea to use a relatively neutral desktop
pattern when working in After Effects.
