Are you familiar with RAW video formats? While film and television have a long history, RAW video formats are relatively new. It wasn’t until RED launched their first digital video camera in 2008 that the concept of a raw video file entered the mainstream. But what exactly is a raw file? Instead of recording a viewable image like a Prores or MP4, the camera records the raw data from the camera’s image sensor. This raw data needs to be processed by additional software to produce an image that we can all see.
But here’s where it gets tricky – understanding how this all works within the After Effects color management system. While there are many benefits to raw files, they also introduce another layer of complexity to color managed workflows. Luckily, there are several different approaches we can take when using raw videos.
If you’ve been following our previous articles on color managed workflows, there may be some overlap here. However, there are a few things in this video that can appear ambiguous or unclear if you haven’t seen all of the earlier parts on workflows. So let’s clarify a few things.
With the release of After Effects 2023, we now have three possible approaches to color management in After Effects: using the built-in Adobe system with ICC profiles, with AE 2022 and earlier, downloading the OpenColorIO plugin and using ACES, or with AE 2023, OpenColorIO and ACES are now built-in and don’t need plugins.
The video above makes several references to interpreting footage items – telling After Effects what colorspace an asset uses. However, it also discusses using the “Preserve RGB” function. It’s important to understand the difference here. The concept of “interpreting” the colorspace of a footage item relates to using the built-in color management methods. If we are using AE 2022 or earlier, this means the Adobe ICC system. In AE 2023, OCIO and ACES are also built-in. When using one of these built-in systems, we can set the colorspace of footage items by using the “interpret footage” settings, and then the colorspace of each item appears in the project window.
But if we are using the OpenColorIO plugin (with versions 2022 or earlier), then we use the “Preserve RGB” option instead. This ensures that no conversion happens before the OCIO plugin can process the image. No colorspace is listed in the project window because, at the project level, the footage doesn’t have a colorspace. All of the image data is passed over to the composition, where we use the OpenColorIO plugin to manually convert our file into our desired colorspace.
In the video above, the specific example of R3D files is used because of the problems posed by the default color settings. This was the topic of an older video that goes into more detail – it’s still accurate and relevant, so if you’re interested, you can watch it here.
However, the three different approaches to dealing with R3D files all relate to which version of After Effects you’re using and which color management system. R3D files are a good example because they are supported by ACES but not by the Adobe ICC system. If you are using After Effects 2022 or earlier, there aren’t any RED colorspaces listed in the ICC profiles that come up when you “interpret footage.”
If you are using AE 2022 or earlier, then the only way to use the default RED colorspace is to “Preserve RGB” and then use the OpenColorIO plugin. If you are using AE 2023, then you still won’t find the RED colorspaces listed among the ICC profiles. But if you change the color management engine to the new built-in system, then you will find them listed in the relevant ACES section. Once selected, the colorspace will be listed in the project window.
If you’re after more information on Bayer filters, then the RED website has a great article here. And if you’re wondering why camera manufacturers have developed several different log formats, then you might like this Canon article.
This is part 16 in a long series on color management. If you’ve missed the other parts, you can catch up here. And if you’re interested in AI tools, Premiere Pro, or virtual production, be sure to check out some of our other articles!
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