Feedback on a bulletproof, lossless, Output Module (16bcp and ProRes4444 millions of colors)

Question

Hi,

With my Project Settings set to 16bcp, no working space (color), Mercury GPU Acceleration (CUDA) and expression engine JavaScript - would you recommend using ProRess 4444 with trillions of colors as Output module to make sure I always render out from ae a lossless file with the same/correct colors and the ability to have alpha-channels?

I've used 8bcp and rendered in Proress 422. Problems have then occurred when I have exported a alpha-render. Then I need Proress 4444 and voilà, without knowing it I have rendered a lossless files that does not match the other files colors. I want to prevent this and always use the same codec and project-settings. I'm aware that depending on for example imported video-files I might need to change the color-profile.

I mainly do 2D-animation with vector art imported from Illustrator via Overlord. Sometimes I use Photoshop and import the psd.file to Ae.

Thanks.

/Pär

Mylenium · Answer

Things aren't that easy, especially if you aren't even enforcing correct color by actually using color management. so the short answer to your question is: No, there is no guarantees, even more so since with 16 bpc you already exceed the effective gamut of average LCD screens and what you see on screen may just be clipped output limited by the screens available dynamic range. and that's the crux of it: There could be data that you don't actually see, but it would still be in the output files and depending on what player/ viewer you used, it could have an effect on your colors. So without getting yourself dirty and realyl getting into CM workflows there will always be a level of uncertainty and discrepancies on your output. At the very least you would have to have a calibrated monitor and use its profile also for previewing everywhere, not just in AE, but that technically still is not proper CM. Such is the nature of the thing... It's extremely complex and convoluted already without even getting into the nitty-gritty of how output CoDecs affect colore representation as well - even something as ProRes 444.

Mylenium

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