How to apply CDL files in After Effects (CC 2020 or later)?

[quimbymouse]

Anybody have ideas on how to apply .cdl files into AE to match a VFX to AVID color pipeline?

In the past I was able to do a work around by applying .cdl files through a third party plugin (a free Colorista version) that only works in AE 2017 or older. When I contacted Adobe support for help on installing this old version of AE they said they have discontinued apps older than 2020 and that AE does not support .cdl files.

The kind person who created the free Colorista plugin has since created a preset for AE 2020 and after called Prolost CDL but it requires you manually enter value information which is not something I want to do. I'm looking for something that can automatically read and apply the values written in the .cdl file.

Can anyone recommend a free third party plugin that can do that or do I have to buy Red Giant's Colorista plugin to make this .cdl work? Or does it make sense to contact the DI facility to request a different color file format that AE can read (like a .cube file)?

Any help or advice is appreciated. Thanks.

[Premiopolis]

Lumetri color gives you the ability to do this.  Details on this Adobe discussions page.

[fnordware]

FYI, I recently made a free CDL plug-in for AE, available on fnord.com. It exposes the CDL settings as AE sliders and includes scripts for reading CDL files.