What's the best way to setup monitor(s) for color correction / grading using After Ef at DVinfo.net

Bruce Watson · April 29th, 2011, 12:23 PM

What's the best way to setup monitor(s) for color correction / grading using After Effects CS5?

What I'm after is more or less WYSIWYG -- I want the AE composition viewer to show me the colors, contrast, shadow detail, highlight detail, etc. that I'll see when I export the composition to a Blu-ray and look at it on an HDTV. Mostly interested in HD, but I'll probably end up doing some SD work (DVD) too.

I've searched this forum and others, researched all around, and I actually thought I understood it for a few minutes. Sadly, now I'm confused again. If I read this article correctly, it would seem that AE can do more or less WYSIWYG with a single monitor setup, if the monitor is an HP dreamcolor or an Eizo CG243W (that supports at least Rec.709 for HD, but Rec. 601 for SD). Has anyone found this to be true?

How do most people setup an Adobe CS5 NLE workstation to do color correction and grading? It seems like maybe the best value might be to use a cheap-ish monitor for most of the panels and a decent HDTV (one that can be calibrated) for the composition viewer, but IDK.

Just a note here -- I realize that the "best" way to color grade would be using a big honking production monitor with all the bells and whistles run by a dedicated color grading system. But that's a little out of my budget. I'm trying to keep this down below, say, $3000 USD.

Clearly I need to tap into the group's experience with this. Please tell me what you think.

Harm Millaard · April 29th, 2011, 01:19 PM

Use a calibration tool like Spyder3 Elite Datacolor - Global Leader in Color Management Solutions to properly calibrate your monitor and proceed from there.

Bart Walczak · April 29th, 2011, 02:13 PM

For under $3000 you can easily have Blackmagic Decklink Studio and a decent JVC 17-inch studio monitor to get your output there.

Bruce Watson · April 29th, 2011, 03:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Harm Millaard

Use a calibration tool like Spyder3 Elite Datacolor - Global Leader in Color Management Solutions to properly calibrate your monitor and proceed from there.

My understanding is that the problem with this is that computer monitors support computer and graphics colorspaces (generally sRGB or AdobeRGB). To get WYSIWYG with video, the monitor needs to support the video colorspaces (Rec. 709 for HD, or Rec. 601 for SD).

For example, computer monitor color spaces generally think of black as 0 and white as 256, while video color spaces think of black as 16 and white as 235. This probably effects the gamma as well.

So... can you really get WYSIWYG from AE with a fully calibrated computer monitor (e.g. NEC PA241W SpectraView display that does not support Rec. 709)?

Bruce Watson · April 29th, 2011, 03:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bart Walczak

For under $3000 you can easily have Blackmagic Decklink Studio and a decent JVC 17-inch studio monitor to get your output there.

Yes, something like the http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/724202-REG/JVC_DT_R17L4DU_DT_R17L4DU_17_Studio_Monitor.html perhaps. That's an option. Problem is, I need a calibrated computer monitor too (for Photoshop work), something like a http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/689879-REG/NEC_PA241W_BK_SV_MultiSync_PA241W_BK_SV_24_1_Widescreen.html Now my budget is blown.

But that's the question -- if a studio monitor is the only logical path, then I have to make it work somehow.

Bart Walczak · April 30th, 2011, 02:40 AM

For Photoshop work I found Eizo panels Coloredge series better than Nec's. Both in quality, and in pricing. Take a look here: EIZO / ColorEdge Hardware Calibration Monitors

Steve Kalle · May 3rd, 2011, 02:35 AM

Hi Bruce,

I have an Eizo CG243W and use AE CS5 quite a bit. I also have a Quadro FX3800 connected via Displayport to the Eizo so I get 10bit. I must say that this setup works beautifully.

I have a brightness setting of 120cd/m for video calibrations (rec 709 and Rec 601) and 80cd/m for photo work. To change the saved calibration settings, it is as simple as pushing a button on the monitor.

And I use the cheaper $149 X-Rite i1 LT as this works with the Eizo ColorNavigator software. http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/484457-REG/X_Rite_EODLT_i1Display_LT_Color_Management.html
FYI, using an I/O card usually incurs restrictions in AE with 16bpc and 32bpc comps - some cards/boxes work with some settings and some don't work at all (like the Matrox Mini and 32bit comps).

For $3000, I would get the Quadro 2000 or Quadro 4000 (depending on your 3D software needs) as both have 10bit Displayport in addition to the Eizo CG243W and i1.

Bruce Watson · May 3rd, 2011, 01:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steve Kalle

I have an Eizo CG243W and use AE CS5 quite a bit. I also have a Quadro FX3800 connected via Displayport to the Eizo so I get 10bit. I must say that this setup works beautifully.

I am sorta leaning in this direction.

Just to be clear, what you see when working in AE (using the Rec. 709 preset) is the same thing you see when you write a blu-ray and play it through a standard blu-ray player to an HDTV? Shadow detail, highlight detail, saturation, contrast, all that?

April 29th, 2011, 12:23 PM	#1
Bruce Watson Major Player Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Raleigh, NC, USA Posts: 710	What's the best way to setup monitor(s) for color correction / grading using After Ef What's the best way to setup monitor(s) for color correction / grading using After Effects CS5? What I'm after is more or less WYSIWYG -- I want the AE composition viewer to show me the colors, contrast, shadow detail, highlight detail, etc. that I'll see when I export the composition to a Blu-ray and look at it on an HDTV. Mostly interested in HD, but I'll probably end up doing some SD work (DVD) too. I've searched this forum and others, researched all around, and I actually thought I understood it for a few minutes. Sadly, now I'm confused again. If I read this article correctly, it would seem that AE can do more or less WYSIWYG with a single monitor setup, if the monitor is an HP dreamcolor or an Eizo CG243W (that supports at least Rec.709 for HD, but Rec. 601 for SD). Has anyone found this to be true? How do most people setup an Adobe CS5 NLE workstation to do color correction and grading? It seems like maybe the best value might be to use a cheap-ish monitor for most of the panels and a decent HDTV (one that can be calibrated) for the composition viewer, but IDK. Just a note here -- I realize that the "best" way to color grade would be using a big honking production monitor with all the bells and whistles run by a dedicated color grading system. But that's a little out of my budget. I'm trying to keep this down below, say, $3000 USD. Clearly I need to tap into the group's experience with this. Please tell me what you think.

April 29th, 2011, 01:19 PM	#2
Harm Millaard Trustee Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Rotterdam, Netherlands Posts: 1,832	Re: What's the best way to setup monitor(s) for color correction / grading using Afte Use a calibration tool like Spyder3 Elite Datacolor - Global Leader in Color Management Solutions to properly calibrate your monitor and proceed from there.

April 29th, 2011, 02:13 PM	#3
Bart Walczak Major Player Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Warsaw/Poland Posts: 716	Re: What's the best way to setup monitor(s) for color correction / grading using Afte For under $3000 you can easily have Blackmagic Decklink Studio and a decent JVC 17-inch studio monitor to get your output there. __________________ Creative Impatience - The Solace of Simple Solutions. A few useful plugins for Adobe users, and my remarks on the tools and the craft in general.

April 30th, 2011, 02:40 AM	#6
Bart Walczak Major Player Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Warsaw/Poland Posts: 716	Re: What's the best way to setup monitor(s) for color correction / grading using Afte For Photoshop work I found Eizo panels Coloredge series better than Nec's. Both in quality, and in pricing. Take a look here: EIZO / ColorEdge Hardware Calibration Monitors __________________ Creative Impatience - The Solace of Simple Solutions. A few useful plugins for Adobe users, and my remarks on the tools and the craft in general.

May 3rd, 2011, 02:35 AM	#7
Steve Kalle Trustee Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 1,554	Re: What's the best way to setup monitor(s) for color correction / grading using Afte Hi Bruce, I have an Eizo CG243W and use AE CS5 quite a bit. I also have a Quadro FX3800 connected via Displayport to the Eizo so I get 10bit. I must say that this setup works beautifully. I have a brightness setting of 120cd/m for video calibrations (rec 709 and Rec 601) and 80cd/m for photo work. To change the saved calibration settings, it is as simple as pushing a button on the monitor. And I use the cheaper $149 X-Rite i1 LT as this works with the Eizo ColorNavigator software. http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/484457-REG/X_Rite_EODLT_i1Display_LT_Color_Management.html FYI, using an I/O card usually incurs restrictions in AE with 16bpc and 32bpc comps - some cards/boxes work with some settings and some don't work at all (like the Matrox Mini and 32bit comps). For $3000, I would get the Quadro 2000 or Quadro 4000 (depending on your 3D software needs) as both have 10bit Displayport in addition to the Eizo CG243W and i1.