Hi!

I'm seeking some assistance and advice about a difference in colour between a CineformRAW DPX export and a Cineform444 DPX export.

The aim is to cut in Final Cut Pro and grade in Apple Color.

Rendering out of Final Cut Pro then converting the resulting .mov to DPX, then importing that in to Apple Color seems the best way to maintain the highest quality.

I'm using the workflow based at http://www.cineform.com/products/TechNotes/CineFormRAW-FCP.htm

The codec I'm using is CineForm NEO Player Feb 1: v1.40 (Build 47), acquisition is a Silicon Imaging 2K camera, recorded to 2048x1152 at 25fps

I'm using the Cineform to DPX utility under Windows to create .dpx sequences.

Examples
Exported from CineformRAW off the SI-2K
http://www.silversunpictures.com.au/client/cineform/Kitchen-CineformRAW.jpg - 100k
http://www.silversunpictures.com.au/client/cineform/Kitchen-CineformRAW.dpx - 9MB

Exported from the Final Cut Pro timeline
http://www.silversunpictures.com.au/client/cineform/Kitchen-Cineform444.jpg - 100k
http://www.silversunpictures.com.au/client/cineform/Kitchen-Cineform444.dpx- 9MB
(links will be held until end of March 2008)


This issue seems to be related to issues with After Effects, as described in http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/showthread.php?t=94626 but I'm not sure of a work-around.

Is this the cause? Can anyone provide some advice? This is my first post, so be gentle.



Workflow:
Installed the CineForm NEO Player Feb 1: v1.40 (Build 47)
- Opened up SetActiveMetadata panel
- Selected [i]Disable all Active Metadata and left Debayer filer to Automatic for both '8Bit presentation' and 'high precision'

- Created a new Final Cut Pro [FCP] project
- Dragged CineformRAW .avi clip from Finder into FCP bin, then onto timeline
- Confirmed timeline settings change
- Clicked on Sequence / Settings...
- In Quicktime Video Settings, clicked Advanced... tab
- In Compressor, selected the highest setting of Millions of Colours+
- In Compressor, clicked Options...
- Checked the Enable RGB 4:4:4 encoding Cineform 4:4:4 checkbox

- Selected an in and out point on the timeline
- Clicked File / Export / Quicktime Movie...
- Selected Setting: Current Settings
- Include: Video Only
- Selected Make Movie Self-Contained
- Named the clip, then hit Save.

- Rebooted into Boot Camp - Windows XP
- Used the CF2DPX.exe utility to export the .mov to DPX


System:
- Apple Tiger OS X 10.4.11
- Final Cut Pro 6.0.2
- MacPro 8-Core 3GHz 4GB RAM with 16.4TB Xsan storage, ATI Radeon X1900 XT graphics
- CineForm NEO Player [Feb 1: v1.40 (Build 47)]
- Quicktime 7.3

Simple, the CF2DPX is using the white balance metadata embedded information, whereas on the Mac you told it to turn off all metadata. We Need to rev the CF2DPX tools so you can control the metadata better.

Wow - David, thanks for the fast response!

Is that revision to the CF2DPX likely to be out and about soon? Its only we're looking to have a delivery in early March...

Yes. The current version of CF2DPX is not correctly influenced by the metadata controls in Start Menu->Program->CineForm>Prospect->Tools. It is decoding the data as shoot in camera, with the metadata that was active at that time. The code has already been upgraded for these controls, we just haven't uploaded a new version.