What's New in 2012 Extension 1 >

# Format Support

Transcode / Format user interface modifications

To better present the new options for the Red 4.0 SDK, the Debayering options located in the Format menu have been re-arranged.

Format / Debayering options

Note: the Transcoded Shot Media options are now in the Output menu.

Red 4.0 SDK support

The Wiretap Gateway 2012 Extension 1 server now supports the new Red SDK version 4 and brings with it a number of new features.

ISO 12800 value

A new 12800 ISO value is now available in the Colour menu / ISO list.

R3D Bit Depth selector

It is now possible to select the working bit depth when working with R3D files (regular or HDRx files):

- 12-bit (Default)
- 16 bit fp: 16-bit floating point

When selecting the 16 bit fp option, the Gamma Curve setting is automatically set to Scene Linear (16bit fp) to keep it scene-referred and not prematurely tone-map the floating-point image.

R3D transcoding to OpenEXR files

It is now possible to select OpenEXR as a transcoding file format (in the Output menu). The resulting transcoded media will be 16-bit half float RGB files.

HDRx support

The Red Epic camera is able to record R3D files in two modes: standard and HDRx. The HDRx option allows the recording of two exposures as video tracks within the same R3D file. When you import HDRx footage in Lustre, there are new settings in the Format menu to select how you want to use the two exposures.

Format / HDRx Settings

- Primary Exposure: this is the main exposure of the R3D file
- Highlight Exposure: this is the second exposure of the R3D file.
- Blend Exposure: this option allows you to blend the values between the two exposures to create a single image for grading. This option uses both video tracks of their R3D file. Playback performance may be altered.
- High Dynamic Range: this option converts the two exposures into a 16-bit half-float image. When this option is selected, the Debayering / Bit Depth option is automatically set to 16-bit fp and the Gamma Curve setting is set to Scene Linear (16bit fp).

HDRx High Dynamic Range Options

- Blend: Set a value to blend the two exposures of a RED HDRx clip.With HDRx Settings set to Blend Exposures, this field behaves like the blend in REDCINE-X. The blend operation is a blend of the two exposures: -1 shows only the Highlight (X frame), 1 only the Primary (A Frame), and 0 a 50-50 mix. With HDRx Settings set to High Dynamic Range, Blend also attenuates the artefacts created by scene motions. Set to 1 unless you are troubleshooting motion artefacts.
- Exposure Offset: Set how much greater the Primary exposure was compared to the Highlight exposure, in units of stops. Only available when HDRx Settings box is set to High Dynamic Range. The Exposure Offset should be set to match the setting on the camera for how many stops separate the Primary and Highlight tracks. This is typically 2 or 3 stops. Enter the same value used to record the footage or you will get bad results.
- Highlight Threshold: Set the threshold when pixels from the Highlight exposure are used instead of the over-exposed pixels from the Primary exposure. Only available when HDRx Settings box is set to High Dynamic Range. Set Highlight Threshold last because import options such as ISO or FLUT lighten or darken the image. Too high and you get clipping (often including a magenta-coloured cast), too low and the midtones and shadows have noise leaking in from the Highlight track.

A Technique to Set Highlight Threshold

1. Go to the Colour > Grading menu.
2. Grade the image up and down. You want to exaggerate this grading to check whether there is either any clipping in the highlights or noise in the midtones (and shadows).
3. In the Image > Transcode menu, adjust Highlight Threshold.

Regarding the Grading of HDRx Footage

In the High Dynamic Range mode, Lustre imports HDRx footage as half-float (aka 16 fp). The same considerations apply as when reading OpenEXR files.

- Put in place an output LUT to tone-map the values (i.e. convert from HDR to video).
- Keep in mind that Lustre grades floating-point values by converting them to a logarithmic format. This allows the grading tools to work much as you are used to when grading log film scans. Control the scene-linear to log conversion using the Float Conversion LUT (Project Settings > Calibration).
- Try using the log_default as the Float Conversion LUT and the log_default_tonemap as your Render-->Output LUT as a starting point. This should provide a grading experience similar to grading log film scans through a print-film emulation LUT.

As with OpenEXR, RED HDRx images (in High Dynamic Range mode) come into Lustre with values above the normal grading range. For example, with 10-bit film scans 1023 comes in at the top of the normal grading range. If you turn your viewing LUT off the full grading range is mapped across the black-to-white on your projector, and you can see all the highlights detail on the negative. However, internally Lustre has a much larger working range and as with OpenEXR, HDRx images may start out with highlight detail that is outside the usual grading range. As such, even if you turn your tone-map off, you may still need to go into the Colour > Grading menu and grade down the image to see all of the highlight information available. So even though it may not be initially visible, keep in mind that there may be a vast amount of information in the Lustre working space that is available to grade via secondaries and al.

Red Flip metadata

When working with a Stereoscopic camera rig where the camera orientation has been modified to capture footage, it is possible to set the orientation of the image. Wiretap Gateway is able to read this data and automatically present the image in the right orientation. Note that any timeline created with media files with this metadata prior to Wiretap Gateway Server 2012 Extension 1will not show the media orientation based on this metadata. This may create different results than previous versions.

About RMD files generated by REDCINE-X

The latest version of REDCINE-X is able to generate RMD (Red Metadata) file with the HDRx Blend Exposure value. This data is not yet supported in Wiretap Gateway 2012 Extension 1.

Multi-Channel OpenEXR Import

It is now possible to import multi-channel OpenEXR files from Wiretap Gateway and see the imported clips as multiple channels. You can then use the various channels for secondary color grading.

Note: Since OpenEXR is a very flexible file format, there are some limitations regarding what is supported by Lustre:

- Only 16-bit half-float RGB OpenEXR files are supported.
- Mattes encoded in an OpenEXR file have to be RGB media. If not, the OpenEXR file will not be visible in the Media Browser or the non-RGB channels will display a red 'X' in the viewer.
- Channels must have the same resolution.
- OpenEXR playback requires fast CPUs and you may need to enable multiple Wiretap Gateway slaves to achieve acceptable playback performance. Also, when working with multiple channels, real-time playback may not be available and you may need to generate proxy media. In this case, make sure to enable the Project / Network Rendering / Wiretap / Local Proxy to be able to generate proxies for content coming from the Wiretap / Wiretap Gateway server.

Multi-Channel PSD Import

When you import Photoshop files (PSD), Lustre creates a multi-channel clip. You can use the the mattes for Secondary color grading.

OpenEXR Rendering

It is now possible to select OpenEXR as an output format for rendering. The resulting files are encoded as single channel RGB OpenEXR 16-bit half float.

Note: The ability to render OpenEXR files is only available on the Linux version of Lustre. Also, it is not possible to render OpenEXR files through Browsed.

AVC-HD Import

It is now possible to import AVC-HD content in Lustre through Wiretap Gateway. Video and audio media, and timecode tracks are supported.

Note: Only PCM audio is supported. Some cameras can record AC-3 audio, but this format is not supported. Only the video portion of AVC-HD media with AC-3 audio content is accessible from the application.

GoPro HD MP4 files support

GoPro camera records H.264 files with an "mp4" extension. Files from this camera are now supported by Wiretap Gateway Server.

The following frame rates and resolution are now supported (with audio):

- 1920x1080 (16x9, 29.97p and 25p)
- 1280 x 960 (4x3, 29.97, 25p)
- 1280 x 720 (16x9, 25p, 29.97p & 59.94p)
- 848x480 (16x9, 25p, 29.97p & 59.94p)

Due to limitation in the GoPro 59.94p files, the application assigns to those files the timing of the project. So if your project is set at 30fps, 59.94 GoPro files are imported at 30fps. To play back 59.94 GoPro files correctly, you must be using a 59.94 project.