The Color Management Handbook for Visual Effects Artists

Book excerpt: Victor Perez brings together the research and expertise of world-leading color scientists to create a comprehensive guide for visual effects (VFX) artists in color management. This book explores the latest standards of high dynamic range (HDR) and Academy Color Encoding System (ACES) workflows, in an easily digestible and widely applicable resource. Its purpose is to make artists confident and familiar with Color Management and its science, to improve the quality of visual effects worldwide. Without assuming any previous knowledge, this self-contained book builds the reader’s understanding from the ground up, exploring all the elements of the color workflow at a scientific level. It covers how to set up a consistent pipeline in relation to other departments, inside and outside visual effects, from camera to screen, so everybody is aligned to the same standards, preserving color qualities and consistency while maintaining the artistic intent end to end. It also delves into all the integral concepts for color management, ranging from color theory to digital image fundamentals, and much more. This book is an invaluable resource for VFX students and professionals who want to be well informed about the latest HDR and ACES pipelines, as well as those at every level of production wishing to gain a deeper understanding of managing color in visual effects projects.