To Choose A Working Color Space; To Proof Colors; To See A Theater Preview - Adobe AFTER EFFECTS 7.0 Manual

To choose a working color space

If you don't choose a working color space for a project, After Effects uses the color space of the monitor. For best
results, choose a working color space that matches your output color space. For example, choose SDTV (Rec 601
NTSC) if you're preparing footage for broadcast video, or choose sRGB IEC61966-2.1 if you're preparing footage for
the web. A good match between working and output color spaces not only lets you take advantage of the After Effects
color management feature but also gives more accurate previews and somewhat more accurate results when linear
blending is used (see "To enable linear blending" on page 66). Setting a working color space, however, can signifi-
cantly slow RAM previews.
The color spaces available in After Effects vary based on the color profiles installed on your computer.
Choose File > Project Settings.
1
Choose a working color space from the Working Space menu.
2
Use the Color Profile Converter effect to convert a layer from one color space to another. For example, apply the Color
Profile Converter effect to an adjustment layer at the top of a composition to convert output to a different color space.
(See "Color Profile Converter effect" on page 551.)

To proof colors

If you've chosen a working color space, you can choose to proof your colors as they' d appear without the working
color space applied; that is, as raw color values in the color space of the monitor.
1 Choose View > Proof Setup > Unmanaged.
Choose View > Proof Colors to toggle the proof display on and off. When proofing is enabled, a check mark
2
appears next to the Proof Colors command.

To see a theater preview

You can preview footage in After Effects as it would appear on-screen in a theater (film-out) using Kodak 2383 film
stock and standard projector illumination.
Note: If you're using theater preview with Cineon files, first apply Kodak 5218 ICC Profile. See "To set options for Cineon
files" on page 105
Choose View > Proof Setup > Kodak 2383 Theater.
1
Choose View > Proof Colors to toggle the theater preview on and off. When theater preview is on, a check mark
2
appears next to the Proof Colors command.
Note: Theater preview works only for previews. If desired, you can render the project, maintaining the theater preview,
to display the expected output on non-film devices. To render with theater preview, apply two instances of the Color
Profile Converter effect to an adjustment layer at the top of the composition. For the first instance, set Input Profile to
Project Working Space, Output Profile to DPX Theater Preview-Standard Camera Film, and Intent to Absolute Colori-
metric. For the second instance, set Input Profile to DPX Theater Preview-Standard Print Film, Ouput Profile to the
targeted color space, and leave Intent at the default Relative Color. For more information, see "Color Profile Converter
effect" on page 551.
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User Guide