Adobe 65008009 - After Effects CS4 Using Manual page 294

Last updated 12/21/2009
4 Do one of the following to calibrate and profile your monitor:
• For best results, use third-party software and measuring devices. In general, using a measuring device such as a
colorimeter along with software can create more accurate profiles because an instrument can measure the colors
displayed on a monitor far more accurately than the human eye can.
Most profiling software automatically assigns the new profile as the default monitor profile. For instructions on how
to manually assign the monitor profile, see the documentation for your operating system.
• In Mac OS, use the Calibrate utility, located in the System Preferences > Displays > Color tab.
Choose a working color space and enable color management
You turn color management on for a project by choosing a working color space (Working Space) for the project in the
Project Settings dialog box. You control color management for each footage item with the Interpret Footage dialog box or
interpretation rules file. You control color management for each output item in the Output Module Settings dialog box.
If Working Space is set to None in the Project Settings dialog box, color management is off for the project.
Choosing a working color space is an essential step in managing color in a project. Colors of footage items are
converted into the working color space as a common color space for compositing.
For best results, when working with 8-bpc color, match the working color space to the output color space. If you are
rendering to more than one output color space, you should set the project color depth to 16 bpc or 32 bpc, at least for
rendering for final output. The working color space should match the output color space that has the largest gamut.
For example, if you plan to output to Adobe RGB and sRGB, then use Adobe RGB as your working color space, because
Adobe RGB has a larger gamut and can therefore represent more saturated colors. To preserve over-range values, work
in 32-bpc color for its high dynamic range.
Suggestions for working color space choices:
• SDTV NTSC or SDTV PAL is a good choice if you're making a movie for standard-definition broadcast television,
including standard-definition DVD.
• HDTV (Rec. 709) is a good choice if you're making a movie for high-definition television. This color space uses the
same primaries as sRGB, but it has a larger gamut, so it makes a good working space for many kinds of work.
• ProPhoto RGB with a linear tone response curve (gamma of 1.0) is a good choice for digital cinema work.
• sRGB IEC61966-2.1 is a good choice if you're making a movie for the Web, especially cartoons.
The color spaces available in After Effects vary based on the color profiles installed on your computer. (See
profiles" on page 286.)
Choose File > Project Settings.
1
2 Choose a working color space from the Working Space menu.
Previews sent to an external video monitor are not color managed. The color values sent to the video monitor are from
the working color space for the project. To preview video colors, choose a value for Working Space in the Project
Settings dialog box that matches the color space of the preview device.
Similarly, colors in a composition sent to Adobe Premiere Pro or Encore using Dynamic Link are in the working color
space of the After Effects project.
To manage colors in a dynamically linked composition or for video previews, create a new composition and nest your
composition within it; then apply the Color Profile Converter effect to the nested composition, with Input Profile set
to Project Working Space. For video previews, then set Output Profile to match the color space of the video preview device.
(See "Color Profile Converter effect" on page 610.)
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USING AFTER EFFECTS CS4
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