Using embedded CDL data in post

Tools of the trade, new plug-ins, log c etc.
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Elliott Balsley
Posts: 22
Joined: Mon Jan 18, 2016 8:39 pm

I'm curious about the post workflow for the Alexa CDL Server feature. If I use Pomfort LiveGrade to embed CDL metadata in the Alexa Quicktime or ARRIRAW files, what are the ways this metadata can be used in post? I'm interested in an automated way to apply it to dailies.
I believe Colorfront do it, but that's out of my price range.
I suppose I could use ArriColorTool to extract it for each clip and export as .CDL files, which can then be imported to Resolve using ColorTrace. That would work fine for one or two shots, but time-consuming for dailies on an entire movie.
Any way to use this metadata in Premiere or Avid if you are editing online?
Jan Heugel
Posts: 516
Joined: Wed Aug 13, 2014 3:15 pm
Location: Munich, Germany
Contact:

Dear Elliott,
I fear you are mixing up two things:
The CDL Server is a feature of internal ARRIRAW Recording on the ALEXA XT. You will need to set up the Codex side of things accordingly to extract the CDL information.

In case you're talking about live grading CDLs with ALEXA SXT (and in a future update ALEXA Mini and AMIRA) - there's no more CDL server but a full color management system servicing the ARRI Look File 2 - different options come to play: Since that CDL info is embedded into the metadata, all post- tools could read that information and make use of it. So does for example Adobe Premiere or BMD Resolve.

For more: http://www.arri.com/?eID=registration&file_uid=16157

Best,
Jan
Jan Heugel
Application Engineer
Elliott Balsley
Posts: 22
Joined: Mon Jan 18, 2016 8:39 pm

Ah, my mistake. I thought the CDL server worked for ProRes too. But I still have the same questions: Either for CDL metadata for ARRIRAW, or for the new ALF-2 system, how do you access that metadata? You mentioned Premiere and Resolve, but I can't find any documentation from either of them about this.
Jan Heugel
Posts: 516
Joined: Wed Aug 13, 2014 3:15 pm
Location: Munich, Germany
Contact:

Well, documentation is kind of a burden with software coming out at a fast pace - same here ;)
But, we've compiled a document on how to use our Look File in those programs: http://www.arri.com/?eID=registration&file_uid=15721

Here's the website for our Color Tool which is made to handle the color settings if the post tool can't.
http://www.arri.com/camera/alexa_mini/t ... olor_tool/

Please also have a closer look at our website, the download pages hide some treasure!

Cheers,
Jan
Jan Heugel
Application Engineer
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