Video: The Beginners Explanation of Gamma Correction & Linear Workflow

[Matt]

I've done a video tutorial on the very _basics_ of what gamma correction and linear workflow is, and why you need to use it, especially if you're lighting interiors.

I realise there are many threads and tutorials on the subject, but none of them explained to me what gamma is, and why it exists anyway!

This is my take on the explanation.

PLEASE bear in mind this is meant to be _very_ simplistic, and almost certainly leaves out certain topics or concepts. It is designed to help those, like me, who have heard about it, wanted to use it, but were put off by the technical aspects of it.

I just hope enough of my understanding on this is correct to be useful!

Cheers
Matt

Video Tutorial: The Beginners Explanation of Gamma Correction & Linear Workflow
Quicktime H.264 15.4MB Zipped

[Matt]

Oh, and here's the PDF used in the video if you want it ...

The Beginners Explanation of Gamma Correction and Linear Workflow.pdf

[evenflcw]

I'm definitely a beginner of this subject. So it helped loads (100% accurate or not)! Very nicely put together. Thanks alot!

[adhesiveX]

Thank you Matt! I really enjoy your tutorials,they are always so clear ,concise and to the point.

[AdamAvenali]

Originally Posted by Matt

It is designed to help those, like me, who have heard about it, wanted to use it, but were put off by the technical aspects of it.

yes, yes and yes! i can't wait to check this out tomorrow!

[probiner]

Thanks a lot Matt i don't understanding nothing about this and i might just start to get it now.

Cheers

[virtualcomposer]

For some reason I couldn't get my wife to watch this video for her birthday present. Lol. She said something like she'd rather see a romantic comedy. I mean what could be more romantic then gamma correction and linear workflows? Lol. Great tutorial by the way!

[nikfaulkner]

hell yeah, thanks matt. i'll check it out later.

thanks mate

n.

[-EsHrA-]

cheers Matt!

mlon

[JeffrySG]

Great video, Matt! Thanks!

Just a quick question. How do you go about picking colors in LW/modo for objects in let's say a procedural texture on screen? Isn't it hard to pick a color that you want as it would probably be much darker than what you needed? or is that what you use the jovian picker to help you with?

Also, is there a way in LW to apply a 2.2 gamma to every render after it's done so you don't need to open each render in PS to apply the gamma correction to check the image?

[Matt]

Originally Posted by JeffrySG

Just a quick question. How do you go about picking colors in LW/modo for objects in let's say a procedural texture on screen? Isn't it hard to pick a color that you want as it would probably be much darker than what you needed? or is that what you use the jovian picker to help you with?

For LightWave:

You need to use Jovian (by Ken Nign) or SG_CCTools (By Sebastian Goetsch)

For modo:

It colour corrects the pickers automatically, even the Windows one apparently (I didn't know that at the time of the video - doh!)

Originally Posted by JeffrySG

Also, is there a way in LW to apply a 2.2 gamma to every render after it's done so you don't need to open each render in PS to apply the gamma correction to check the image?

Yes, in the Image Processing Tab on the Effects panel, pull down on FP_Gamma, put your target gamma in there.

[kosmodave]

Many thanks for this video Matt, It's funny how I missed this issue and have struggled to get some renders to look right without using loads of lights, now I know.

Like all your videos, clear and to the point and should all be bundled with any Lightwave purchase.

Dave,

[art]

I'll just add my Thank You!

[JeffrySG]

Thanks for that additional info, Matt!

Sometimes hearing a simple explanation of a topic is all you need for everything to really click. Good job!

[thekho]

Great tutorial! Thanks, Matt