Adjusting a camera s gamma curves, exposure and dynamic range. Adjusting fine detail settings, setting focus, lens testing

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2 *Thanks to George Stevenson, Charlie Slie, Mickey Lions, Charlie Goldman, Russel Branch and Richard Grunberg for their submissions above to DSCa charts in action contest Adjusting a camera s gamma curves, exposure and dynamic range Adjusting fine detail settings, setting focus, lens testing White balancing, creating custom looks Camera performance benchmarking Alignment of 3D rigs Post production corrections Setting all cameras to a known repeatable color standard Matching scenes shot under diverse lighting conditions Matching multiple cameras different makes and models

3 1) Set up chart under conditions that replicate scene conditions. 2) Use scene lighting to illuminate chart evenly. 3) Focus, zoom and center image to framing lines. 4) White balance and use grayscale to adjust tracking for equal RGB levels 5) Set up color matrix. 6) Shoot a few frames to use as reference in post production. 7) Remove chart and begin shooting! Reshoot chart as a reference after any lighting or scene changes. Back focus settings can be sensitive to changes in temperature, check frequently. Underwater cinematographers face a constantly changing photographic environment. DSC Labs Splash chart helps them capture consistent, beautiful images, no matter what the Ocean throws their way.

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6 Which would you choose? White Printer Paper Un-calibrated unknown spectral properties Variation in spectral characteristics between different paper suppliers NO consistency Common printer paper tends to be blue CamWhite Chart Spectrophotometrically neutral Consistently neutral charts destroyed that do not meet rigorous specifications True white (based on Barium Sulfate)

7 White balancing to an un-calibrated white reference can introduce color bias at the start of a shoot. Color correction becomes guesswork, unless a test object with known spectral characteristics is used. Especially during the most basic step of camera alignment - Accuracy is Essential! Patented Technology: All DSC Labs CamWhite and Grayscale patterns utilize patented technology to ensure that whites and grays are spectrophotometrically neutral, providing users with consistent and accurate results every time.

8 1) Every camera is different. Even new cameras of the same make and model out of the box may have slight differences in color characteristics. 2) Visual analysis can be very subjective. The brain tends to fill in information that isn t there. Perception of what looks correct varies widely between people. Some classic examples of optical illusions. The colors are the same, but appear different when viewed in a different context. 3) Every monitor has different spectral properties. Colors viewed on a LCD may look entirely different when viewed on an LED or CRT display. 4) Different light sources produces a different spectral power distribution (energy at different wavelengths), so when lighting is changed, the perceived color of the scene will shift depending on the spectral properties of the new light source.

9 Compare the spectral curves of these two common light sources. The incandescent emits most of its energy in the red and yellow region of the spectrum. This will tend to make scenes shot under incandescent lighting look warm. In comparison, the fluorescent will tend to add a tinge of green, as it emits a large portion of its energy in the green portion of the visible spectrum. For consistency between takes, it is essential that adjustments be made to compensate for color differences caused by changes in lighting. If time is limited, shoot a precision chart in the scene for reference and corrections in post.

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11 Charting cameras at the start of a scene is a simple way to ensure your cameras match and colors remain consistent under every type of lighting. Hiring professional colorists to correct video footage can cost hundreds of dollars an hour. This expense can easily be avoided or minimized by matching cameras prior to shooting, or by recording a few frames of an accurate test target after every scene or lighting change for post production corrections. Losing footage due to poor camera alignment is inexcusable and can delay a project, resulting in the loss of valuable time and resources. In some extreme cases, once in a lifetime shots have been lost - a costly mistake to make. *Photo provided courtesy of Tom Bradbury for DSC Labs charts in action contest *Photo provided courtesy of Steve Holmes for DSC Labs charts in action contest

12 ChromaDuMonde 28R The industry standard for color calibration

13 Chart Features Framing Lines 16:9 and 4:3 Resolution Trumpets - up to 800 LPPH 4 Skin Tone patches 11 Step Crossed Grayscales Up to 24 Rec. 709 Calibrated Color Chips

14 The Six Sectors of the Vectorscope 1) Red Magenta 2) Magenta Blue 3) Blue Cyan 4) Cyan Green 5) Green Yellow 6) Yellow Red 1 Color Chips Calibrated to Rec CDM is designed to make identification of colors on the vectorscope intuitive - All chips are individually calibrated to ensure absolute accuracy when adjusting the camera s color matrices - Available with 6, 12 and 24 vector colors

15 The Six Sectors of the Vectorscope 1) Red Magenta 2) Magenta Blue 3) Blue Cyan 4) Cyan Green 5) Green Yellow 6) Yellow Red

16 The three color chips between primary vector colors provide additional data for precision matrix tuning. Adjustments can be made prior to shooting by manually correcting the camera s color matrix, or in post production using editing software combined with a few frames of chart. Camera Matching Simplified!

17 Basic Setup Color Bar Grayscale - 6 Vector Colors - 11 Step Crossed Grayscale Intermediate Setup ChromaDuMonde Vector Colors - 6 Intermediate Vector Colors - 4 Skin Tone Patches - 11 Step Crossed Grayscale Advanced Setup ChromaDuMonde 28-6 Vector Colors - 18 Intermediate Vector Colors - 4 Skin Tone Patches - 11 Step Crossed Grayscale

18 Color bar grayscale charts provide users with 6 primary vector colors for basic color matrix adjustment. Rec. 709 color space is the international standard for HD productions. All DSC color charts are calibrated to Rec. 709 to ensure accurate color in both HD and SD productions.

19 Increasing the number of calibrated reference colors on a chart gives subsequently more information, allowing for more accurate matrix tuning. Rec. 709 color space is the international standard for HD productions. All DSC color charts are calibrated to Rec. 709 to ensure accurate color in both HD and SD productions.

20 A ChromaDuMonde 28R provides users with a full set of calibration coordinates for precision matrix tuning. Rec. 709 color space is the international standard for HD productions. All DSC color charts are calibrated to Rec. 709 to ensure accurate color in both HD and SD productions.

21 Utilizing a CDM 28 chart and vectorscope, it is easy to identify and correct color errors. *Footage provided courtesy of Rakesh Nagar Uncorrected From the Vectorscope we can see: 1) The compression of Cyan, Blue and Green. 2) Overemphasis of Magenta. 3) The loss of intermediary colors between Cyan and Blue. 4) The center dot indicates that the matrix as a whole is offset and shifted towards Red. Corrected

22 Common Skin Tone Reference Patches - Fall into a consistent pattern between RED and Yellow on the scope - Provide an accurate reference to ensure skin tones aren t contaminated (i.e. too much green) during color matrix adjustments

23 Uneven lighting will cause the X pattern to become distorted Neutral 11 Step Crossed Grayscale - For testing and setup of lighting, exposure, gamma and dynamic range. - Outputs a familiar X pattern on traditional waveform monitor. - R, G, B outputs designed to fall in same position on waveform monitor

24 Center white 100% reflectance (All steps normalized to step 1 [white] at 100%) Neutral background - step 6 Center black 0.6% reflectance LIGHT STEPS (inside white rectangles) Steps % reflectance Steps % reflectance DARK STEPS ( inside blue rectangles ) Theoretical values based on black producing 0 mv, real values attained during usage will vary. Attempts to reach the aim values may lead to excessive noise depending on the camera system, so approach with caution.

25 *Photo provided courtesy of Rakesh Nagar for DSC Labs charts in action contest

26 All DSC EFP, Cambook and FrontBox charts are designed to fit neatly into your baggage, allowing for you to have a precision calibrated reference anytime you need it. DSCs Cambook series combines popular DSC charts into one affordable, compact package. Not interested in any of the prepackaged models? Build your own! DSC offers custom Cambooks too. Designed for maximum portability, field production (FP) charts are versatile tools for quickly aligning cameras in any environment. FP charts are designed to be durable, compact and most importantly, accurate. With a wide range of sizes and styles from which to choose, FP charts provide users with the tools they need to make studio quality images, even when shooting out in the field. Please visit our website to learn more about DSCs lines of Field Production charts or any of our other products.

27 VF/X charts are an important part of camera setup, but what really sets them apart is how they integrate into the visual effects post production workflow. VF/X charts are designed with a range of custom colors and gradients specially crafted for the alignment of cameras shooting visual effects content. In post production, footage of a VF/X chart acts as a finite reference for visual effects artists, providing important information about the composition, color profile and lighting of the scene. Capturing a few frames of the chart prior to shooting, gives VF/X artists a reliable reference to use throughout the effects editing process. Please visit our website to learn more about DSCs line of Visual Effects charts or any of our other products.

28 Innovative tools like the 3D-Z convergence Schnoze allow for the rapid identification and correction of errors on any 3D rig. 3D charts combine front lit camera alignment technology with a full set of 3D specific orientation markers, for the rapid setup of any 3D camera / rig combination. Easy to understand and quick to master, 3D charts have been shown to speed up the 3D alignment process exponentially when integrated into a 3D production workflow. DSC Labs manufactures a range of 3D compatible charts including the Fairburn 3D, 3D-Z and Dashwood 3D. Please visit our website to learn more about DSCs line of 3D charts or any of our other products.

29 The Xyla high dynamic range chart is available in 15 step (14 f-stop) and 21 step (20 - f-stop) configurations. Designed for dark room testing, high dynamic range test systems provide a precise incremented reference for accurate testing, setup and alignment of modern high dynamic range cameras and monitors. Providing up to 20 f- stops of dynamic range, users can effectively adjust their cameras to ensure capture of the full range of light possible. These charts provide an invaluable reference for benchmarking and testing new cameras. Please visit our website to learn more about DSCs line of High Dynamic Range charts or any of our other products.

30 Both types of chart provide users with precision data to align camera systems. So what sets them apart? Specification Front Lit Charts Rear Lit Charts Lighting / Illuminant Dynamic Range Excellent for matching cameras if a wide variety light sources are used and / or lighting changes frequently Limited by the reflective nature of the chart, gloss charts provide a considerably wider dynamic range than matte Excellent for camera setup in studios with fixed lighting, best used for critical camera setup under consistent conditions (light can be fixed to Ambi Illuminator) Excellent dynamic range display capabilities Color Excellent color reproduction Excellent color reproduction Resolution Resolutions up to 2000 LPPH Resolutions up to 1200 LPPH Accuracy Calibrated within very tight tolerances Calibrated within very tight tolerances Reflection Special care must be taken to eliminate reflections in well lit environments Pattern is illuminated from the rear, making front reflections negligible

31 DSC Labs acclaimed Fiddleheads with corner resolution. The Fiddleheads are a unique focus chart, designed so that the center of the spirals pop out at the point of optimal focus. DSC Labs MegaTrumpet 12 provides users with up to 2000 LPPH of resolution. This chart provides more than a challenge for even the most advanced camera systems. Unlike color or dynamic range which can be corrected in post, very little can be done to fix the blurry footage that results from an incorrectly focused camera. Focus and resolution charts act as an incremented reference to assist video engineers and cinematographers in the precision alignment of their cameras. Because setting focus is one of the most fundamental aspects of camera setup, these charts are a common sight on any set.

32 The DeWrinkler is a comprehensive color resolution chart designed to assist video engineers making adjustments to reduce the visibility of wrinkles on older talent. DSC Labs popular Cambelles chart provides users with four common ethnic skin tones set against a contrasting beach background. Adjust detail settings with ease using this attractive chart. As camera technology advances, so to does the ability of camera sensors to capture increasingly greater levels of detail. Using a skin detail chart, precision adjustments can be made to each cameras detail settings to either minimize unwanted features, such as wrinkles, or greatly enhance the look of your talent.

33 While camera matching can take hours without the correct equipment, charts provide camera operators with calibrated tools to set up, match and align their cameras with ease. When used as a reference in every scene, charts can also provide essential information for editing and enhancing footage in post production. Charts provide peace of mind, giving cinematographers more time to focus on getting the perfect image, with less time spent worrying about the quality and consistency of their shots.

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