1. technology and computing

Manual for
Version 2.2
Table of Contents
Getting Started
LiveGrade - User Interface Overview
The Grade Library
4
5
Grading Modes
Grading Modes in LiveGrade
Using the CDL Grade mode in LiveGrade
Using the ALEXA Looks mode
Using the ACES Grading Mode
File Grading
8
9
10
11
12
HD-SDI Device Management
Device Manager
HD-SDI setup for LiveGrade
DVI, HDMI and DisplayPort setup for LiveGrade
Setup Pluto for LiveGrade PRO
Legal and Extended - SDI-Signals and LUTs in LiveGrade
IS-mini licensing process
Supported HDLink models
Supported Pluto Devices
Sending looks to Panasonic Varicam
14
15
17
19
21
22
23
24
25
Exporting grades and workflows
Export multiple Grades as 3D LUTs
Supported LUT formats for export
Using automatic naming schemes when exporting grades
CDL Server Workflow with Alexa XT & Others
Export LUTs for the AJA LUT-box
Exporting grades to Scratch via ALE
29
29
31
33
38
39
Dailies workflow with LiveGrade and Resolve
Dailies workflow with LiveGrade and Scratch
40
43
Grading Panel Support
Tangent Element setup
47
Tangent Wave setup
Avid Artist Color setup
51
53
Advanced features
LiveGrade PRO iOS Remote
False Color mode in LiveGrade
57
57
User Interface Dimming
Color management with ICC profiles in LiveGrade
LiveGrade - Curve Editor
59
60
62
LiveGrade's "Cube-o-Scope"
63
2
Install of Latest Pluto Firmware
64
Troubleshooting
Migrate a license from one computer to another
How to reset LiveGrade’s Library and Preferences
Can I convert ASC-CDL, Alexa Looks, and LUTs
65
65
66
Avoiding Bending Artifacts with ICC profiles in LiveGrade
Troubleshooting connecting with Pluto
68
69
Trouble shooting HDLink devices in LiveGrade
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LiveGrade Pro Manual
Getting Started
Getting Started
LiveGrade - User Interface Overview
In Figure 1 you can get an overview of LiveGrade’s main window and its different groups of controls.
Figure 1: LiveGrade PRO’s Main window
With the Project Manager you can switch projects. With projects you can manage grades
independently.
In the Grade Library you can save, recall and manage grades in groups. A list of preset grades is
available. For more information see The Grade Library.
The Grade History stores applied Grades and your modifications for later re-use. If you want to return
to previous grading settings just select the appropriate item in the History panel and click the “Apply”
button. The grade settings within the grading window will be reset to the according state without directly
affecting any grade in the Grade Library.
The Slot Selector lets you manage up to three devices together (LiveGrade Pro version). These devices
can be configured in the Device Manager. Each slot displays the grade currently applied to it. In
addition, it’s possible to show the original signal, by-pass color and apply False Color with the buttons in
every slot.
The Mode Selector lets you chose between the CDL, Alexa Looks and ACES grading modes. Depending
on the grading mode, the Grade Controls as well as the filtering of the image will change.
For more information see Grading Modes in LiveGrade.
The Grade Controls allow to interactively and creatively manipulate the colors of an attached SDI
stream. They can be resized by dragging the separation bar between the Grade Library and Grade
Controls. The Grade Controls consist of:
filter panels with Color Controls and
filter Order Controls (CDL Grade mode only)
The Toolbar lets you enable and disable certain image filtering steps and access to additional tools such
as the Cube-o-Scope.
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Getting Started
The Sunglasses button is used to activate the Low Brightness UI. This is a useful feature for on-set low
light environments. The brightness of this mode can be adjusted in the Preferences panel. This feature is
only available with LiveGrade Pro.
The Grade Library
Keeping your grades organized in LiveGrade is easy with the Grade Library. These are the main parts:
Projects
Projects can be named to display the name on the top of the UI.
figure 1: Manage Projects popup
Groups
Grade Groups are the items which directly store grades. You can create them with the «Add» button and
remove them with «Delete…».
figure 2: grade groups
Main Library panel
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Getting Started
figure 3: library panel
Here you can manage the grades individually: name them, add a description, camera, scene… and more
information which help in their identification and post production matching. To choose choose which
information fields are shown in the Grade Library, click on the gear button in the bottom right corner:
figure 4: grade information fields
Load and Save grades
It’s possible to load ASC-CDL grades and ALEXA Looks created with a different software into LiveGrade’s
library. To get a closer look on how to use them, please check the following articles:
Using the CDL Grade mode in LiveGrade
Using the ALEXA Looks mode
In addition, the grades saved in the library can be exported as .cdl files for ASC-CDL grades and .xml files
for ALEXA Looks by clicking on the «Save» button.
Create, Update and Apply buttons
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Getting Started
figure 5: Create, Update and Apply
The Create button saves the current color and 3D LUT settings into a new library grade.
The Update button takes the current color settings and applies them to the selected grade on the
library.
Apply takes the currently selected grade from the library and puts it into the selected Device Slot.
In addition, users have the option to create a new grade and add relevant information at the same time:
figure 6: New Grade and enter information…
When this option is selected, a popup window opens to enter the information:
figure 7: grade information editor
The information added to the grades can be used to name exported grades with wildcards or to export
grades to Scratch via ALE.
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Grading Modes
Grading Modes
Grading Modes in LiveGrade
Figure 1: The LiveGrade Grading Panel
The LiveGrade Grading Panel consists of controls for manipulating the signal filtering.
Grading mode selector: Here you can switch between CDL Grade mode and Alexa Look mode.
Grade type and name: LiveGrade shows the name of the currently applied grade and the grade
mode type.
Grade controls: Here you find all controls for a certain grading mode such as color balls, LUT
manipulation controls etc..
Filter order: by dragging the handles of a control slot, you can reorder the filter order (only in
CDL grade mode)
Clear buttons: You can clear either the entire look or just the color manipulation (and not LUTs or
tone mapping curves)
Filter configuration: You can temporarily bypass color or show the original signal (no filtering at
all) or enable the false color mode.
Grading Modes
LiveGrade supports different grading modes designed for specific camera setups and workflow
environments.
A grading mode contains:
Controls for manipulating color and
Input and Output file formats for color settings
You can change the grading mode using the selector (figure 1) above the grade controls.
Filter Panels
Each grading mode contains filter panels. To change the order of filter panels, drag the colored tabs on the
right of the color controls. The order of filters in image processing determines the resulting image
transformation. The corresponding filters are applied on the SDI image in a top-to-bottom order.
Note: Not all grading modes allow the reordering of filters panels.
Alexa Looks
More information in the article Using the ALEXA Looks grading mode.
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CDL Grade
More information in the article Using the CDL Grade mode.
ACES grading mode
More information in the article Using the ACES grading mode. This mode is only available in the
LiveGrade Pro version.
Additional Options
Furthermore there are some additional functions to be found at the bottom of the grading panel (figure 1)
Using the «Neutral» button you can reset all settings to a «neutral» state.
Using the «Reset Colors» button you can reset the color settings to a “neutral” state.
The command «Bypass Color» allows you to bypass the undertaken settings in the color controls
and show the image from your input device with only the 1D/3D LUT (CDL Grade mode and ACES
mode) or the Alexa tone mapping (Alexa Grade mode) applied.
By selecting the «Show original signal» checkbox you can replace the graded image displayed on
you monitoring device by the original image coming from your camera device.
The Show False Color command allows you to display the false colors within your image on the
monitoring device.
Using the CDL Grade mode in LiveGrade
The CDL Grading Mode (figure 3+4) offers ASC-CDL controls for the use in a wide range of workflows.
CDL Grade can be used with Rec.709 signals. To be used with other signals LiveGrade allows to
import 3D LUTs of choose from 3D LUT Presets e.g. for custom log-to-video conversions.
There is also the possibility to edit a custom tone mapping 1D LUT in the curve editor.
In order to support workflows that apply CDL in log gamma as well as in video gamma, the order of
LUT and CDL filters can be changed.
The color controls for “CDL Grade” consist of:
ASC-CDL controls (figure 3)
RGB Shadows, Mid-tones and Highlights (figure 3 #1+2)
A Saturation scale (figure 3 #3)
Import of 3D LUT(figure 4): The grading mode “CDL Grade” can import 3D LUTs and CDL files
and can export ASC-CDL files.
3D LUT Import options with averaged curve displays for each channel
1D LUT Creation for manipulating and applying a curve
Figure 3: CDL Grade mode – CDL controls
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Figure 4: CDL Grade mode – LUTs
For more information about the curve editor see LiveGrade – Curve Editor.
Use cases
Some example use cases for camera/workflow setups:
Use case A: CDL support for Rec.709 camera
Setup: Input for LiveGrade – Rec.709 signal from camera.
Filtering: ASC-CDL is applied on SDI-signal in video gamma.
Workflow: Export of ASC-CDL XML files for exchange with dailies system or post.
Use case B: Predefined look with 3D LUT
Setup: Input for LiveGrade – Signal from camera, 3D LUT with predefined LUT loaded in 3D LUT
panel from colorist / post.
Filtering: Look refinement with ASC-CDL controls.
Workflow: Export of refined 3D LUT file for exchange with dailies system or post.
Use Case C: Creating a custom tone mapping 1D LUT
Setup: Input for LiveGrade – Signal from camera
Filtering: Creating a 1D LUT with the curve editor.
Workflow: Export as 3D LUT
Use case D: Alexa Log-C with CDL support (log – or video-workflow)
Setup: Input for LiveGrade: Log-C signal from ARRI Alexa; load ARRI Log-C to Rec.709 LUT in LUT
panel of CDL Grade mode. Always use the “EE” variants of 3D LUTs from the ARRI LUT Creator.
Filtering: Depending on the order of filter panels the ASC-CDL is applied on SDI-signal either in
Log-C or in video gamma.
Workflow: Export of ASC-CDL XML files or combined 3D LUT for exchange with dailies system or
post.
Use case E: Sony S-Log with CDL support (log – or video-workflow)
Setup: Input for LiveGrade – SLog signal from Sony camera (e.g. PMW-F5/F55); load Sony SLog to
Rec.709 LUT in LUT panel of CDL Grade mode.
Filtering: Depending on the order of filter panels the ASC-CDL is applied on SDI-signal either in
SLog or in video gamma.
Workflow: Export of ASC-CDL XML files or combined 3D LUT for exchange with dailies system or
post.
For more information about grading modes of LiveGrade, please see “Grading Modes in LiveGrade”.
Using the ALEXA Looks mode
The grading mode “Alexa Looks” (figure 2) offers the color controls as specified by ARRI for the Alexa
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camera. It is designed to be used with Log-C SDI signals coming from an Alexa camera. The color
controls for the grading mode “Alexa Looks” consist of:
RGB Printer Lights applied in Log-C (figure 2 #1)
A Saturation scale (figure 2 #2)
Editable Tone Mapping curve from Log-C to Rec.709 (figure 2 #3)
RGB Shadows, Mid-tones and Highlights applied in Rec.709 (figure 2 #4+5)
The Alexa Looks grading mode can import and export Alexa Look XML files.
Note: The Alexa mode doesn’t have a completely neutral setting. A “neutral” Alexa Look Log-C to Rec709
is always applied by default.
For more information about Alexa Looks please visit ARRI’s website on Alexa Looks.
figure 2: LiveGrade grading panel – Alexa mode
Using the ACES Grading Mode
figure 1: ACES grade controls
The ACES (Academy Color Encoding System) grading mode has been introduced with LiveGrade PRO
2.0. Two different versions of the ACESlog workflow are available from the Preferences panel: version
0.2.0 and version 0.7.0 (figure 2). These two versions have different IDTs (Input Device Transform) and
ODTs (Output Device Transform). Please, make sure that the ACES version used in LiveGrade PRO
matches the one used in the post production process.
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figure 2: preferences panel
The controls displayed in the ACES mode are divided in two parts:
ACES color transformation panel
CDL controls
Before starting to create your grades, select the correct IDT (matching your camera system) and the ODT
(matching the output display color space) from the color transformation panel. LiveGrade PRO currently
offers the following set of IDTs and ODTs:
ACESlog v. 0.2.0
IDT
Alexa
Sony
ODT
Rec. 709
DCI-P3
ACESlog v. 0.7.0
IDT
Alexa
Canon EOS CinemaGamut(A) D55 v1.1
Canon EOS CinemaGamut(A) Tungsten v1.1
Canon EOS DCI-P3+A D55 v1.1
Canon EOS DCI-P3+A Tungsten v1.1
Sony F35
Sony F55 Daylight
Sony F55 Tungsten
ODT
Rec. 709
DCI-P3
The CDL controls behave the same way as in the CDL Grade mode and can also be exported as usual from
a saved grade. ACES grades can also be exported as 3D LUTs, including the CDL values, IDT and ODT.
File Grading
LiveGrade Pro 2.0 allows you to open JPG, TIFF and DPX files and extract frames from MOV clips to
interactively preview grades on the computer monitor.
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Figure 1: File Grading window
To use this feature navigate to File> Open Image
Figure 14: File menu
A window will open showing the image selected. In order to grade the image select a slot directly from the
window. This way the grades applied to that slot will affect the image. The image can also be saved for
future reference by pressing the «Save Image As…» button.
Custom Thumbnails
In addition, if a grade is saved or updated to the Grade Library while grading a file, LiveGrade Pro 2 will
take image as a thumbnail. This is a useful way to create custom thumbnails for your grades.
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HD-SDI Device Management
HD-SDI Device Management
Device Manager
For a successful and satisfying work with LiveGrade it is important to know how to manage all those
devices involved in your workflow. To simplify that task LiveGrade has a Slot Selector (figure 1). You will
be able to use it to apply grades to multiple devices at the same time (LiveGrade Pro). Open the Device
Manager (figure 1 #1) in the lower left corner of the LiveGrade application window to manage the
connected devices. In addition, the Slot Selector displays useful information such as the applied grade
(figure 1 #3) and the device connection status in green/orange for online/offline devices (figure 1 #4).
Finally, the image filter buttons (figure 1 #5) will let you switch each slot to the graded signal, original
signal, bypass color or False Color.
figure 1: LiveGrade User Interface – slot selector
The Device Manager recognizes the devices connected to your computer (figure 2) and lets you group
them into different slots. It’s possible to name each slot to easily recognize it in the Slot Selector. Slots can
be created with the «Add Slot» button (figure 2 #6) and deleted with the «Delete Slot» button (figure 2
#7).
To add a connected device to a slot you can just drag&drop it. Click on the «Add Device» button (figure 2
#1) to add a CDL server or setup a Pluto device . To set device specific options click on the «Config…»
button (figure 2 #2).
Each device can be color managed with ICC profiles (figure 2 #8) or specify if the in- and outgoing signals
need to be converted to Legal or Extended (figure 2 #5). To refresh the ICC profile list click on the
«Refresh ICC Profiles» button (figure 2 #3).
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figure 2: LiveGrade Pro Device Manager
By clicking the «Blink» button (figure 2 #9) you can recognize which device in the Device Manager refers
to each input device. A click on that button causes a simple visual signal to your output device.
With the buttons at the bottom of the Device Manager (figure 2 #4) you can refresh the application for
recognizing new connected devices and new ICC profiles.
HD-SDI setup for LiveGrade
To properly setup your HD-SDI viewing environment with LiveGrade there are some things to consider
depending on your setup. The following figure shows an example of a setup with a HD-SDI signal coming
from a camera going to a monitor with HD-SDI input:
Figure 1: HD-SDI setup with Pomfort LiveGrade
The orange “Legal or Extended” labels indicate that cameras and monitors can be configured with
different settings for HD-SDI input/output:
Legal Range: Code values for luminance range from 64 to 960 in a 10bit (0…1023) signal. This is
the common setup and usually the default setting for HD-SDI signals.
Extended Range: Code values for luminance range from 0 to 1023 in a 10bit (0…1023) signal.
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This is a special setting useful for certain workflows.
HD-SDI signal sources and destinations can usually be configure to output / expect legal or extended
range code values.
Figure 2: HD-SDI output configuration in the ARRI Alexa menu structure
Depending on these settings LiveGrade has to be configured accordingly to handle incoming and outgoing
signals. You can set the Legal / Extended range settings for each attached device in the Device Manager
screen.
Figure 3: HD-SDI setup in LiveGrade’s device manager
If the code value ranges of signal source (e.g. camera) and signal destination (e.g. HD-SDI monitor) don’t
match, you can even use Pomfort LiveGrade to convert one code value range into another. For example to
convert an Extended range signal coming from a camera to a Legal range signal for a HD-SDI monitor, set
the HD-SDI settings as follows:
Figure 4: Converting code value ranges from Extended to Legal
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Important Note:
To see the color transformations made by LiveGrade on SDI-Out, please make sure, that the “Send to all
video outputs” checkbox is set in the BlackMagic HDLink Utility (the software comes with the
devices). Without this checkbox checked HDLink will only display modified colors on the DisplayPort,
DVI, and HDMI ports.
Figure 5: Setting up the SDI-Out of HDLink for color transformations from LiveGrade
For more information about compatible HDLink devices, see Supported HDLink models.
DVI, HDMI and DisplayPort setup for LiveGrade
To properly setup your viewing environment with a monitor connected via DVI, HDMI or
DisplayPort there are some things to consider depending on your setup. The following figure shows an
example of a setup with a HD-SDI signal coming from a camera going to a monitor with DisplayPort
input:
Figure 1: DisplayPort setup with Pomfort LiveGrade
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The orange “Legal or Extended” labels indicates that cameras can be configured with different settings for
HD-SDI output:
Legal Range: Code values for luminance range from 64 to 960 in a 10bit (0…1023) signal. This is
the common setup and usually the default setting for HD-SDI signals.
Extended Range: Code values for luminance range from 0 to 1023 in a 10bit (0…1023) signal.
This is a special setting useful for certain workflows.
HD-SDI signal sources and destinations can usually be configured to output legal or extended range code
values.
Figure 2: HD-SDI output configuration in the ARRI Alexa menu structure
The orange “ICC Profile” label in Figure 1 indicates that regular computer monitors with DVI, HDMI or
DisplayPort inputs usually don’t have standardized calibration profiles (in contrary to most monitors with
SDI-IN which conform to the Rec.709 profile). With LiveGrade the color processing in the LUT box can
be adapted to an available ICC profile for the used monitor.
You can set the Legal / Extended range settings for input as well as the output ICC profile for each
attached LUT box in the Device Manager screen. For more information about using ICC profiles and color
management please see Color management with ICC profiles in LiveGrade.
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Figure 3: Setup for HD-SDI input and ICC profiles in LiveGrade’s device manager
Note: If you experience bending artifacts in the image while using ICC profiles you can limit the use of
ICC profiles to display curves in the preferences. You can find more info and examples in Avoiding
Bending Artifacts with ICC profiles in LiveGrade.
For more information about compatible HDLink devices, please refer to LiveGrade: Supported HDLink
models.
Setup Pluto for LiveGrade PRO
Important
Before running LiveGrade PRO with Pluto, please make sure that you are using the latest Pluto firmware.
Check out the knowledge base entry Install of Latest Pluto Firmware for more information.
Connecting with your Pluto Device
1. Open the Device Manager and create a new grading slot:
figure 1: empty grading slot
2. Hit the «Add Device…» button (figure 1) and select the option «Add Pluto»:
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figure 2: adding a Pluto device
3. The Pluto Device Configuration window will appear. Here the IP Address has to be introduced, and in
case of dual head mode choose the desired side. Choose the «Default Slot» where the Grade should be
uploaded on your Pluto device (this is optional and only used when “permanently storing grades”).
Figure 3: “Pluto Device Configuration”
4. Press Connect to establish a connection. The Pluto will become active if the connection was successful,
and you are ready to grade:
Figure 4: Pluto device connected
LiveGrade PRO Setup
The following scheme (see fig. 5) shows an example of a setup with a HD-SDI signal coming from a
camera going to a monitor with HD-SDI input. Please refer to the article HD-SDI setup for LiveGrade for
more information.
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HD-SDI Device Management
Figure 5: HD-SDI setup with Pomfort LiveGrade
Legal and Extended - SDI-Signals and LUTs in LiveGrade
HD-SDI signals
Devices supporting HD-SDI (YCbCr) signals can be configured to carry either legal range signals (which is
a standard use case for most of all HD-SDI signals) or extended range signals (which is only used in
special, rare use cases).
A 10-bit digital signal can theoretically carry code values from 0 to 1023. A legal range signal only uses
code values 64 to 940 (for the Y channel) while an extended range signal uses code values 4 to 1019 (for
the Y channel).
3D LUTs
3D LUTs are applied on RGB images. In post production systems, RGB images are usually using all the
code values available – so for example a 10-bit RGB image uses code values 0 to 1023. This means that
lookup tables made for post production systems expect that code values 0 to 1023 should be transformed
with that LUT.
Processing chain in LiveGrade
To be able to compute color manipulations in a defined code value range, LiveGrade converts incoming
signals so that code values 0 to 1023 are used (see Figure 1). So the processing chain of LiveGrade
simulates a post-production pipeline for color processing. This means that LiveGrade’s CDL mode
always will expect regular, “extended-range” lookup tables (3D LUTs).
Please note that the order of CDL and LUT can be changed. Please see KB 435 for more information about
the CDL grading mode.
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Figure 1: Color processing in Livegrade
The HDLink device doesn’t know what kind of signal is coming in (legal or extended), so LiveGrade takes
care about this and converts the signals accordingly as part of the color processing – depending on what is
set in the device manager. So as long as you properly specify in the device manager which kind of signal
you’re feeding in, the look (e.g. CDL and and imported LUT) will always be applied correctly. See KB
238 and KB 216 for more information about the device manager.
Another example shows a situation, where the input signal is an extended range SDI signal, LiveGrade (as
always does the color manipulations in RGB (“full range”) and converts the signal in a way that the
HDLink device sends it out as a legal-range SDI signal (Figure 2).
Figure 2: Color processing with Extended-IN and Legal-OUT settings
NOTE: A situation where you would use a “legal range” 3D LUT is when you want to load it directly into
HDLink with the HDLink Utility application for use with legal SDI signals. Then the LUT will have to be
suited to the signals coming in. In LiveGrade only “full range” 3D LUTs are used, as in most post
production tools.
IS-mini licensing process
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figure 1: IS-mini device
Since LiveGrade 1.4 has been introduced support for the Fujifilm IS-mini device, all the features
previously available in LiveGrade PRO are ready to work with this device.
The licensing process using an IS-mini device is slightly different. Now, in addition to the LiveGrade PRO
app license key, an IS-mini device license file is needed.
figure 2: IS-mini device licensing
The IS-mini device license file is provided by Fujifilm Corporation, but you can acquire it through
LiveGrade PRO. To start the process connect your IS-mini to the computer and open the Device Manager.
The IS-mini device should appear in one of the slots with an orange dot:
figure 3: unlicensed IS-mini
Click on the «Config…» button and then on «Buy Device License File for IS-mini…» as shown in figure 2
#1. This will redirect you to Fujifilm’s store to purchase the license for your device. You may need the
device identifier (figure 2 #4) in order to purchase the license file. Please be aware that the licensing
process can take from a few minutes to several hours due to time zone differences. Once you receive the
IS-mini device license file from Fujifilm, click on “Install License File” (figure 2 #2) and navigate to the
location of the file. Load it and LiveGrade will check it. If the License File is valid, the connection status
light should turn green with the message “Licensed”. The “Manage Installed devices” button (figure 2 #3)
will let you copy or delete the stored IS-mini device license files. The IS-mini device will be supported only
by the PRO version of LiveGrade.
Supported HDLink models
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Blackmagic-Design’s HDLink devices had a major update over the time. Due to their different technical
capabilities, only the latest models are supported by LiveGrade.
You can easily distinguish the models by their housing:
Different model families of HDLink devices
Note: The displayed devices are only examples, there are different models within the family of HDLink
devices. All models of the latest series of HDLink devices are supported by LiveGrade.
Supported Pluto Devices
LiveGrade PRO supports all models (e.g. 19″ rack model or rugged model) with a NID Chip firmware
higher or equal to 38.16 and for the A065 Chip at least the version 2.35.
All installed licenses on your Pluto device don’t matter to LiveGrade Pro. Our support for Pluto works
independent from your installed licenses.So you don’t need a CDL license for the CDL grading mode in
LiveGrade PRO. So no extra license fees for you with using LiveGrade PRO!
Where to find your Firmware No.
1. To find out the actual firmware of your “Pluto” device please open up your Pluto Software.2. Click in the
Pluto Menu on “Node” and select (see fig. 1) “Firmware” (see fig.2) to open up the information.
figure 1: “Pluto Node Menu Node”
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figure 2: “Pluto Firmware Window”
figure 3: “Pluto Node Menu Window”
For more information how to connect your Pluto see Setup Pluto.
Sending looks to Panasonic Varicam
Since version 2.2 LiveGrade PRO comes with support for the new Panasonic Varicam 35. LiveGrade PRO
can send CDL values and 3D LUTs that are applied on the live image and recordings in the camera using a
network connection (LAN and WiFi depending on camera hardware and setup).
Setting up the camera
In order to receive look information from LiveGrade PRO the Varicam needs to have a working network
connection with the Mac where LiveGrade is running on. The grading mode on the Varicam 35 has to be
enabled.
SETUP NETWORK
Go to Varicam Menu -> Peripheral -> Network Sel.
Choose Lan or Wlan depending on your setup
Go to Varicam Menu -> Peripheral -> Lan Property to see the IP Address if using DHCP or set an IP
Address if DHPC is disabled (see Picture)
Note the IP Address. We will need it later in LiveGrade
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figure 1: Varicam 35 network settings
ENABLE GRADING
From the home screen press the Color button (upper middle)
The final settings are shown in figure 2
Set the main color to V-Log by pressing the upper left button until Main Color reads V-Log
Turn on grading by pressing the Grading SEL (upper middle) button until it reads On
If CDL grading is Off, enable CDL grading by pressing the CDL button (lower middle) and pressing
the upper right CDL button until the title reads On => go back to the color view.
Set the 3D Lut setting to V-709 (for other setups see advanced Lut modes below) by pressing the
lower left button. In the 3D Lut view press the upper left button 3D Lut Sel until it reads V-709
Back in the grading view press Mon Set (lower right) to configure on which output you want to see
the graded image instead of the log image. For example to see the graded image on the Mon Out 1,
press the Mon Out 1 (upper left) button until it reads Graded
figure 2: enabling grading on the Varicam 35
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ADVANCED LUT MODES
There are three 3D LUT modes you can use.
1. Off: no LUT is applied to the V-Log image (not recommended)
2. V-709: the default log to video LUT is applied by the camera (recommended)
3. Loaded File: the LUT can be configured in LiveGrade (more flexibility but slower)
figure 3: Advanced LUT modes on the Varicam 35
The LUT mode you want to use depends on your workflow and needs to be specified in the LiveGrade
PRO device configuration:
figure 4: Varicam 35 settings
Setting Up LiveGrade PRO
figure 5: Device Manager
Open the device manager
Click on the “Add Device” button and choose “Add Varicam…”
Enter the ip address of the Varicam as well as user name and password
Optional: choose the LUT mode if you want to use an advanced LUT mode
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HD-SDI Device Management
Click on “Add Varicam”
figure 6: Varicam 35 configuration
LiveGrade will check the connection and show a green “connected” message if the camera was successfully
added.
You can now use the CDL grading mode of LiveGrade to control the live image of the Varicam Mon Out 1.
While using the default LUT workflow option the 3D LUT section in LiveGrade shows the default V-709
LUT applied by the camera. If you want to use a custom LUT or want to add a custom curve you will have
to set the camera to loaded file and change the setting using the device manager.
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Exporting grades and workflows
Export multiple Grades as 3D LUTs
If you want to export multiple grades as 3D LUTS or CDL/Alexa Looks, you can batch export these looks
with LiveGrade in one step.
1. Mark multiple Grades (see fig. 1)with the Shift and/or CMD key on your keyboard.
Figure 1: Selecting multiple grades
2.Under the Menu “File” select either
“Save selected Grade As…” to export the selected Grade(s) as either CDL files or Alexa Look XML
files.
“Export selected Grades as 3D LUT…” to export the selected Grade(s) in a specific 3D LUT format.
“Export LUT package of selected Grades…” to export all available LUT formats for each selected
Grade.
Figure 2: File “Export LUT package of selected Grades…”
Supported LUT formats for export
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Currently, LiveGrade can export looks (independent of grade mode) to the following formats:
DaVinci Resolve (33x33x33 3D LUT, .dat file)
Speedgrade (32x32x32 3D LUT, .cube file)
Filmlight Baselight (32x32x32 .cube file)
Autodesk Lustre (33x33x33 .lut file)
Assimilate Scratch (32x32x32 .3dl file)
DigitalVision Nucoda (17x17x17 .cms file)
Colorfront OSD (17x17x17 .3dmesh file)
You can export now multiple grades in LiveGrade (since ver. 1.1) .
1. Just simply mark multiple “Grades” (see fig. 1)with the shift key on your keyboard.You can also make
your selection without using your keyboard. Simply hold down your left mouse button and make
selection.
Figure 1: Selecting multiple grades
2.Under the Menu “File” select “Export Selected Grades as 3D LUT…” (see fig. 2) or you can use
Shift+Command+E as keyboard shortcut.
Figure 2: File “Export Selected Grades as 3D LUT…”
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3. Select your desired export format (see fig. 3) for further usage.
Figure 3: Choose desired export format…
4. Choose your desired destination on your hard-drive and hit “Save”.
Using automatic naming schemes when exporting grades
Different metadata information can be added to each grade through the Grade Library panel. Adding this
information can be helpful to identify your grades and to automatically match them to clips using
Assimilate Scratch.
When these grades have to be exported, LiveGrade offers the possibility to name them using a
combination of the metadata fields. This way, grades can be easily identified along the post workflow. The
naming schemes are also available when saving grades or exporting the LUT package.
In order to export a grade as a 3D LUT, go to File > Export selected Grades as 3D LUT.
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figure 1: exporting a 3D LUT
A dialogue will open showing the destination options, LUT format options and Naming Scheme:
figure 2: wildcard setup
Some wildcard presets are shown (figure 2), but you can create a custom file naming scheme by clicking
on «Custom» in the drop down menu. Then, the naming scheme editor window will appear:
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figure 4: naming scheme editor
Here you can edit the naming scheme by replacing the original wildcards by the available ones. Simply
drag and drop them on the «Name» box to create the custom name. However, have in mind that
LiveGrade can only use information already added to the grades, otherwise a placeholder will be written
in its place. You can see if a grade has a certain information in the «Availability» column.
Note: wildcards are usually separated by an underscore sign «_». In addition, a forward slash «/» can be
used to create a folder structure. Here you can see an example:
figure 5: result of using an underscore sign
figure 6: result of using a slash sign
CDL Server Workflow with Alexa XT & Others
Overview
Some onBoard Recorders such as the CODEX M, or cameras like the ARRI Alexa XT family with the
integrated XR module have an integrated CDL capture that stores ASC Color Decision List in metadata.
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Figure 1: “Codex Workflow with LiveGrade PRO”
These devices can be connected via Ethernet to LiveGrade and then give you the ability to capture CDL
(color decision list) values at the time of recording. These settings then travel via metadata with the image
files and can then be applied to your deliverables via the Codex Virtual File System (VFS). The above
scheme shows a typical setup on set.
Setup a CDL Server
Using a CDL Server, LiveGrade can provide CDL values for a CODEX recorder. When configured, the
recorder will automatically use the CDL values to apply the grade to the recorded clips. You are able to set
up to three different servers simultaneously in each LiveGrade grading slot.
To connect a Codex Recorder with a CDL Server follow this steps:
Setting up LiveGrade
1. Start LiveGrade PRO.
2. Open the Device Manager and create a new grading slot:
figure 1: empty grading slot
3. Click on «Add Device…» and choose the «CDL Server» item (figure 2) to setup a CDL Server.
figure 2: adding a CDL server
4. Once the virtual device has been added, click on «Config…». Here you can define and enter your port if
you are considering to setup a different port than default value “6666″. The allowed port range is from
1024 till 65535. Alexa XT cameras only accept the default 6666 port.
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figure 3: CDL server configuration
figure 4: running CDL server
Once a CDL server is running on a slot it is automatically locked (figure 4) and you cannot switch back
into the Alexa or ACES grading modes.
figure 5: CDL mode locked
Configuring and connecting the CODEX recorder
Set Codex to receive CDL values
1. Connect your running LiveGrade PRO machine with the CODEX recorder via Ethernet. Make sure a
connection is established. You can use for e.g. the CODEX UI Tool
2. Telnet to your Codex recorder via the Terminal command line.
3. Insert the line “FilmlightCDLEnabled” in /etc/codex/sysconfig
On the Codex recorder
1. Set in the menu of your CODEX device the IP address and port 6666 from LiveGrade (e.g.
“192.168.2.218:6666″) as the CDL server address in the System menu.
2. You are ready to record a clip and the current grade of the configured slot in LiveGrade PRO is
written to the recorded clips.
Multiple CODEX CDL server
With LiveGrade you are able to set up to 3 different CDL servers using CODEX recorders. If you want to
have different CDL values for each recorder, please configure different ports in the Codex CDL Server
configuration, but please note that this can’t be done with the Alexa XT. The Alexa XT will always connect
at port 6666.
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figure 6: multiple CODEX CDL servers
Error Handling
If you are having trouble connecting to your CODEX device make sure it is set-up properly.
For more information on how to do that, please refer to the chapter “Enabling the Codex machine for
CDL Data recording” of the CODEX manual available under: http://codexdigital.com/support/mediastations
If you are using a port number that is not allowed, the «Start» button will be greyed out.
If you assign a server to a slot which is currently in Alexa or ACES grading mode LiveGrade will ask you
to switch to CDL mode.
This warning appears so you have the chance to save your current Alexa gradings before switch to CDL
mode.
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figure 7: “Warning Alexa Mode to CDL Mode”
Setup the Alexa XT
Using a CDL Server which ships automatically with the Alexa XT while recording in ARRI Raw, LiveGrade
can provide CDL values for the camera. When configured, the recorder will automatically use the CDL
values to apply the grade to the recorded clips.
After setting up LiveGrade. to connect a Alexa XT in RAW Mode with a CDL Server follow this steps:
Configuring and connecting the ARRI Alexa XT
Set Alexa XT to receive CDL values
1. Switch the Alexa to record in ARRIRAW Mode, and make sure the Alexa XT is connected with the
Ethernet port and the same sub net mask of your computer with LiveGrade PRO.
2. You can check if the network connection between the computer with LiveGrade PRO and the Alexa
camera works by typing «ping [IP Address Of Alexa]» (for example: ping 169.254.2.10). If you get
replies, the connection works.
3. In the Alexa User menu press the Color Button of the User Interface and then as shown in figure 5
press the “Set Look” option
4. There you can set your IP address for the CDL Server (in that case the IP address of the computer
running LiveGrade PRO) like in figure 6
5. Press the Save button in the lower left corner of the camera user interface
6. The User Interface menu will jump back to the previous menu, there you can activate the CDL mode
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Error Handling
The most common issue connecting to your ARRI Alexa XT is a wrong network configuration. Make sure
you are using the same network range and set the same IP address of both Alexa XT and your mac
accordingly. You can use the Network Utility tool to figure out the IP address of the computer running
LiveGrade. You will be notified if you are using a port number that is not allowed.
Export LUTs for the AJA LUT-box
Due to the design of the AJA LUT-box LiveGrade is not able to use it for real time color grading. However
a 3D LUT can be created with LiveGrade and exported and uploaded onto the AJA LUT-box.
In order to be able to upload a LUT into the AJA LUT-box, you have to export it from LiveGrade into a
specific format. To do so select it form the Grade Library and go to File > Export selected Grade as 3D
LUT:
figure 1: exporting a 3D LUT
Then on LUT format, you have to select «AJA LUT Box» on the drop down menu:
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figure 2: LUT format selection
Once the format has been selected, the LUT export wizard will display the format specifications. Now you
only have to save the grade to the specified location.
figure 3: AJA LUT Box format
Finally, the LUT has to be uploaded into the AJA LUT-box device using the MiniConfig software
downloaded along with the hardware drivers.
figure 4: MiniConfig software UI
To upload a LUT the user needs to select “3D-Lut” from the main menu and the choose the slot he wants
the LUT to be written on:
figure 5: Mini Config menu
Then an open dialog is shown where the LUT that has been exported from LiveGrade has to be selected.
Exporting grades to Scratch via ALE
LiveGrade offers the possibility to transfer CDL grades to Assimilate Scratch through an ALE file. This
feature will help you to match the grades with each clip automatically using their metadata information.
In addition, there is the advantage of having all the grades in one single ALE file. As long as camera and
scene information are entered for each grade in LiveGrade, the exported ALE file will transfer the
metadata along with the CDL values to automatically apply the grades to each clip in Scratch.
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There are some considerations to have in mind when using this feature:
it only applies to grades created in the CDL or ACES grading mode
the 3D LUT information is not included (i.e. a LogC to Rec.709 LUT). Only the CDL information
and the LUT name is transferred. The same LUT has to be applied down the post workflow
camera and scene information has to be properly set on the grades
In order to start the ALE export, you have to select the Grade Group from the LiveGrade library. Then
select File>Export grade Group for Scratch (ALE) as shown in figure 1.
figure 1: exporting grade group as an ALE file
This will bring you to a save destination dialogue:
figure 2: save destination selection
Once the ALE file has been saved, you can load it into Assimilate Scratch to match the grades with the
clips.
Dailies workflow with LiveGrade and Resolve
Using look information from set for the creation of dailies saves time and communication efforts.
Blackmagic Design’s “DaVinci Resolve” (http://www.blackmagicdesign.com/products/davinciresolve) is a powerful and widely used software to create dailies on or
near set. This article shows how color information from LiveGrade can be used to save extra grading
time in Resolve by using the looks created in LiveGrade.
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CDL Grade mode
LiveGrade’s CDL-Grade mode lets you export ASC-CDL files of current color settings in LiveGrade. These
CDL files can be used in various dailies and post-production tools.
To transfer ASC-CDL files to Resolve or Resolve Light follow these steps:
1. Export ASC-CDL file from LiveGrade
Make sure that your are in “CDL Grade” mode in LiveGrade. Do so by switching the grading mode
above the color controls or apply a grade from the grade library of the type “CDL Grade”
Choose “File” -> “Save current Grade as…” or “Save selected Grade as…” and save the .cdl file. You
can open this file with a text editor and see the typical ASC-CDL XML syntax.
Hint: To simplify matching of the CDL files with the clips you can use an automatic name scheme
when exporting.
2. Import ASC-CDL file in Resolve
In Resolve go to the “Color” room.
In the “Stills” panel right-click and choose “Import”.
Select “CDL files (*.cdl)” at the bottom of the Open Dialog and navigate to the CDL files just saved in
LiveGrade.
A new “Still” with the name of the CDL file will appear in the “Stills” panel.
Select a one or multiple clips in the timeline that you want the CDL apply to.
Right-click the new Still and choose “Add correction” in the context menu.
You should see the controls in 3-WAY COLOR of the selected clips be set according to the CDL
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values initially coming from LiveGrade.
3.Applying a lookup table (3D LUT)
If you are using a 3D LUT in the LUT panel of the CDL grading mode in LiveGrade (for example as a
preview LUT for log-material), make sure that this LUT is also used in DaVinci Resolve.
Depending on the order of filter panels in LiveGrade you might configure Resolve for Loading a “3D Input
Lookup Table” or a “3D Output Lookup table” in the “Config” room.
If in LiveGrade the CDL controls are in the upper slot, the LUT is applied after the CDL values and
you need to set the LUT in Resolve as output LUT.
If in LiveGrade the CDL controls are in the lower slot, the LUT is applied before and you need to set
the LUT in Resolve as input LUT.
Learn more about LiveGrade’s CDL grading mode.
Alexa Look mode
Resolve doesn’t support the import of Alexa Look files (xml) directly, but you can instead export a 3D
LUT in LiveGrade and import that on a per-clip base into Resolve.
1. Export 3D LUT from LiveGrade
Make sure that your are in “Alexa Look” mode in LiveGrade. Do so by switching the grading mode
above the color controls or apply a grade from the grade library of the type “Alexa Look”
Choose “File” -> “Save current Grade as 3D LUT…” or “Save selected Grade as 3D LUT…” and save
the look as a “DaVinci Resolve” .dat file.
Hint: To simplify matching of the LUTs with the clips you can use an automatic name scheme when
exporting.
2. Install .DAT files for Resolve
In Finder navigate to /Library/Application Support/Blackmagic Design/DaVinci Resolve/LUT/Arri
Copy the created .DAT files into this folder.
Either restart Resolve or click on “Update Lists” in the “LUTS” tab of the “Config” room.
3. Choose 3D LUT
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In Resolve go to the “Color” room.
In the “Clip” panel right-click the node and navigate to the right LUT
Dailies workflow with LiveGrade and Scratch
Using look information from set for the creation of dailies saves time and communication efforts.
Scratch is a powerful and high performance software tool that helps you out to create dailies, additionally
primary and secondary grading, sound syncing and much more. For additional information take a look at
www.assimilateinc.com
This article provides you with information about how to transfer your pre-grades made with LiveGrade
on set to Asssimilate Scratch, to save you some extra time with creating dailies by the end of a hard day on
set.
Note: There are various approaches to apply a LUT & CDL grades in general, accordingly also in
Assimilate Scratch. The steps below describe a typical DIT workflow, which we also recommend.
This article describes a manual matching process, if you want to match grades in Scratch automatically
you please see:
Exporting grades to Scratch via ALE
Using an automatic name scheme when exporting CDL or 3D LUT files
CDL Grade mode
LiveGrade’s CDL-Grading mode lets you export ASC-CDL files of current color settings in LiveGrade.
These CDL files can be used in various dailies and post-production tools. To find out more about CDL
please take a look on the ASC Society Website.
To transfer ASC-CDL files to Assimilate Scratch follow these steps:
1. Export ASC-CDL file from LiveGrade
Choose “File” -> “Save current Grade as…” or “Save selected Grade as…” and save the .cdl file. You
can open this file with a text editor and see the typical ASC-CDL XML syntax.
Hint: To automate matching of the CDL files with the clips you can use an automatic name scheme
when exporting.
2. Export log-to-video LUT separately
1.
2.
3.
4.
Set your grade to neutral (see figure 1.)
Choose a camera preset or load a custom log-to-video 3D LUT
Select “Export current Grade as 3D LUT” .
In the “Save To” dialog menu choose “Assimilate Scratch LUT” as the desired format.
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Figure 1: “Set Look Up Table to Neutral”
Order of Operations
Note: To receive the desired result it is necessary to keep the same order of operations in LiveGrade and
Scratch. In our example the CDL Grade is applied before an Alexa Neutral 3D LUT camera preset like in
figure 2. In this article we illustrate how to create this same order of operations in Scratch.
Figure 2: “Order first the CDL Grade then the 3D LUT”
Import ASC-CDL file in Scratch
At first you will apply a CDL look for every clip. Then you can add the log-to-video LUT in an Output
Node for your whole construct, assuming you used the same 3D camera preset LUT in LiveGrade. If you
have different LUTs applied for different scenes you must apply the 3D LUT separately to every clip.
Therefore you can use the copy & paste tool from Scratch. You can also apply a CDL to every clip in you
scratch construct by simply copy paste.
Set Color Settings with CDL file
Switch to your matrix tool set inside your desired CONstruct
Load the exported CDL from LiveGrade by clicking load…
Select “CDL files (*.cdl)” at the bottom of the Open Dialog and navigate to the CDL file just saved in
LiveGrade.
Figure 3: “Select CDL”
Set 3d LUT if you use a 3d LUT Presets for log-to-video in output node
Switch from the Timeline to the Output mode like in figure 4.
Add a “Single Output” and enter the new node
Under the “FX Ctrls” hit “Insert” and add a new Plugin
From the “Plugin” Dialog choose your desired dailies output format
Switch to the “Matrix” with a right click
Load the exported 3d LUT or Camera preset from LiveGrade by clicking load like in Figure 6
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Set “3d LUT Formats” filter at the bottom of the Open Dialog
Select the desired .cube” file from LiveGrade and press “Load”.
Hit the “Add to Queue” and switch back to your construct to start the Queue process by
hitting the “Process” button to start the rendering of dailies
figure 4: “Output mode”
Figure 5: “Output Node View”
Figure 6: “Load exported .3dl file from LiveGrade”
Alexa Look mode
Scratch does not support the import of Alexa Look files (xml) directly, but you can instead export a 3D
LUT in LiveGrade and then import it on a per-clip base into Scratch.
More information about the LiveGrade’s Alexa Look grade mode.
Export 3D LUT from LiveGrade
Make sure that you are in “Alexa Look” mode in LiveGrade. Do so by switching the grading mode
above the color controls or apply a grade from the grade library of the type “Alexa Look”
Select all the grades you want to export to Assimilate Scratch.
Choose “File” -> “Save current Grade as 3D LUT…” or “Save selected Grade as 3D LUT…” and save
the grades as a “Scratch LUT File” file.
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Hint: To simplify matching of the 3D LUTs with the clips you can use an automatic name scheme
when exporting.
Import LUT to Scratch
Switch to your matrix tool set inside your desired CONstruct and navigate to a certain clip
Load the exported LUT in Scratch by selecting “(*.3dl)” at the bottom of the Open Dialog and
navigate to the LUT file which you just saved in LiveGrade.
Apply to all your clips by using the Copy Paste Feature
If you use the same baked LUT for more than one clip you can use the copy/paste feature as follows
in Figure 7 and 8.
Figure 7: “Load Baked Alexa 3D LUT from Livegrade”
Figure 8: “Copy Paste Feature to apply baked 3D Lut to other clips”
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Grading Panel Support
Grading Panel Support
Tangent Element setup
Tangent Element
LiveGrade allows you to connect hardware grading panels, including the Tangent Element, to precisely
and physically manipulate your grades. The Tangent Element offers a variety of controls, ranging from
Color Balls, Color Wheels, Command Keys to Precision Knobs. The controls utilized by LiveGrade are
depicted below.
The “element-Tk” control panel
figure 1: Tangent Element tk.
1. The Page Button allows you to cycle through different configurations of the Color Wheels.
Depending on the grading mode and active the page, the wheels/balls control different aspects of
your grade.
2. The Status Display shows which values can be manipulated using the respective controls.
3. The Color Balls manipulate the Hue and Saturation values of their respective color ranges.
4. The Color Wheels manipulate the Level value of their respective color range.
5. The Ball/Wheel Reset buttons reset the values of the Ball/Wheel right next to it.
The “element-Mf” control panel
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figure 2: “Tangent Element Mf”
1. The Status Display shows which values can be manipulated using the respective controls.
2. The first row Command Keys perform the following commands from left to right:
New Grade, Update Grade and Apply Selected Grade.
New Grade: Adds a new grade in your LiveGrade Grade Library
Update Grade: Updates your current adjustments to the selected grade in your library
Apply Selected Grade: Apply the selection from your Grade Library to your actual grade.
3. The second row Command Keys perform the following commands from left to right:
Bypass Color, Show Original Signal and Enable False Color.
4. The third row Command Keys perform the following commands from left to right:
Set To Neutral, Next Device, Previous Device
The “element-Kb” control panel
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“Figure 3 : ” Example Tangent Kb in CDL Mode”
1. The Precision Knobs each (depending on the grading mode) manipulate one specific aspect of
your grade, such as ‘Saturation’, ‘Shadows (RGB channels)’, ‘Midtones’, Highlights or in Alexa Mode
also the ‘Printer Lights’.
2. The Page Buttons allow you to cycle through different configurations of the Precision Knobs.
Depending on the Grading Mode, the knobs control different aspects of your grade.
3. The Status Display shows the meaning and value of multiple controls. It is split into three rows
and three columns. Depending on grading mode the first line is either empty(Alexa Grading Mode)
or setup with Saturation. Saturation is on the first page in both grading modes, only one knob is
assigned to saturation. The second line displays the meaning and value of the respective Precision
Knob above, such as ‘Shad R’ for ‘Shawdows Red’ or ‘Mid R’, standing for ‘Midtones Red’ and so on.
The “element-Bt” control panel
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The Tangent “element Bt” panel got the same functionality like the “element Mf”
Connecting your Element
Please follow these steps to get LiveGrade up and running with your Tangent Element panel:
1. Connect the Tangent Element panel to your Mac.
2. If you did not installed your Tangent Element Device Driver yet, then this would be a good moment.
You can find on Tangent Support website.
3. Start LiveGrade.
4. Wait until the panel is recognized, indicated by a blue glow at the lower left of the main window. (see
below)
5. You are ready to grade!
Preferences for your Tangent Element Device
1. Choose “Preferences…” from the “LiveGrade” Menu Bar (see fig.5) or use the keyboard shortcut “⌘+,”
figure 5: “Preference Selection”
2. You can customize the level of sensitivity for your panel by using the slider depicted below .
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figure 6: “General Preference”
figure 7: “Hardware Panels Sensitivity”
Tangent Wave setup
Tangent Wave panel
LiveGrade allows you to connect hardware grading panels, including the Tangent Wave, to precisely and
physically manipulate your grades. The Tangent Wave offers a variety of controls, ranging from Color
Balls, Command Keys to Precision Knobs. The controls utilized by LiveGrade are depicted below.
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Tangent Wave
1. The Precision Knobs each manipulate one specific aspect of your grade, such as ‘Saturation’ or
‘Midtones Red’.
2. The Page Buttons allow you to cycle through different configurations of the Precision Knobs.
Depending on the page, the knobs control different aspects of your grade.
3. The Status Display shows the meaning and value of multiple controls. It is split into two lines and
nine columns. The first line displays the meaning and value of the respective Precision Knob above,
such as ‘Saturation’ of ‘Mid R’, standing for ‘Midtones Red’. The second line displays the meaning of
the respective command button below.
4. The Command Keys perform the following commands from left to right: New Grade, Update
Grade, Apply Selected Grade, Bypass Color, Show Original Signal, Enable False Color and Set To
Neutral.
5. The Color Balls manipulate the Hue and Staturation values of their respective color ranges.
6. The Color Wheels manipulate the Level value of their respective color range.
7. The Wheel/Ball Reset buttons reset the values of the Wheel/Ball right next to it.
Connecting the Tangent Wave panel
Please follow these steps to get LiveGrade up and running with your Tangent Wave panel:
1. Start the LiveGrade software
2. Connect the Tangent Wave panel to your Mac
3. Wait until the Artist Color panel is recognized, indicated by a blue glow at the lower left of the main
window. (see below)
4. You are ready to grade!
Preferences for your Tangent Wave Device
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1. Choose “Preferences…” from the “LiveGrade” Menu Bar (see fig.5) or use the keyboard shortcut “⌘+,”
figure 5: “Preference Selection”
2. You can customize the level of sensitivity for your panel by using the slider depicted below.
figure 6: “General Preference”
figure 7: “Hardware Panels Sensitivity”
Avid Artist Color setup
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Avid Artist Color panel
LiveGrade allows you to connect hardware grading panels, including the Avid Artist Color, to precisely
and physically manipulate your grades. The Avid Artist Color offers a variety of controls, ranging from
Color Balls, Soft Keys to Precision Knobs. The controls utilized by LiveGrade are depicted below.
Euphonix Artist Color
1. The Precision Knobs each manipulate one specific aspect of your grade, such as ‘Saturation’ or
‘Shadows Green’.
2. The Page Change buttons allow you to cycle through different configurations of the Precision
Knobs. Depending on the page, the knobs control different aspects of your grade.
3. The Knob Display shows the meaning and value of multiple controls. It is split into two lines and
six columns. The first line displays the meaning of the Color Balls and Wheels, such as ‘Midtones L’.
The two left columns represent the left Color Wheel and Ball and so forth. Once you turn a Wheel or
Ball, it’s value is displayed instead of its meaning. The same holds for the second line, which displays
the meaning and value for the corresponding Precision Knob below.
4. The Soft Keys perform the following commands from left to right: New Grade, Update Grade,
Apply Selected Grade, Bypass Color, Show Original Signal, Enable False Color and Set To Neutral.
Please read section ‘Configuring the Soft Keys’ below, on how to change the default assignment.
5. The Color Balls manipulate the Hue and Staturation values of their respective color ranges.
6. The Color Wheels manipulate the Level value of their respective color range.
7. The Wheel/Ball Reset buttons reset the values of the Wheel/Ball right next to it.
Connecting the Avid Artist Color panel
Please follow these steps to get LiveGrade up and running with your Avid Artist Color panel. Please refer
to the Euphonix Artist Color User Guide on how to connect your Artist Color panel to your Mac.
1.
2.
3.
4.
Connect the Artist Color panel to your Mac
Start the EUControl software
Start the LiveGrade software
Click the refresh button at the lower left of the LiveGrade main window (see below)
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5. Wait until the Artist Color panel is recognized, indicated by a blue glow.
6. You are ready to grade!
Configuring the Soft Keys
The Avid Artist Color is equipped with nine Soft Keys (see screenshot). The commands performed by
these Soft Keys can be freely assigned by you. Please follow these steps to configure the Soft Keys
according to your needs:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
Start the LiveGrade software
Start the EUControl software
Switch to the ‘Soft Keys’ tab
The EUControl software should show LiveGrade as the active application and should display the
default Command / Soft Key mapping (see screenshot below)
Select any of the Soft Keys
Click the ‘Command…’ button
In the command window select the command you want to assign to the selected Soft Key
Close the command window
Once you’re done, click the ‘Save’ button
EUControl LiveGrade Commands
Preferences for your Avid Artist Color
1. Choose “Preferences…” from the “LiveGrade” Menu Bar (see fig.5) or use the keyboard shortcut “⌘+,”
figure 5: “Preference Selection”
2. You can customize the level of sensitivity for your panel by using the slider depicted below.
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figure 6: “General Preference”
figure 7: “Hardware Panels Sensitivity”
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Advanced features
LiveGrade PRO iOS Remote
Along with LiveGrade PRO 2.0, the LiveGrade PRO Remote iOS app has been released. This app will let
you use any iOS device to remotely control basic functions like applying grades form the library, showing
original signal, by-passing color and showing False Color while away from the computer.
figure 1: iOS Remote
In order to use the remote, open LiveGrade’s Preferences panel and check the «Enable LiveGrade Remote
Access» check box as shown in Figure 2:
figure 2: Remote preferences
At this point, any iOS device with the LiveGrade PRO Remote app connected to the same wireless network
will be able to control LiveGrade PRO. For this reason, we recommend to set a password in the
Preferences panel.
The LiveGrade PRO iOS Remote is available from the App Store.
False Color mode in LiveGrade
LiveGrade has two False Color modes, which show areas of a certain brightness with different colors.
These modes are called «Ranges» and «Gradient». To switch between both False Color modes, users have
to modify LiveGrade’s preferences as shown in figure 1:
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Figure 1: False Color Mode preferences
With the Ranges mode, LiveGrade displays four different colors:
Blue: Colors near black clipping
Green: Colors around 18% medium grey
Pink: Colors around one stop over 18% medium grey (Caucasian skin)
Yellow: Colors near white clipping
All other areas are shown in black and white for better perception of the highlighted areas.
The Gradient mode shows a continuous range of video brightness levels from 0 to 100 IRE. The range
starts from blue for clipped shadows (0 IRE) to white for clipped highlights (100 IRE).
NOTE: These values are chosen to help determine the exposure of an ARRI Alexa Log-C image. For other
cameras with other response curves there might be deviations.
An example can be found in Figure 2:
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Figure 2: False Color with LiveGrade showing the «Ranges» and «Gradient» modes
You can enable the false color mode in the bottom bar of the LiveGrade main window:
Figure 3: Enabling False Color mode in LiveGrade.
User Interface Dimming
The user interface has been refined with LiveGrade PRO 2.0 to meet the needs of on set low light
environments.
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figure 1: sunglasses icon
In addition to the darker interface, users are able to enter the Low Brightness mode by clicking on the
Sunglasses icon (figure 1). This will decrease the brightness of the entire user interface to the setting
defined in the preferences panel.
figure 2: preferences panel
To modify this value, simply use the Dim Mode slider under the UI Appearance section.
Color management with ICC profiles in LiveGrade
For a color managed workflow for displaying digital images on a monitor, the color profiles of the source
image data as well as the display device must be known.
Source images
Images sent as SDI Signals usually conform to the Rec.709 color space. So for example the Alexa’s output
can be set to Rec.709 directly or the LiveGrade application converts the Log-C signal from an Alexa to a
Rec.709 signal.
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Display devices
Reference monitors with SDI inputs usually come with their own calibration tools so that they always
conform e.g. to Rec.709. When you use the HDLink devices to transform an SDI signal to HDMI,
DisplayPort or DVI, you will have a monitor attached, that is most probably not calibrated to the Rec.709
color space.
Color management
For computers color management takes care about the proper transform of image data so that it is
displayed properly on a certain device. So for example on Apple’s OSX the ColorSync system transforms
the image before it sent to the monitor in according to the monitors characteristics. This is done by using
ICC profiles to characterize image sources such as QuickTime clips as well as display devices such as
monitors.
LiveGrade
LiveGrade can use the ICC profiles available for a certain monitor to do the same color management.
For more information on how to set up the ICC profiles in the device manager see the
article http://kb.pomfort.com/?p=238. In figure 1 you can see the color pipeline for ARRI Alexa that
LiveGrade sets up to apply it to images going through a HDLink box:
Figure 1: Color pipeline for Alexa with LiveGrade
ICC profiles for your monitor
There are two possibilities for getting the right ICC profile for use in LiveGrade. Either the ICC profile
comes with the display or is downloaded from a database of such profiles
(e.g. http://www.tftcentral.co.uk/articles/icc_profiles.htm ), or you create it yourself by using a color
probe and a profiling software.
To give you an idea, here are the basic steps needed to create an ICC profile for example with the I1
Display Pro probe by X-Rite:
1. Attach the DVI/DisplayPort/HDMI monitor that you want to use with LiveGrade and HDLink later
to your computer.
2. Start the profiling application (e.g. the i1Profiler application that comes with the i1 Display Pro
probe).
3. Attach the color probe to your monitor. The probe is a small device that measures the colors
displayed by the display.
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4. Perform the profiling. The profiling application will display a bunch of colors on the monitor, the
probe will measure these colors and from this information an ICC profile is created.
5. Save the resulting ICC profile for the monitor.
6. Remove the monitor from your computer and attach it to the HDLink box.
7. In LiveGrades open the device manager and load the freshly created ICC profile for the attached
monitor / HDLink.
Note: If you experience bending artifacts in the image while using ICC profiles you can limit the use of
ICC profiles to display curves in the preferences. You can find more info and examples
here http://kb.pomfort.com/?p=303.
Conclusion
The resulting color reproduction will be much closer to what you would see on a reference monitor as
without the profile. Computer monitors come with all kinds of “wide gamut” and “super contrast” panels
that are far away from the way smaller color space and gamut of Rec.709. Your image will in almost any
case look way too saturated and crunchy without the ICC profile.
This can finally be corrected by using ICC profiles for HDMI/DisplayPort/DVI monitors with LiveGrade.
LiveGrade - Curve Editor
The curve editor allows you to precisely grade your footage.
To add a point just click on the curve, and in order to modify it’s value just drag and drop.
To remove a point simply move it out of the curve editor’s window.
When you move your mouse over the curve editor, the graph shows you the value of the exact point
where it is.
In LiveGrade you can find two types of curve editors:
CDL mode curve editor:
Figure 1. CDL mode curve editor
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It lets you modify all points freely
You can change black and white points
Alexa mode curve editor:
Figure 2. Alexa mode curve editor
Fixed black and white points
Template curve with Alexa’s default tone map
“Approximate Curve” button to reset your modifications
LiveGrade's "Cube-o-Scope"
LiveGrade offers an unique visualization of the resulting lookup table (3D LUT) of all color
transformations. It assists in interactively manipulating colors of an SDI signal and visualizes the
changes in code values.
The Cube-o-Scope displays entries of a 3-dimensional lookup table in their source color and their
destination position.
So for example
if you change the highlight values to a more greenish color, you will see all corresponding color
values move to the green corner;
if you change the saturation, the color values will move the central, neutral position of the 3D cube.
The visualized 3D LUT includes all color transformations of the SDI signal such as:
Legal / extended range SDI settings (if applied),
ICC profiles (if applied), and
the color transformation of the current grading mode.
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Cube-o-Scope has two display modes: It can display in an RGB cube (figure 1) and in an HSV cylinder
(figure 2). Use the selector buttons (yellow rectangle in figure 1+2) below the visualization to change the
display mode.
To inspect all aspects of the lookup table properly the visualization (cube or cylinder) can be rotated
around by click-dragging on the visualization.
figure 1: The visualization of a 3D LUT in LiveGrade’s Cube-o-Scope panel – RGB
figure 2: The visualization of a 3D LUT in LiveGrade’s Cube-o-Scope panel – HSV
Install of Latest Pluto Firmware
** Please note that this article targets only LiveGrade PRO users **
In order to get a good performance and experience with LiveGradePRO and Pandora Pluto it is necessary
to have the latest firmware update on your Pluto device.
In order to get that you need to install the latest Pluto software that checks automatically for the latest
firmware.
You can find that software on the Pandora Support Website or by clicking on this link to download version
1.27 for Mac which is required as a minimum. If you have any further question please contact
support@pomfort.com we are pleased to help.
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Migrate a license from one computer to another
You can move a license of a Pomfort product from one computer to another. This may be useful if you
move from an older Mac to a new model.
There are two activities involved:
Unregistering the license from the old computer and
registering the license on the new computer.
Please note, that you need an internet connection for the following steps.
1. Unregistering the license from the old computer
You now have to perform the following steps:
Open the License Panel by choosing “Licenses…” from the application menu.
Click on ”Deactivate License”.
The Pomfort application will stop working on this machine and the license is free to use on another
machine.
2. Registering the license on the new computer
Let’s assume you already have the application installed on your new computer.
You now have to perform the following steps:
Open the program, the License Panel will appear. If not, choose “Licenses…” from the application
menu.
Click on “Add License…” and insert the license key you received after purchase.
How to reset LiveGrade’s Library and Preferences
In the unusual event that LiveGrade is not able to launch, you will have to reset its Library and
Preferences.
Warning: This can’t be undone, deleting the library will delete the grading history, preset
grades and grade groups.
Reset LiveGrade’s Library
To reset the Library, please follow these steps:
1. Close LiveGrade app
2. In Finder press ⌘⇧G and copy&paste the following line in the dialog box:
~/Library/Application Support/Pomfort/LiveGrade2
3. Rename the LiveGradeMaster.psdb file to LiveGradeMaster_old.psdb and delete it afterwards. All the
grading history, preset grades and grade groups will be backed up in the old database.
4. Open the LiveGrade app again, automatically creating a new library.
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Reset preferences
In order to reset LiveGrade’s preferences, open a Terminal window. Then copy and paste the following
line:
defaults delete com.pomfort.LiveGrade2
Press “return” and the preferences will be reset.
Now LiveGrade should start as usual.
Can I convert ASC-CDL, Alexa Looks, and LUTs
This article tries to clarify the conceptual differences between LUTs, ASC-CDL and Alexa Look files and
answers the question if and how these formats can be converted between each other.
Parameter files: ASC-CDL and Alexa Look files
ASC-CDL and Alexa Look files contain parameters color transformations specific to each format. Behind
both color transformations there stands a well defined mathematical formula.
Both ASC-CDL files and Alexa Look files store the parameters in a custom XML format.
ASC-CDL
For example the formula for CDL consists of some multiplication, addition and power functions and a
saturation function.
Figure 1: Formula for CDL
The notations is read as follows:
F is the name of the formula, with the followinng intput values:
t is the input RGB triple
o is the offset or “shadows” values for each color channel
p is the power or “midtones” values for each color channel
s is the slope or “highlights” values for each channel,
sat is the saturation value,
t’ is the output RGB triple, and
F Saturation is the formula for saturation.
Alexa Looks
The formula for Alexa Looks is a bit more complex, it consists of several functions such as matrix, a curve
and also similar elements as the CDL formula.
The formulas of ASC-CDL and Alexa Looks are different in a way that you can’t convert the parameters for
the ASC-CDL color transformation to Alexa Look values or vice versa.
Lookup tables: LUT files
A LUT file is a representation of a color transformation. Such a color transformation can be any
modification of colors. So a LUT can represent for example a simple color transformation such as an
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overall slight rise in brightness as well as a much more complex transformation with a luma key that
desaturates the blacks.
To create a LUT the given color transformation is applied to a fixed (usually large) set of colors.
In the following example (figure 2) we apply a brightness transformation to a very small, fixed set of 27
colors.
Figure 2: Creation of a simple LUT from a brightness transformation
The left color patches are the fixed set of input values, the resulting LUT contains the color values of the
right color patches.
A typical LUT doesn’t contain just 27 values but usually tens of thousands of values to cover more
different colors.
To apply a LUT to an image, the color of each pixel gets looked up in the set of input colors (in the
example the patches on the left) and is replaced by the corresponding color of the LUT (in the example the
patches on the left). If a color can’t be found in the input colors, the resulting color has to be interpolated
between similar colors.
For LUT files several proprietary formats exist, but all consist on a huge set of numbers.
Transforming ASC-CDL and Alexa Look files into LUTs
Both ASC-CDL and Alexa Look files can be transformed in to LUT files. Figure 3 illustrates that with an
example 3x3x3 (27 element) LUT. A typical (33x33x33) LUT would contain much more (35.937)
elements.
Figure 3: Creating LUTs from example ASC CDL and Alexa Look
Transforming a LUT into Alexa Look or ASC-CDL values ?
The way back from a LUT file to Alexa Look or ASC-CDL values is generally not possible. As an example
figure 3 shows a LUT that leaves all colors the same – except that it replaces the green color by a medium
blue.
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Figure 4: There is no generic method for deriving a color transform and parameters from a LUT
This given example LUT can’t be represented by a ASC-CDL or a Alexa Look color transformation.
Even if a LUT might not include such “exotic” color transformations as in our example, you cannot find
parameters for the ASC-CDL or Alexa Look formulas that matches a given LUT. Depending on the
software and the color controls that created the given LUT, you can’t even get close.
The only exceptions are LUTs that already have been create from an Alexa Look or ASC-CDL – but even
then there is no common algorithm to get these parameters back.
Avoiding Bending Artifacts with ICC profiles in LiveGrade
For use in the HDLink box LiveGrade transforms ICC profiles into 3D LUTs together with all other look
processing. Due to the limited number of nodes in the HDLink’s 3D LUT support (17 x 17 x 17 nodes),
some ICC profiles may produce colored bending when used in LiveGrade.
Figure 1: Sample images of colored bending when using ICC profiles.
You can limit the use of ICC to display curves, which in most cases avoids bending artifacts. You can set
that in the Preferences dialog of LiveGrade:
Figure 2: Configuring ICC processing of LiveGrade
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Switching this setting on has the cause that only the response- or gamma-curve of the ICC profile is
applied, but the matrix for the primary colors is skipped.
Troubleshooting connecting with Pluto
** Please note that this article targets only LiveGrade PRO users **
In case you have trouble connecting to your Pluto device you can try one of the following steps:
Restart your “Pluto Device Manager” application and LiveGrade PRO.
Restart your Pluto Device.
Check if your device is connected via Ethernet.
Open your Pandora “Pluto Device Manager” again and check if your Pluto device is listed.
Please be aware that it might take a while till the list “Pluto Device Manager” refresh.
To make sure your network connection to your Pluto device is still alive you can use the command line
tool to prove that.
Steps:
1. Open a Finder window and hit Cmd+Shift+U on your keyboard
2. Open the Terminal application
3. Type in the command line tool “ping” and the IP address of your Pluto Box e.g. “ping 192.168.2.50″
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4. If you receive a similar screen like above you should check, Ethernet connections on the device, the
network cable, network hubs and other possible cause of defect.
5. Try to restart the Pluto device.
Please remember that the Network controller of the Pluto takes a little bit longer to boot, than the signal
processor. If that solved the problem your screen should look like the screen below.
If your problem still exists try to restart LiveGrade PRO and send us a detailed bug report (Menu -> “Help
-> Send Bug Report…”). We are pleased and do our utmost to fix the problem.
Trouble shooting HDLink devices in LiveGrade
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LiveGrade is made to control multiple HDLink devices. With LiveGrade you can
switch between attached devices,
manage them in the device manager, and
control the selected one with the color controls independently.
If you read “No devices found, device simulation mode” below the “Manage Devices…” button, no
HDLink device could be found.
Press the Reload button besides the “Manage Devices…” button to search for devices.
If you still have troubles with controlling HDLink devices, please check the following things:
Restart (power-cycle) all devices
Make sure the latest firmware is installed on the HDLink devices.You can download and install
firmware on the HDLink devices through the HDLink Utility provided by Blackmagic
Design: http://www.blackmagic-design.com/support/
Can you control each of the devices alone (without the others attached via USB)?
You can check this either with LiveGrade or the HDLink utility from Blackmagic. Do this to rule out
the possibility of a broken USB cable etc.
Can you blink each of the devices from LiveGrade?
Open the device manager and press the “Blink” button for each of the attached devices. The monitor
should blink in a sequence of red, green, and blue. If yes, LiveGrade detected and properly controls
the device.
Is each of the devices connected to a label in the device manager?
Make sure each device is attached to a label with the green draggable lines and that you can select
each one of the devices in the device selector from the main window. To control each device
independently, you have to select it with the device/label buttons on the left of the color controls in
the main window before controlling it.
NOTE: If the LUT isn’t applied to SDI-out at all, you might have an old firmware installed on the
HDLink device. Some older firmware versions don’t allow LUTs on all outputs. Please make sure your
HDLink device is running the latest firmware.
For more information about the operation of HDLink devices please see the HDLink Manual at
blackmagic-design.com
There are rare occasions where the HDLink comes into a state where it’s recognized by LiveGrade as well
as by the HDLink Utility, but color changes in LiveGrade as well HDLink Utility have no effect on
the image. In this case it may help if you
create a random grade,
send that to the HDLink’s NVRAM by choosing “Store Grades in HDLink’s NVRAM…” from the
file menu, and
power-cycle the HDLink (remove power and all other cables for more than 10 seconds).
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