Disguise Masterclass: Colour in Virtual Production with Daniel Mulligan

Learn about color workflows in the emerging field of Virtual Production through a hybrid training course offered by Disguise. This course is led by color expert Daniel Mulligan (ColorQ) and is hosted at ROE Visual in Los Angeles , featuring their state-of-the-art Virtual Production set.


Day One: Basic Volume Calibration [9:30am - 5:00pm]
This initial phase establishes the full production color pipeline for a Virtual Production shoot. It ensures that your processing platform and panels are calibrated for initial use.

Topics:

1. Color Charts: Ensure your color charts are in the desired target color space.
2. Charts: Macbeth charts are a good standard; confirm they match the correct target space.
3. Color Spaces: Choose a color space and maintain consistency throughout the pipeline.
4. Process: Have a clear process for this initial stage.
5. Processors: Configure processors accordingly via their software.

Understand the capabilities of the panels being used, including wide gamut settings, nits (luminance) output, and color space capabilities. Ensure processors meet the same criteria, with options for color space, gamut, bit depth (minimum 10-bit), and color temperature (default D65).

After setting up the pipeline and agreeing on all technical parameters, align everything as accurately as possible.

1. Choose a Macbeth chart in your desired color space/gamut. Ensure it matches the target space.
2. Use a still store or similar tool to display this chart on the wall.

Focus on verifying that processors function correctly, the wall responds properly, and simple measurements with a spectrometer confirm the white points and RGB values based on chromaticity numbers for the target space.

Day Two: Chromaticity [09:30am - 5:00pm]

Cameras and Color Management with Unreal:

Learn camera matching techniques to the LED Volume, including chromaticity measurements, NITs values, white points, and a comprehensive understanding of the entire workflow involving LED Volume, cameras, lenses, processors, and Unreal color management with OCIO.

Software Calibration and Unreal:

Explore software options from ARRI, Sony, Light Illusion, and OpenVPCal. Delve into color management through Unreal, OCIO, and its application, configuration, and builds.

Final Line-Up and Approval:

During the last half day, review all touchpoints in the calibration workflow and apply these to the final LED Volume for approval and measurement.

Conclusion:

We'll wrap the two-day course with a final appraisal, and hold a Q&A session to discuss what was learned and understood.