HDRx in Resolve

[Jean Déraps]

I've been testing out the waters with DaVinci Resolve Light. I've tried to see what I can do with HDRx footage from Epic. However, when I try to follow the instructions from the user guide I get a "not available in the free version" type message. I thought it was possible to work with HDR files in Resolve Light. Is this correct and, if so, how is this done?

Many thanks

Jean

[luigivaltulini]

Ciao Jean,
whit version light, is not possible max 2 node, in REsolve you must create 3 node, 2 correction and 1 layer mix for grading HDRx EPIC.

[Jean Déraps]

Ciao Luigi, thanks for your reply. It must somehow be possible to do a simple blend (like in REDCine-X) without the full version? The comparison table on the Blackmagic site (click here (http://www.blackmagic-design.com/products/davinciresolve/compare/)) indicates that:

"Use HDR source images for real time display, blending and grade"

is possible for the lite version...I'm seriously considering buying the full version, but would just like to kick the tires a bit more before doing so.

[luigivaltulini]

ciao Jean,
yes i see this " Use HDR source images for real time display, blending and grade." but if for images , i think 2 tga,tiff,jpeg and and and .... not for R3D movie RED EPIC HDRx.
And more important if you use more gpu nvidia for grading in version lite is limited to 1 gpu .
Sincerely Jean for the price of software should buy the full version, of course is just my idea;)
Davinci is a great software for performance-price.

[Peter Chamberlain]

Hi, as Resolve Lite is designed to show the benefits of color grading and the features of resolve with a few limitations, like the limit to two nodes and HD, you need a couple of extra steps for HDRx, just so u can see the benefits. First step is to make a second track and put a duplicate of the clip on the second track, directly above the other. On the node graph on the top track, make an alpha output. Connect the matte out of your last node to this alpha output. This will route to the track below, which has the same clip, but on this lower track you connect the short exposure HDRx input, just as per the manual. Now u have the two exposures and can vary the track two key out gain to control the HDRx blend.
I imagine some may think this is cumbersome, but as I mentioned, we wanted to offer a way to expand the markets experience with grading and so this method gets around the two node limit.
If u like the feature set and speed of resolve lite, we hope you will buy the full version.
Peter

[luigivaltulini]

Hi, as Resolve Lite is designed to show the benefits of color grading and the features of resolve with a few limitations, like the limit to two nodes and HD, you need a couple of extra steps for HDRx, just so u can see the benefits. First step is to make a second track and put a duplicate of the clip on the second track, directly above the other. On the node graph on the top track, make an alpha output. Connect the matte out of your last node to this alpha output. This will route to the track below, which has the same clip, but on this lower track you connect the short exposure HDRx input, just as per the manual. Now u have the two exposures and can vary the track two key out gain to control the HDRx blend.
I imagine some may think this is cumbersome, but as I mentioned, we wanted to offer a way to expand the markets experience with grading and so this method gets around the two node limit.
If u like the feature set and speed of resolve lite, we hope you will buy the full version.
Peter

;) thanks Peter for Tips... nice..

[Jean Déraps]

Peter, thanks for your input. Of course I understand the reasons for the limitations in Resolve Lite and that's fine by me. Blackmagic is being quite generous as it stands.

As I mentioned, I just wanted to see what it can do with my Epic files before purchasing the full version. Also, as you know, it's not just a matter of buying your great software but the complications of setting up a MacPro with discontinued graphics cards, lack of pci slots, etc. (I'm doing my testing on my new MacBook Pro right now)...and I'm playing the waiting game for the new MacPro which will have Thunderbolt.

And while I'm on the subject of Thunderbolt, I'd like to know which advantages there would be of using your Ultrastudio 3D with Resolve, aside from providing an SDI output which is lacking on the Mac. Does your capture "card" help to accelerate anything?

Many thanks

Jean

[Peter Chamberlain]

Hi, the UltraStudio3D just like the DeckLink HD Extreme 3D is a video and audio I/O device with deck control. In Resolve all DaVinci processing is in GPU and the r3d's are decoded in Rockets (two for Epic) or CPU. Your MBP will struggle with the HDRx on both counts.
A current MacPro with a Cubix expander, one Q4000 for GUI, two Q4000 and two Red Rockets in the Expander, the raid card and Decklink in the Mac.. its using all the slots but works pretty well.
Peter

[Jean Déraps]

Peter, thanks again for your feedback. Of course I'm aware that my MBP will find it to be heavy going, but I'm not really using it to do serious grading, just to see whether Resolve works the way I'm hoping it does...and I won't be judging it for speed knowing I'm using it on lightweight hardware.

But I'm curious as to why you suggest the Quadro 4000 rather than the Geforce 120 as is suggested in the Resolve configuration guide? I was considering getting the GeForce 120 and 285 cards which the guide suggests would be more powerful for work with Resolve....

[Rocco Schult]

...one Q4000 for GUI, two Q4000 and two Red Rockets in the Expander, the raid card and Decklink in the Mac..

a Quadro4000 is breaking a fly on the wheel - for those who have a 1slot graphics on a side (like a GT120, even works in the most recent 24core lion equipped Mac Pros), one can save money.
The GUI doesn't need and benefit from that power.

[Uli Plank]

I don't see where you can benefit from blending HDRx in Resolve Lite over doing it in RCX-Pro. The full version will give you many more possibilities to combine the A- and X-track, like masking and tracking.

[Jean Déraps]

Uli, if you follow Peter's suggestion above, you can at least see the what masking would look like using HDRx. Obviously the full version is what you need to do any serious work with HDRx....