By technical editor Matt Allard:
One of the unique features of the Panasonic Varicam 35 and HS is the ability to do live colour grading over LAN or WIFI. This enables users to directly grade the camera image by using the Varicams control panel or by Pomfort LiveGrade software. LiveGrade PRO can send CDL values and 3D LUTs that are applied on the live image and recordings in the camera, enabling real time colour tuning in the field. This means dailies which had been created after shooting can be produced on-set and just by using the camera. Grading information such as 3D LUT file and CDL file can be recorded together with the image data, allowing the user to keep a consistent look from capture to the post production process. LiveGrade helps the filmmaker with exposure control, lighting and composition.
Usually on a set when you are dealing with LOG or RAW images you would have the camera output going to a DIT cart where they would put it through something like a Blackmagic HD Link and then to a computer where colour grading software would enable a “Look” to be fed back into the HD Link. Then that signal is fed out to another screen for monitoring. This solution has been used for a long time but it requires the use of lots of cables and multiple signal paths. What Panasonic has basically done it take similar technology to the HD link and put it inside the camera. Now the Varicam can send the signal wireleslly straight to the viewing monitor without using a complicated/wired signal path. A computer using the LiveGrade Pro software is used to adjust the image.
This unique live grading feature can give productions the advantage to start post-production while still on set and to plan their colour management systems before and during the shoot.
The LiveGrade 2.2 update for Varicam is available free of charge for all LiveGrade Pro v2 customers.
