Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/1532337
www.postmagazine.com 33 POST JAN/FEB 2025 ver the past year, the advance- ments in machine learning have been impressive. Auto-tracking, auto-ro- to and AI-powered facial recognition tools have streamlined workflows and enhanced color-grading capabilities. For example, Baselight can now automat- ically detect and track faces, allowing precise corrections, such as removing blemishes or wrinkles, that can be ap- plied consistently across multiple shots. However, the most groundbreaking ad- vancement that we've seen in a decade or more may be depth mapping. The power of depth mapping Depth maps are used to separate the foreground and background of a scene so that different color enhancements can be applied to each. In a depth map, the distance of objects from the camera is visualized via grayscale. White pixels indicate objects closer to the camera, while black pixels represent objects further away. Depth maps can help cinematographers achieve more realistic lighting effects with their colorist by allowing us to work with the scene in a truly 3D way. Currently, we simulate depth in 2D, but depth maps provide a genuine z-axis, allowing selective color corrections and effects based on distance from the camera. This precision eliminates the need for manual masking, allowing you to automatically select and enhance specific areas based on distance. For example, we can enhance a subject's face by darkening the background and brightening the foreground, giving us much more realistic results. The future of AI and color grading I don't see a future where AI takes over the creative work that happens in the color grade. Navigating the nuances of a day exterior with varying cloud cover, for example, will continue to require a human's expertise and creativity. AI's contributions are going to be in the lig- aments and bones, rather than the skin, in giving us a 3D model of the scene in which the cinematographer and colorist can then play. As AI continues to progress, we can expect more sophisticated depth-map- ping techniques, realtime processing for smoother blends from frame to frame, and improved accuracy. From there, it's possible that a movie could be shot entirely in deep focus, and then in post, the cinematographer could work with their colorist to manipulate the depth of field and add bokeh, even varying the effect by keyframing within a single shot. The creative possibilities are going to be exciting to explore. Light Iron is the post production cre- ative-services division of Panavision. DEPTH MAPPING IS THE NEXT EVOLUTION O BY IAN VERTOVEC SUPERVISING COLORIST LIGHT IRON (A PANAVISION COMPANY) WWW.PANAVISION.COM Simplifying the process There's also a need to simplify the pro- cess as much as possible by reducing the number of steps involved between capturing raw footage and the delivery of the final product. This begins at the point of ingest. If media operators can batch-process files, preparing assets for post production by trimming video files, removing snippets and instantly updat- ing metadata, files can be moved directly from camera to MAM, saving post opera- tor time. Time-consuming tasks, such as QC and transcoding files into various for- mats, should also be automated as much as possible to allow operators to focus more on creative, value-adding activities. By simplifying the process and speeding up every step, media companies can ensure a smoother workflow and quicker time-to-market. Bridging the gaps Post teams are dealing with ever-tighter schedules, so speed and efficiency are critically important. Whether working in a database or moving content to Amazon S3, with the right approach, media com- panies can bridge gaps in existing work- flows without the need to re-architect their entire infrastructure or fully change processes. By focusing on integrating processes, ensuring compatibility across systems, and automating and simplifying, media organizations can create an effi- cient, streamlined workflow without the pain of a complete system overhaul. Cinedeck's expertise lies in encoding for edit-ready formats, ensuring a seamless camera-to-post workflow and facilitat- ing file delivery with patented insert-ed- it technology. COLOR GRADING OUTLOOK FX's The Old Man: Depth maps can help with lighting and more.