The Offset Podcast EP027: Where Do DCTLs & OFX Fit Into A Grading Workflow?

The Offset Podcast

#Tech #Cinema #DC Color #Davinci Resolve #Postproduction #Color #Edition #Finish #Business

30:55

A secret field that summons lightning. A massive spiral that disappears into a salt lake. A celestial observatory carved into a volcano. Meet the wild—and sometimes explosive—world of land art, where artists craft masterpieces with dynamite and bulldozers. In our Season 2 premiere, guest Dylan Thuras, cofounder of Atlas Obscura, takes us off road and into the minds of the artists who literally reshaped parts of the Southwest. These works aren’t meant to be easy to reach—or to explain—but they just might change how you see the world. Land art you’ll visit in this episode: - Double Negative and City by Michael Heizer (Garden Valley, Nevada) - Spiral Jetty by Robert Smithson (Great Salt Lake, Utah) - Sun Tunnels by Nancy Holt (Great Basin Desert, Utah) - Lightning Field by Walter De Maria (Catron County, New Mexico) - Roden Crater by James Turrell (Painted Desert, Arizona) Via Podcast is a production of AAA Mountain West Group.…

about a year ago 53:15

MP3•Episode home

In this installment of The OffSet Podcast, we're exploring how power grades, DCTLs, and OFX fit into a grading workflow.

Specific topics we discuss in this episode include:

Defining Powergrades, DCTL & OFX
The benefits of extending the toolset without cluttering the user interface
Integrating DCTLS and OFX into fix node tree structures
The DCTL ecosystem as R&D for Blackmagic Design
Keeping DCTLs & OFX in sync, up to date, and on multiple systems and locations
Exploring how to NOT paint yourself into a corner with DCTLs & OFX
How DCTLS and OFX require a lot of steps and clicks for use
There could be better interface & panel integration
Some of our favorite DCTLs and OFX

Be sure to check out our library of episodes, and if you liked the show, be sure to like and subscribe to the show wherever you find it.

33 episodes

The Offset Podcast EP027: Where Do DCTLs & OFX Fit Into A Grading Workflow?

The Offset Podcast

published about a year ago

MP3•Episode home

In this installment of The OffSet Podcast, we're exploring how power grades, DCTLs, and OFX fit into a grading workflow.

Specific topics we discuss in this episode include:

Defining Powergrades, DCTL & OFX
The benefits of extending the toolset without cluttering the user interface
Integrating DCTLS and OFX into fix node tree structures
The DCTL ecosystem as R&D for Blackmagic Design
Keeping DCTLs & OFX in sync, up to date, and on multiple systems and locations
Exploring how to NOT paint yourself into a corner with DCTLs & OFX
How DCTLS and OFX require a lot of steps and clicks for use
There could be better interface & panel integration
Some of our favorite DCTLs and OFX

Be sure to check out our library of episodes, and if you liked the show, be sure to like and subscribe to the show wherever you find it.

33 episodes

#Tech #Cinema #DC Color #Davinci Resolve #Postproduction #Color #Edition #Finish #Business

All episodes

1
The Offset Podcast EP032: When Is A Grade Done? 54:24

9 hours ago54:24

54:24

In this episode we’re exploring a audience member submitted question about how to know when a grade is done and ready to present to a client. It’s a more nuanced and complex question than you’d think! Specific topics discussed in this episode include: Color is very subjective thing - how to balance your ‘done’ vs a client’s done The importance of pre-grade goals How initial project evaluation is a vital part of the grading process Getting to know a client’s preferences, aesthetic, and things they focus on The immense value of working in passes Focusing first on ‘tone’, white/black point, and overall shot to shot contrast Moving to large feature matching Detailed work - beauty, clothing, small features shot to shot Showing the client for the first time - balancing confidence and accepting constructive criticism Putting the project back in front of client again after addressing notes and gauging success Evaluating ‘translatability’ on consumer devices Preparing for big changes, disasters etc with project backups, duplicated timelines, and versions Balancing perfectionism with staying on schedule and delivering The long term value of being committed to your work If you liked this episode be sure to check out our growing library of shows. Also be sure to like and subscribe to The Offset Podcast where ever you find it!…

1
The Offset Podcast EP031: Discussing Monitors Part 2 1:01:40

18 days ago1:01:40

1:01:40

In this episode, we’re continuing our discussion with monitoring experts Bram Desmet from Flanders Scientific, Nate McFarlin from Dolby, and David Abrams from Avical/Portrait Displays Some of the specific topics we cover in this episode include: How are panels actually made? And why does it cost billions? The role of material science in panel manufacturing Understanding the split between panel manufacturers and consumer brands of the same name The importance of viewing environment in regards to display performance Understanding preference vs accuracy The shift to consumer-sized panels as reference monitors and the ongoing challenges of using multiple monitors Building meter matrices with the four color method, and are there better approaches, like the Bodner method or the volumetric approaches used by some calibration software Revisiting using consumer displays in a professional setting & why consumer TV companies have little incentive to integrate reference capabilities Continuing challenges of Rec.2020 Calibrating computer monitors, iPads, and mobile devices If you like this episode, please be sure to subscribe to the podcast give the show a like wherever you're watching/listening!…

1
The Offset Podcast EP030: Discussing Monitors Part 1 58:48

5 weeks ago58:48

58:48

For our 30th episode we're discussing that topic we always seem to revisit - monitoring! While we have some opinions on the state of reference and consumer monitors in 2025 we thought it'd be fun to celebrate our 30th episode with some good friends who also happen to be experts in their part of the monitoring ecosystem. In Part 1 of a two-part series, we're joined by Flander Scientific CEO Bram Desmet, Nate McFarlin from Dolby, and David Abrams from Portrait Displays/Avical. We'll discuss their areas of expertise with each of them a little bit - monitor manufacturing, display testing and validation, and calibration. Specific topics explored in this episode include: Staying on top of monitoring technologies Choosing display technologies for a monitor product line Determining what features make it into monitor software Addressing different needs of different users e.g. DITs vs Colorists How staying at the forefront of color science helps deliver the most accurate monitors possible The role that an R&D company like Dolby plays in the monitor ecosystem How monitor usability is just as important as performance The complexity of monitor display technologies and how they can complicate monitor evaluation Sometimes monitor evaluation brings with it things manufacturers don’t want to hear Consumer monitors can be considerably harder to evaluate than professional monitors What does Dolby Certification really mean for consumer TVs When will we hit a point where HDR is standard & SDR is looked at in a similar way to HD or 4:3 Professional vs Consumer displays when it comes to calibration accuracy out of the box Calibration is not a replacement for understanding & proper setup/use of a monitor Exploring how calibration has become both easier and harder How accurate is accurate enough and is the cost of reference calibration gear worth it Noticeable differences & degrees of accuracy with calibration Drift and the frequency of recalibration In part 2 we explore some monitoring topics provided by our listeners and ones that Joey and Robbie have been eager to discuss.…

1
The Offset Podcast EP029: ARM In Post Production Part 2 25:42

7 weeks ago25:42

25:42

In this episode, we continue our discussion about ARM-based computing and its impact on postproduction. If you missed part 1 in this series, be sure to check that out, as we cover a lot of helpful background information. In this show, some of the specifics discussed include: How ARM will factor into our next workstation purchases Do we think Apple will deliver on a ‘beast mode’ Mac Pro Will Apple Silicon ever support discreet GPUs How ARM Linux systems are very appealing from a hardware point of view but have software challenges Is widespread adoption of ARM an inflection point for cloud-based workstations for the masses A side effect of cloud-based workstations might be faster feature/bug fix deployment Why the future of workstations is really exciting Be sure to check out our library of episodes, and if you liked the show, be sure to like and subscribe to the podcast wherever you find it.…

1
The Offset Podcast EP028: ARM In Post Production Part 1 34:35

9 weeks ago34:35

34:35

ARM SoCs (system on a chip) have become a hot topic in the computing world in the past few years. Apple branded ‘Apple Silicon’, Qualcomm’s Snapdragon, Ampere’s Altra, and others have been disruptive in a world once dominated by x86/x64-based systems from Intel & AMD. In Part 1 of a two-part series on ARM in postproduction, we explore some of the essentials of ARM systems, including: Basics of ARM vs x86/x64 processors RISK vs Non-RISK CPUs The flexibility & scalability of ARM The goal of a uniform product architecture and its advantage for a company like Apple GPU design/performance - the surprise of Apple’s ARM implementation The appeal and benefits of efficiency and low power consumption The benefits of unified memory Package scalability - faster/more cores, multiple SoCs Does clock speed matter with ARM SOCs? Additional benefits - onboard encode/decode abilities Are SoC GPUs ever going to be on par with discrete GPUs? Will discrete GPUs ever come to Apple ARM systems? In part two, we’ll dive a bit deeper, exploring additional topics, including how cloud-based ARM computing could be a game changer for cost-effective, decentralized post workflows, what the future may hold for workstations from Apple and others, and much more.…

1
The Offset Podcast EP027: Where Do DCTLs & OFX Fit Into A Grading Workflow? 53:15

11 weeks ago53:15

53:15

The built-in tools in grading applications like DaVinci Resolve are immensely powerful, but sometimes, you need a tool that goes further—or, at the very least, approaches a task in a slightly different way. In this installment of The OffSet Podcast, we're exploring how power grades, DCTLs, and OFX fit into a grading workflow. Specific topics we discuss in this episode include: Defining Powergrades, DCTL & OFX The benefits of extending the toolset without cluttering the user interface Integrating DCTLS and OFX into fix node tree structures The DCTL ecosystem as R&D for Blackmagic Design Keeping DCTLs & OFX in sync, up to date, and on multiple systems and locations Exploring how to NOT paint yourself into a corner with DCTLs & OFX How DCTLS and OFX require a lot of steps and clicks for use There could be better interface & panel integration Some of our favorite DCTLs and OFX Be sure to check out our library of episodes, and if you liked the show, be sure to like and subscribe to the show wherever you find it.…

1
The Offset Podcast EP026: Managing Review Sessions 48:34

13 weeks ago48:34

48:34

In this episode of The Offset Podcast, we’re discussing strategies for managing client review sessions - both in person and remote. The review session sounds straightforward on paper, but it can be a complicated balancing act of moving things along, addressing changes, and keeping everyone happy. Some of the specifics we discuss in this episode include: Managing both in-person and remote review sessions The importance of ‘knowing’ the show - content, characters, etc Modulating small talk and reading the room Leveraging markers & notes for remaining tasks to accomplish & notes to self Anticipating problems, tangents, and pushback Setup your grading pipeline to make changes and comparisons easy for the client The power of making choices and changes visual Documenting and tracking changes for consistency and completion Making sure the technology works - audio, networking, lighting, passwords etc Having a backup strategy - rendering out intermediate masters, duplicate projects/timelines Having clearly defined goals for the review session & a post-review plan You can submit show ideas and find show notes by visiting www.offsetpodcast.com. You can also follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube - just search for The Offset Podcast…

1
The Offset Podcast EP 025: Things They Don't Tell You About Becoming A Colorist 43:50

15 weeks ago43:50

43:50

In this installment of The Offset Podcast, we're discussing many of the things no one told us before we decided to become professional colorists. While being a professional colorist can be exciting and rewarding, the job also comes with a plethora of challenges and things you might not realize. Some specifics we discuss in this episode include: Is being a colorist everything it’s made out to be? How being a colorist can challenge your physical and mental health How not every project is share-worthy and it's easy to feel like you're not making art Challenges of long hours and being away from family and friends Being an independent colorist is hard, but the benefits can be numerous There is more out there to color besides movies, television, and commercials - i.e. the great middle How postproduction knowledge as a colorist can be leveraged for lots of other things How you have to learn to check your ego at the door Long-term success usually means consistency and repeatability vs one awesome grade Learning how to be a team player with other parts of the pipeline Putting your knowledge to work through education, speaking, etc can be just as rewarding as grading Advancement in postproduction isn’t really connected to titles - - but more so responsibility and overall trust from stakeholders Thanks for listening/watching and if you liked this show be sure to check out other episodes and tell your colleagues and friends about the podcast!…

1
The Offset Podcast EP024: Calibration 45:46

18 weeks ago45:46

45:46

We hope you had a great holiday season! The Offset Podcast is back for Season 2. We publish an episode every two weeks, and for Season 2 (2025), we’re excited to discuss a wide range of exciting topics. In this episode, we explore a subject that should be important to everyone who cares about image quality and accuracy—calibration. While this episode is not encyclopedic, it should give you a high-level overview of modern calibration. Topics covered in this episode include: The importance of calibration & why calibration = the truth Using color bars to set a monitor baseline isn’t calibration How standards guide calibration Calibration and monitor perfection is unattainable - the goal is to eliminate visual deviations from reference as much as possible. Understanding the parts of a closed-loop calibration system Colorimeters Spectroradiometers Creating display-specific offset matrices for a colorimeter with a spectroradiometer Pattern generators Pattern/Patch size and understanding the basics of loading behavior Calibration software Direct device control within calibration software Meter placement Challenges of calibrating projectors vs. direct-view monitors Understanding what calibration can’t do & recalibration considerations Is auto calibration any good? Hiring a professional calibrator Thanks for checking out the show! If you liked this episode please like, subscribe, and share the show with friends and colleagues.…

1
The Offset Podcast EP023: DIY Part 2 - Software 58:14

24 weeks ago58:14

58:14

Programming Note: The Offset Podcast is taking a break for the holidays. We'll return in mid-January 2025 with new episodes and back to our regular release schedule. A very sincere thanks to our listeners for an amazing 2024 and for helping us launch the show! -------------------------------------- Continuing with our two-part series on DIY approaches, in this installment of The Offset Podcast we'll discuss using a DIY approach to software. No, we're not talking about making your own turn-key color or editing software (but let us know if you do!), but rather things like scripting, basic coding for tool building, automation, and more. Specific topics covered in this episode include: Why DIY software approaches & can you really do these things yourself? The importance of always starting with an idea Basic scripting to improve workflows Integrating scripts through the Resolve API Leveraging Resolve developer documentation for help Learning by looking at other/open-source scripts DCTLs - creating custom color tools for DaVinci Resolve How color science and DCTLs relate Using low code/no code workflow automation platforms to connect the dots with different APIs Automating while also allowing for human decision-making Make your own UI/Interface for custom tools with Budibase Keeping interfaces simple to get more user compliance SaaS (Software As A Service) in the cloud vs local integrations The danger of using too many services Using developer marketplaces Thanks for checking out the episode. Please subscribe and like the show anywhere you find it!…

1
The Offset Podcast EP022: Grade Management 58:54

26 weeks ago58:54

58:54

You've likely heard the phrase 'work smarter, not harder'. Well, for the professional colorist who has to grade tons of shots day in and day out, working smarter is at the core of what we call grade management. In this installment of The Offset Podcast, we explore a plethora of tools & techniques for grade management. While many of these things are Resolve-specific, grade management approaches can apply to your grading tool of choice. Highlights include: What does grade management mean? The power of fixed node tree (fixed structure) The process of building your own fixed tree Leveraging Node Stack Layers Using compound nodes Using groups, Lightbox & Smart Filters to work faster Shared nodes Understanding sort modes Using multiple playheads Remote and Local grades Using Versions Split screens for complex comparisons Stills and wipes Timeline (Layer) organization and track disabling Burn in options and rendering specific tracks Single Clip vs Individual Clip render options Remember to subscribe and like wherever you find The Offset Podcast. We appreciate you checking out this episode!…

1
The Offset Podcast EP021: 'Old' Postproduction Knowledge 50:48

28 weeks ago50:48

50:48

No, we're not returning to the days of 1", U-Matic, or even D1 & Digibeta (although those were pretty awesome days!). In this installment of The Offset Podcast, we're revisiting some postproduction knowledge that many of us take for granted but that is surprisingly new or at least unclear to many people. In this episode, we'll discuss: Preserving institutional knowledge of post - old vocab and techniques are still relevant Understanding fractional frame rates Drop vs non-drop timecode Understanding interlacing Interlacing to progressive, progressive to interlaced Transparency & alpha channels Composite modes and transparency in color-managed pipelines Recap on 3 and 4-point editing Inclusive & exclusive playheads Being obsessive about file names Using Leader in file outputs - slates, bars/tone etc If you like this episode, please subscribe and like the show wherever you find it. Also, thanks to our sponsor Flanders Scientific, and our awesome editor Stella. If you have an idea for a new episode please visit offsetpodcast.com and use the submission button to share your thoughts…

1
The Offset Podcast EP020: DIY Part 1 - 3D Printing & Hardware 35:17

31 weeks ago35:17

35:17

It's hard to believe but this is our 20th episode! We sincerely thank all our listeners and viewers for checking out the show. We're super excited for the next 20+ shows! -------------- We're big fans of customization, including things on our desk and other hardware we need around the facility. With huge online marketplaces, it's easier than ever to find those oddball parts and items to personalize your setup. But what if you can't find what you're looking for or you've found something that fits your need 80% but not completely? In this installment of The Offset Podcast, we start a two-part series on DIY (do it yourself) approaches for postproduction. We're starting out by exploring one of our favorite DIY approaches - the power of 3D printing to make custom items for your suite, facility or anywhere else you might need a customized part. Over the past 10 years, 3D printing has morphed from an engineering hobby for the most serious DIYers to something that's approachable for even the most tech-phobic of us. In this show, we'll explore the basics of 3D printing to make your own hardware including: The power of customization & fulfilling exact needs What kind of things can you print for postproduction? Understanding the basics of additive and subtractive manufacturing The 50,000 ft view of the 3D printing - modeling, slicing, and 'programming' How a good set of calipers can help you design anything with real-world measurements 3D printing communities Farming out fabrication to a vendor In a future episode, we'll explore DIY software approaches including custom scripting and workflow-enhancing tools. Thanks as always to our sponsor Flanders Scientific and to our awesome editor Stella - we couldn't do the show without you! If you liked this episode, check out our other episodes and like and subscribe wherever you find the show.…

1
The Offset Podcast EP019: Color Management 1:03:39

33 weeks ago1:03:39

1:03:39

Color management pipelines play an integral part in modern postproduction, but these pipelines still cause a lot of confusion for many people. In this episode of The Offset Podcast, we discuss essential concepts & vocab about color management pipelines to prepare you to dive deeper into these concepts. Specific topics discussed include: - Why understanding color management so important in modern workflows - Understanding the concepts of scene and display referred - How LUTs can be considered part of a managed pipeline - but with some limitations - The parts of a color-managed pipeline - Choosing an intermediate/working space - Project-wide, node-base, and layer-based approaches to color management - The power of color space-aware tools - Printer lights & contrast in a managed pipeline - Output metadata tagging - Using OFX and DCTLs in a managed pipeline - The danger of too much fiddling with transforms You can also find this episode on all major podcast platforms. Big thanks as always to our sponsor Flanders Scientific, and our editor Stella!…

1
The Offset Podcast EP018: Battling Burnout 54:39

35 weeks ago54:39