Color.io FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Color.io?
Color.io is a LUT builder, RAW image editor and film emulation app that runs in your web browser. You can use Color.io to develop raw images and to create your own 3D LUTs and DCTLs for color grading films, games and videos. Color grading in Color.io is done with an innovative UI that controls a mathematical color transformation framework that models how analog film responds to light. It offers several advantages over traditional color processing tools like Adobe Lightroom or Davinci Resolve and extends the concept of film emulation to a fully parametric approach.
The best way to explore everything Color.io has to offer is to use the app. Here's a list of useful resources that will help you learn more and dive deeper into the apps features and capabilities:
Can it be used for Photography?
Absolutely. Many Color.io users are full time photographers. You can use Color.io either to develop and color grade images directly in your browser, or create 3D LUTs for use in Adobe Photoshop, Darktable, Affinity Photo and more. Color.io is also a complete, LOG-based RAW processor that can develop RAW files from over 600 cameras. (Yes, a web app can do that!) The unique color manipulation tools and analog color grading engine make Color.io a powerful extension to any photo editing software that doesn't come with advanced 3D color visualization, film halation and deep gamut shaping tools.
What image formats are supported by Color.io?
Color.io can read all image formats including raw files from over 600 cameras. Here's a non-exhaustive list of the image file formats you can open and edit with Color.io:
.jpg, .png, .gif, .bmp, .tiff, .dpx, .dng, .cr2, .cr3, .arw, .nef, .raf, .dc2, .rdc, .bay, .crw, .cap, .dcs, .dcr, .drf, .eip, .erf,.fff, .iiq, .k25, .kdc, .mdc, .mef, .mos, .mrw,.nrw, .obm, .orf, .pef, .ptx, .pxn, .raw, .rwl,.rw2, .rwz, .sr2, .srf, .srw, .x3f, .3fr
How does Raw editing work?
Raw development in Color.io is powered by VisionLog - an ultra-wide-gamut, log-encoded color space compatible with built-in ACES © color managed. The image above shows the VisionLog, ProPhotoRGB and sRGB gamut for size comparison.
After loading a raw image into Color.io, all you have to do is select "VisionLog" from the camera dropdown at the top.
The VisionLog curve has a wider dynamic range than a standard linear encoding, which means that it can capture all detail in both the highlights and shadows of an image. Compared to traditional raw development workflows you can think of the logarithmic encoding step as an automated shadow and highlight recovery that creates a low-contrast base image with all image details non-destructively compressed into a very wide tonal range. VisionLog encoded raw images are an ideal starting point for creative color grading and look development.
Is Color.io a complete photo editor?
Instead of doing many things, Color.io is focused on color grading for natural photographic look development. Rather than being a fully fledged photo editor with a full suite of generic features, Color.io does one thing really well: color. With the ability to export color managed LUTs and directly debayer RAW files it's possible to integrate Color.io into most photo workflows.
Is Color.io color managed?
Color.io is end-to-end ACES © color managed.
ACES, or the Academy Color Encoding System, is a color management system that is quickly becoming the industry standard for photographers and filmmakers. This powerful system offers a wide range of benefits, including improved color accuracy, greater flexibility, improved archival capabilities, and better workflow efficiency.
One of the key advantages of ACES is its use of a wider color gamut than traditional color management systems and the fact that it works with a wide variety of cameras, displays, and output devices.
ACES also helps with workflow efficiency, it allows for consistent color throughout the entire workflow, from capture to final delivery, which can save time and effort. All images and 3D LUTs created with Color.io are fully ACES color managed. This is especially beneficial for professional photographers and filmmakers, who can trust that their images and color grades will be compatible with the equipment and software that they use on a daily basis.
Does Color.io support video?
You can create color grades for video by dropping multiple still frames into a scene and exporting the color you create with Color.io as a 3D LUT into your video editor of choice. Color.io accepts DPX and TIFF, as well as most other standard image formats commonly used in post production.
Color.io Pro can also create DCTL code that can be plugged into Davinci Resolve so that you can directly work with the deep color transformations created by Color.io in custom, high-end video and film workflows (all color manged, of course)
What LUT formats and sizes can Color.io create?
Color.io can generate 3D LUTs for most color grading and video editing applications like Davinci Resolve, Adobe Premiere, Final Cut Pro and many others. You can also generate color grading LUTs for Unity and Unreal Engine as well as Cinema4D RedShift and other 3D tools. It is also possible to export LUTs to Adobe Photoshop, Affinity Photo and other image editing applications.
You can find all supported 3D LUT formats directly in the export panel of the app.
How do I update to the latest version?
Color.io is a progressive web-app so it self-updates automatically. Whenever you launch the app, the latest version is fetched and installed in the background. You might sometimes receive an in-app notification for major updates or announcements from Color.io.
When you subscribe to the changelog you will also receive a weekly or monthly digest email with all updates.
How many devices can I use Color.io on?
A single Color.io Account can be signed in on up to 2 devices at the same time. When you're switching to a third device, just sign out of your first or second device to unlock access. You can remotely mange your device sessions in your browser with your Color.io Account.
What is the parametric film emulation engine in Color.io?
Film, when treated well, looks nice. Film exhibits color and structure characteristics that have a much higher degree of stable color transform complexity than what can be easily achieved with the linear input controls in most interface driven software. That's a shortcoming of the mathematical models embedded into color processing engines, not a unique characteristic of film. Film has the advantage of being a physical medium that can leverage the naturally occurring framework of chemistry to do its magic, something that digital systems just don't get for free.
And this is where Color.io comes in. Color.io is not software that emulates film stocks by statically mapping digital colors to their film representation like Dehancer, FilmConvert or VisionColor.
Color.io simulates the underlying chemistry of film and its interaction with light. You can use Color.io to emulate film stocks and produce physically accurate and natural-looking film-like colors. But you're not locked into a specific film look. What you get is a streamlined and simple-to-use interface into a color engine that models the complex non-linearities of film while ensuring very high color stability and smoothness under the hood. The result is better looking images with deep, painterly colors - completely shaped to your unique taste and vision. And whether you want to use it to emulate any specific film stock or do something else entirely is completely up to you. Just as it should be.
What makes Color.io a great alternative to Davinci Resolve for Photographers?
Color.io provides a simplified and intuitive user experience, making it easier to achieve professional-looking color grades without having to navigate a complex and confusing node based interface. The software’s exclusive focus on color grading also means that photographers can achieve their desired color grades faster while staying in the creative zone, something that's really hard with DaVinci Resolve. Additionally, Color.io’s web-based platform offers a flexible and accessible solution for filmmakers and photographers, allowing them to color grade from anywhere, on any device.
Why should photographers consider Color.io as an alternative to DaVinci Resolve?
If you’re a photographer looking for a specialized and easy-to-use tool for color grading, Color.io is a great alternative to DaVinci Resolve. The software’s focus on natural and photographic film-like colors, combined with its simplified user experience, makes it a highly effective tool for achieving professional-looking color grades. Whether you’re a professional photographer or an amateur just starting out, Color.io provides an accessible and efficient solution for all your color grading needs.
How are filmmakers and cinematographers using Color.io?
Color.io a tool that helps with developing looks, color grades and film emulations directly in the browser. It uses a proprietary processing engine that models the color response behaviour of analog film. This makes creating natural, photographic looks much easier and more streamlined than alternative approaches. Color.io is also a RAW image developer with support for over 600 cameras, it can generate 3D LUTs in over 15 formas and DCTLs for Davinci Resolve. It is ACES color managed and is a powerful extension to any video workflow and software that doesn't come with advanced 3D color visualization, analog color response modeling and deep gamut shaping tools.
What cameras are supported?
Virtually all cameras. Color.io has even extended ACES with proprietary IDTs to support cameras and workflows that are not directly supported by the official ACES version. At the time of writing, Color.io supports the following cameras and input color spaces:
- sRGB
- Rec709
- ProPhotoRGB
- Adobe RGB
- VisionLog
- Arri Log-C
- Arri Log-C Alexa 35
- BMDFilm Wide Gamut Gen. 5
- BolexLog WideGamutRGB
- CanonLog 1/2/3 BT2020 (Daylight & Tungsten)
- CanonLog 1/2/3 CinemaGamut (Daylight & Tungsten)
- DJI D-LOG D-Gamut
- Fuji F-Log F-Gamut
- Fuji F-Log 2 F-Gamut
- GoPro Protune Flat
- Kinefinity Kinelog 3
- Nikon N-Log BT2020
- Sony S-Log / S-Gamut
- Sony S-Log 2 / S-Gamut (Daylight & Tungsten)
- Sony S-Log 3 / S-Gamut3 & S-Gamut3.cine
- Sony Venice S-Log 3 / S-Gamut3 & S-Gamut3.cine
- Panasonic V-Log / V-Gamut
- RED RedLogFilm DragonColor 1 & 2
- RED RedLogFilm RedColor 1 - 4
- RED LOG3G10 WideGamutRGB
- Z-Cam Z-LOG 2
- ACES, ACEScct, ACEScg
- ADX10 and ADX16 for the film folks
This means you can create LUTs not only for all of these specific cameras, but also for every camera that outputs sRGB, Rec709, ProPhoto or Adobe RGB. Oh and we automatically debayer RAW image data from over 600 cameras not listed here into VisionLog, which you will then be able to process using Color.io. What a time to be alive!
Does Color.io support HDR workflows?
Yes! Color.io is ACES color managed so every look you create with the app is automatically compatible with a large number of input and output devices, including HDR. Outputs in ACES are called ODTs and for HDR you'll want to select REC2020 ST2084 from the dropdown with the little display icon. And that's all there's to it.
What makes Color.io a great alternative to Adobe Lightroom for Photographers?
Color.io offers a number of key benefits that make it a great alternative to Adobe Lightroom for photographers. Color.io offers a more intuitive and streamlined workflow for editing raw images, with features like individual film emulation parameters and a 3D LUT export function that make it easier to create a desired look. Color.io also has an optical film Halation module, which is not available in Lightroom, adding a unique dimension to your images. Overall, Color.io’s exclusive focus on color grading means that photographers can achieve their desired color grades faster while staying in the creative zone, something that's really hard with general purpose tools like Lightroom.
Why should photographers consider Color.io as an alternative to Lightroom?
If you’re a photographer looking for a specialized and easy-to-use tool for color grading, Color.io is a great alternative to Lightroom. The software’s focus on natural and photographic film-like colors, combined with its simplified user experience, makes it a highly effective tool for achieving professional-looking color grades. With many advanced color grading tools and emulation models that Lightroom simply doesn't offer, Color.io is a great choice for photographers that are primarily interested in developing their raw images in a natural and photographic way without the risk over-editing. Take a look at some of the features and capabilities in the official user guide.
Artist Credits:
The beautiful images you see on color.io have been shot by these incredibly talented and generous photographers, cinematographers and filmmakers:
Maksim Isotomin, Spencer Sembrat, Ryan Ancill, Zeynep Guler, Robbie Herrera, Adi Constantin, Albert Vincent Wu, Aleksandr Popov, Anaya Katlego, Bruno Guerrero, Caleb George, Calicadoo Ttdio, Devin Justesen, Elia Pellegrini, Ergi Murra, Francisco Andreotti, Georgina Postlethwaite, Ihor Malytskyi, Iri Chernookaya, Ivana Cajina, Jakob Owens, Jeremy Bishop, Jed Villejo, Kai Pilger, Karina Maslina, Kate Olfans, Kevin Müller, Mantissa, Monokee, Mark Basarab, Maxim Tolchinsky, Michele Canciello, Ming Han Low, Scott Evans, Simon Berger, Simon Wilkes, Stephen Ellis, Kelly Stow, Tim Trad, Lilly Rum.
Most original images have been modified in the form of de-grading and color grading to showcase how Color.io works. To see the original images and discover more from these photographers, head over to the official Color.io Unsplash collection that highlights their phenomenal work.
