SpectraCal CalMAN 3D LUT User Manual

for Image Editing Software

CalMAN Display Calibration Software can now create a display calibration 3D LUT file that can be
imported into many video and image editing software systems. CalMAN creates an optimized 3D
LUT file that applies calibration correction to the display to correct its performance to very
accurately comply with a desired video standard (e.g. BT.709, sRGB, etc.). CalMAN currently creates
the following common LUT file formats: .3dl, .csv, .cube, .m3d, .clt, .itx, .txt, .dat, and .mga formats;
plus specific file formats for many common LUT hardware devices.

When a display calibration LUT is imported into an editing software program, the program’s output

signal is then altered, according to the LUT data, to produce an image on the display that complies
with the selected video standard. Programs that are compatible with the LUT file formats that
CalMAN currently produces include:

 Adobe; After Effects
 Apple; Color
 Assimilate; Scratch
 Autodesk; Lustre, Flame/Inferno, Flint, Smoke, Fire
 Blackmagic Design; DaVinci Resolve
 Chaos Group; Pdplayer
 The Foundry; Nuke
 And, others for which detail is not yet provided

Required CalMAN Software Version:

CalMAN 3D LUT Files

Quick Start Guide

 Version 5.1.0.1130 or later

Required CalMAN Workflow:

 Color Cube (3D LUT) workflow

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CalMAN Software 3D LUT Setup

Follow this procedure to produce a display calibration 3D LUT file with CalMAN and load that file into a
number of video and image editing software programs.

Open CalMAN Color Cube Workflow

The Color Cube workflow in CalMAN version 5.1 or later is used to create
display calibration 3D cube LUTs. In the CalMAN main menu, select Open
Workflow Template / Color Cube (3D LUT).

1. Initial Setup

In the Initial Setup section of the Color Cube workflow, step through the
following pages:

a. Session Setup - Meter Connect

Connect your color meter to the CalMAN computer. Then, on the
Session Setup page, click the Find Meter button. On the Find Meters
dialog, select your meter, if it is listed, then click Search. If your meter is
not listed on the dialog, just click Search.

b. Session Setup - Source Connect

Connect your test pattern generator to the CalMAN computer. Then, on
the Session Setup page, click the Find Source button. On the Source
dialog, under Manufacturer, select the manufacturer of your test
pattern source. Under Model, select the model of your test pattern source.

c. Session Setup - LUT Device Setup

On the Session Setup page, click the Find 3D LUT Device button. Since you want to generate a LUT to
a standalone file, rather than within a hardware LUT processor, you will use the SpectraCal Cube

Generator software 3D LUT generator device. On the Display dialog, under Manufacturer, select
SpectraCal. Under Model, select SpectraCal – Cube Generator (3D LUT).

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2. Display Pre-Test

In the Display Pre-Test section of the Color Cube workflow, on the Test/Document Display and Check
Linearity pages, you can measure the performance of a display before you calibrate it. On the Display

Performance Test page, the previous display measurements are evaluated in a series of pass/fail
performance parameters.

If the display fails in any of these parameters, you should consider using the following Display
Optimization workflow section to optimize adjustments on the display itself.

If the display passes all of these parameters, you can skip the Display Optimization section and go
immediately to the Display Calibration workflow section.

3. Display Optimization

In the Display Optimization section of the Color Cube workflow, you are guided to optimize display
settings for picture mode, color gamut, color temp, gamma, dynamic range, white point balance, and
white point luminance.

4. Display Calibration

In the Display Calibration section of the Color Cube workflow, there are provisions for calibrating both a
1D LUT (1D Ramp LUT page) and a 3D LUT (3D Cube LUT page). When we are using the CalMAN Cube
Generator function to produce a 3D LUT file, we will skip the 1D LUT page and use only the 3D Cube LUT
page.

a. 1D Ramp LUT

Skip over this page when using the CalMAN Cube Generator function to produce a 3D LUT file.

b. 3D Cube LUT

1. On the 3D Cube LUT page, click the AutoCal (circling arrows) button at the right end of the

meter action buttons. The AutoCal Setup dialog then appears (see below).

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2. Select your File Format and Output Cube Size according to the requirements of the video or

image editing system you are targeting. Information for a number of editing systems follows
below.

3. Under File Path, select the desired directory path and provide a name for the LUT file that

CalMAN will create (e.g. monitor ID and date).

4. Under Calibration Type, select the desired type of 3D LUT calibration process.
 IR Profile (time based): Creates the best quality display calibration 3D LUT possible

in the selected period of time. You select how much display quality you have time
for, from 30 minutes to maximum display quality (6,000 points max). Uses
Intelligent Resolution Profiling to search out the most nonlinear color space areas
and correct those first.

 IR Profile (point based): Creates the best quality display calibration 3D LUT possible

with the selected number of measurement points (1,000 - 10,000 points). Uses
Intelligent Resolution Profiling to search out the most nonlinear color space areas
and correct those first.

 Lightning LUT: Creates a display calibration 3D LUT in five minutes or less. Produces

a very high quality result on professional displays with moderate linearity. Displays
with significant nonlinearity may produce marginal results.

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5. Under Video Range, select “SMPTE (16-235)” if you are calibrating a video display that clips

or compresses signals above reference white, as tested on the CalMAN Dynamic Range
page.

6. Click OK.

5. Display Validation

In the Display Validation section of the Color Cube workflow, you can test the performance of the display
to verify the accuracy of the 3D calibration LUT. You can switch back to the Display Pre-Test section to
compare to the pre-calibration performance.

Import CalMAN LUT File into your Imaging Software

Following are selections for the LUT file size and format that are required for different popular graphics
software, plus information on how to import and load the LUT file within each different software
program. However, be careful to not burn the display calibration LUT into the footage, or the footage
will look correct only on that display.

Adobe After Effects:

1. In the CalMAN AutoCal Setup dialog, select the File Format to be 3DL, select the Output Cube

Size to be 64 Points, and name your LUT in the File Path dialog.

2. When the CalMAN AutoCube calibration process is complete, copy the .3dl LUT file to a folder

on your editing computer.

3. In Adobe After Effects, with an image file open, select Effect > Utility > Apply Color LUT, then

select the LUT file from your drive.

Apple Color:

1. In the CalMAN AutoCal Setup dialog, select the File Format to be MGA, select the Output Cube

Size to be 16 Points, and name your LUT in the File Path dialog.

2. When the CalMAN AutoCube calibration process is complete, copy the .mga LUT file to a folder

on your editing computer.

3. In Apple Color, select File > Import > Display LUT, select the .mga LUT file you created, using the

Load LUT dialog, then click Load.

Assimilate Scratch:

1. In the CalMAN AutoCal Setup dialog, select the File Format to be 3DL, select the Output Cube

Size to be 32 Points, and name your LUT in the File Path dialog.

2. When the CalMAN AutoCube calibration process is complete, copy the .3dl LUT file to a folder

on your editing computer.

3. In Assimilate Scratch, with an image file loaded, under Source Transform, select Custom/Load to

select the LUT and apply it to the file.

Autodesk Lustre

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1. In the CalMAN AutoCal Setup dialog, select the File Format to be 3DL, select the Output Cube

Size to be 17 Points, and name your LUT in the File Path dialog.

2. Click OK in the AutoCal Setup dialog and wait for the CalMAN AutoCube calibration process to

complete.

3. In Autodesk Lustre, with an image file loaded, open the Input LUT menu. In the LUT List, click the

Browse button to open the Import file browser. Navigate to the appropriate source folder and
select one or more LUT files. Click Import.

Autodesk Fire

1. In the CalMAN AutoCal Setup dialog, select the File Format to be 3DL, select the Output Cube

Size to be 17 Points, and name your LUT in the File Path dialog.

2. When the CalMAN AutoCube calibration process is complete, copy the .3dl LUT file to the ~/lut

folder in the Fire home directory.

3. In the Fire init.cfg file, under the 3DLUT keyword heading, add the following line for the 3D LUT

file you added to the ~/lut folder: 3DLUT <filename>.3dl. This makes the 3D LUT available for the
Player and the View menu for the reference buffer overlay.

Autodesk Flame, Flint, Inferno, Smoke

1. In the CalMAN AutoCal Setup dialog, select the File Format to be 3DL, select the Output Cube

Size to be 17 Points, and name your LUT in the File Path dialog.

2. Click OK in the AutoCal Setup dialog and wait for the CalMAN AutoCube calibration process to

complete.

3. In Autodesk Flame, Flint, Inferno, or Smoke, with an image file loaded, open the LUT Preferences

menu and select the 3D LUT tab. Click the Import button to open the Import LUT browser.
Navigate to the 3D LUT file you want to use, and select it to load it to the 3D LUT list. Highlight
the desired LUT and click the Select button to apply the LUT to the image.

Blackmagic Design DaVinci Resolve:

1. In the CalMAN AutoCal Setup dialog, select the File Format to be CUBE, select the Output Cube

Size to be 17 Points, and name your LUT in the File Path dialog.

2. When the CalMAN AutoCube calibration process is complete, copy the .cube LUT file to your

computer system’s /Library/Application Support/Blackmagic Design/DaVinci Resolve/LUT folder.

3. In DaVinci Resolve, with an image file loaded, right-click on the node in the top-right corner,

navigate to the folder where you saved the LUT file, and select it to apply the LUT to the file.

Chaos Group Pdplayer:

1. In the CalMAN AutoCal Setup dialog, select the File Format to be 3DL, select the Output Cube

Size to be 17 Points, and name your LUT in the File Path dialog.

2. When the CalMAN AutoCube calibration process is complete, copy the .3dl LUT file to a folder

on your editing computer.

3. In Pdplayer, with an image file loaded, right-click on the Lookup Table chooser, select Import,

then select the .3dl LUT file to apply it to the file.

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The Foundry Nuke:

1. In the CalMAN AutoCal Setup dialog, select the File Format to be 3DL, select the Output Cube

Size to be 32 Points, and name your LUT in the File Path dialog.

2. When the CalMAN AutoCube calibration process is complete, copy the .3dl LUT file to a folder

on your editing computer.

3. In Nuke, to select the LUT to use when reading or writing an image, double-click to open the

Read or Write node’s properties panel.

4. From the Colorspace dropdown menu, select the .3dl LUT file you created.

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