# 13 — Color, VFX, and Compositing Grammar ## 1. First principle: separate scene truth, creative look, and output rendering ```text COLOR PIPELINE = source interpretation + scene-referred working space + normalization + shot matching + creative look + local corrections + VFX integration + output transform + display validation ``` A look should not be baked into source interpretation. Preserve a reversible path from source media to delivery. ## 2. Color-state dimensions ```text input color space input transfer function camera gamut/log encoding white balance exposure dynamic range working color space look transform output color space output transfer function peak luminance black level gamut mapping tone mapping render intent monitoring environment ``` ## 3. Color-management grammar ```text INPUT_TRANSFORM → SCENE_REFERRED_WORKING_SPACE → BALANCE_AND_MATCH → LOOK_DEVELOPMENT → VFX/CG_INTEGRATION → OUTPUT_TRANSFORM → DISPLAY/QC ``` An ACES-based pipeline can provide standardized transforms and a consistent interchange framework across capture, VFX, grading, and delivery. A project may also use another properly documented scene-referred or display-referred pipeline. ## 4. Primary correction grammar ```text NORMALIZE WHITE_BALANCE EXPOSURE CONTRAST PIVOT BLACK_LEVEL HIGHLIGHT_RECOVERY SHADOW_PLACEMENT SATURATION CHROMA_BALANCE ``` Order is flexible, but distinguish technical normalization from creative intent. ## 5. Shot-matching grammar Match by scene logic, not by forcing identical pixel values. Track: ```text neutral balance skin/object reference key exposure shadow density highlight rolloff contrast ratio saturation hue relationships background level practical color atmosphere ``` Rules: ```text IF two angles share a scene THEN match source direction, subject rendering, and environmental state before applying shot-specific emphasis. IF exposure changes because the subject moves into a new light zone THEN preserve motivated change rather than flattening it. IF generated and photographed shots intercut THEN match motion blur, grain/noise, sharpness, lens behavior, black level, and color—not color alone. ``` ## 6. Look grammar ```text LOOK = contrast curve + color separation + palette + saturation policy + highlight behavior + shadow behavior + texture + halation/bloom + grain/noise + lens/sensor character + temporal consistency ``` Look dimensions: ```text natural ↔ stylized clean ↔ textured warm ↔ cool soft ↔ crisp pastel ↔ saturated low contrast ↔ high contrast neutral shadows ↔ tinted shadows neutral highlights ↔ tinted highlights modern ↔ period/aged ``` A look must have a story, brand, world, or medium function. ## 7. Secondary correction grammar ```text KEY_BY_HUE KEY_BY_SATURATION KEY_BY_LUMINANCE POWER_WINDOW TRACKED_WINDOW FACE/SKIN ISOLATION BACKGROUND ISOLATION RELIGHT DEPTH_MASK OBJECT MASK SKY REPLACEMENT/CONTROL ``` Secondary corrections should survive motion, compression, and target display conditions without visible key chatter or halos. ## 8. Scope grammar Use objective scopes with calibrated viewing: ```text WAVEFORM RGB_PARADE VECTORSCOPE HISTOGRAM FALSE_COLOR GAMUT_WARNING NITS/HDR_SCOPES ``` Each answers a different question: ```text waveform → luminance/exposure distribution RGB parade → channel balance and clipping vectorscope → hue/saturation relationships histogram → distribution, not spatial location false color → exposure zones ``` ## 9. Skin and identity integrity Track: ```text skin hue family luminance relative to scene specular rolloff saturation makeup mixed-light context identity continuity ``` Do not force all skin tones to one exposure or hue target. Preserve the actual person under the intended scene light while preventing technical clipping, contamination, or inconsistent rendering. ## 10. HDR/SDR grammar ```text mastering_display peak_luminance black_level transfer_function color_primaries metadata highlight intent SDR trim strategy platform support ``` Rules: ```text IF HDR and SDR versions are required THEN define a primary master and a reviewed trim path rather than relying on an unreviewed automatic conversion. IF essential information exists only in extreme highlights or shadows THEN verify it across target displays and compression. ``` ## 11. VFX object grammar ```text PLATE CLEAN_PLATE MATTE ALPHA MASK TRACK CAMERA_TRACK ROTO KEY CG_ELEMENT GENERATED_ELEMENT PARTICLE SHADOW REFLECTION HOLDOUT DEPTH NORMAL MOTION_VECTOR COMPOSITE ``` ## 12. Compositing equation ```text COMPOSITE = geometry/perspective match + camera motion match + lens match + depth/occlusion + motion blur + focus/defocus + lighting direction + shadow/contact + reflection/refraction + atmosphere + color/exposure + grain/noise + edge integration ``` A color match cannot repair incorrect geometry, contact, occlusion, or light direction. ## 13. Keying grammar ```text screen exposure and uniformity subject separation spill control edge detail transparency motion blur hair/fine detail holdout mattes garbage mattes edge color light wrap background integration ``` Chroma-key capture should be planned with tracking markers, clean plates, reference stills, lens metadata, and lighting references when required. ## 14. Tracking grammar ```text POINT_TRACK PLANAR_TRACK CAMERA_SOLVE OBJECT_TRACK FACE_TRACK BODY_TRACK DEPTH_TRACK ``` Track quality dimensions: ```text feature persistence parallax motion blur occlusion rolling shutter lens distortion scale/rotation change solve error ``` ## 15. Rotoscoping and masking grammar ```text shape hierarchy inside/outside edges motion blur feather edge color temporal propagation occlusion order holdout relation chatter control ``` Use the simplest stable representation: key, track, depth, segmentation, roto, or hybrid. ## 16. Cleanup grammar ```text OBJECT_REMOVAL WIRE/RIG_REMOVAL DUST/SENSOR_CLEANUP SIGN/SCREEN_REPLACEMENT BEAUTY_REPAIR FLICKER_REPAIR STABILIZATION ROLLING_SHUTTER_REPAIR DEAD_PIXEL_REPAIR BACKGROUND_EXTENSION ``` Cleanup must not erase documentary evidence or materially alter appearance without an approved editorial purpose. ## 17. Generated-element integration For generated elements, preserve: ```text representational label prompt/reference provenance alpha/depth when available lighting reference camera/lens reference entry/exit state rights state repair history ``` Integration checks: ```text contact shadow reflections light wrap atmospheric depth motion blur focus grain compression scale physics ``` ## 18. Lens and texture matching ```text distortion chromatic aberration vignetting flare halation bloom sharpness/MTF character focus falloff sensor noise film grain compression artifacts rolling shutter ``` Texture should be added in the correct pipeline position and scaled to output resolution. ## 19. Title-safe and graphic compositing Track: ```text active image area platform UI exclusions caption zone broadcast/title safe if required overscan or crop motion-safe boundaries ``` Graphics must be validated after reframing and output transforms, not only on the master timeline. ## 20. Provenance and authenticity Maintain: ```text source asset lineage render versions operator/agent transform history generated components material changes disclosure decisions content credentials when supported ``` Content credentials can preserve claims about origin and edit history, but human-readable disclosure remains necessary when a synthetic or altered image could mislead. ## 21. LAKA color/VFX variations ### Baseline ```text normalize, match, repair, preserve natural scene intent ``` ### Minor ```text local contrast/palette/texture adjustment ``` ### Major ```text new look, relight, environment enhancement, or graphic composite treatment ``` ### Structural ```text color/light transformation evolves through the sequence or carries narrative state ``` ### Paradigm ```text photographic realism becomes collage, animation, data-space, memory, or visibly synthetic world ``` ## 22. Color/VFX failure modes ```text WRONG_INPUT_TRANSFORM DOUBLE_TRANSFORM CLIPPING GAMUT_EXCURSION SHOT_MISMATCH SKIN_IDENTITY_DRIFT KEY_CHATTER EDGE_HALO TRACK_SLIP MISSING_CONTACT_SHADOW LENS_MISMATCH GRAIN_SCALE_MISMATCH GENERATED_ELEMENT_UNDISCLOSED CLEANUP_ALTERS_EVIDENCE HDR_SDR_TRIM_FAILURE PROVENANCE_GAP ``` ## 23. Acceptance test ```text Is every source interpreted correctly? Are balance and match distinct from the creative look? Does the look support the narrative and remain consistent? Do VFX elements match geometry, light, depth, motion, lens, and texture? Are skin and identity represented faithfully? Are SDR/HDR and target displays reviewed? Are generated or materially altered elements traceable and disclosed? ```