Linear workflow confusion

[rashed]

Hello guys, I know this subject has been around for a while and many people have posted help on how to setup LWF but I have a couple of my questions I hope you can answer so here they are:

 

1. Should I "enable gamma/LUT correction" from max preferences with 2.2 Gamma and check vray's "Don't affect colors (adaption only)" OR disable "enable gamma/LUT correction" and check vray's "Linear workflow" button in Color mapping? I've seen both methods used by different people so I'm confused which method is correct and what is the difference?

 

2. When I'm using LWF I should press "sRGB" in VFB why? I should have it on all the time while working in max with LWF?

 

Thanks!!

[Chris MacDonald]

Set all the max preferences to 2.2/affect colour selectors, etc. Set vray colour mapping options to 2.2 and check adaptation only

 

Do NOT tick the linear workflow button in vray. This is to convert old gamma 1.0 scenes to 2.2, and even Vlado of chaos group admits he wishes he had never put it in.

 

To answer your second point: yes you should have srgb ticked all the time if using this workflow, otherwise you will be viewing your images with a gamma of 1. The only time you don't need to tick this is if you don't have adaptation only ticked, which will cause vray to 'burn in' the gamma to your image.

[rashed]

@Chris MacDonald thank you so much my first question in now fully answered! but what is the pros and cons of using adaption with sRGB versus unchecking adaption and sRBG? i.e: "burning in" the gamma as you mentioned? because this means all my previous scenes where using the "burn in" workflow.. and does this mean I was working in LWF?

[RyderSK]

Adaptation helps you get the best of both worlds, ie. fully linear output for wider compositing(gamma 1), but better sampling of adjusted gamma (2.2, but you can actually set even higher number, it doesn't matter, this is gamma in vray settings).

 

Full "original" LWF (1.0 ; 1.0 ; 1.0 gamma, NO adaptation) can have some noise problems in very dark or bright spots. This can be problematic in interiors.

 

"Adjusted" LWF (2.2 gamma, Adaption ON) solves this.

 

The sRGB has none to do with this though. It depends whether you actually intend to save your image in linear mode (using .hdr or openexr which stores image in gamma 1.0) so you set Output (in Max settings) to 1.0, tick sRGB and save as .exr. The sRGB is only fore preview reason, you can still save as jpeg/tiff or whatever in gamma 2.2, but you need to override the gamma at render save dialog.

 

 

Easy answer: "Burning", slightly easier life if you don't plan any post except for small contrast/colors. Full LWF (unclamped preferably) for bigger flexibility in post.

[rashed]

@Juraj Talcik okay thanks a lot