Linear workflow - problems when adjusting textures

[A.Mitov]

Hi all,

I've got a question that has bugged me for quite some time and I would like to know if you guys experience the same problems that I do. What I want to know is why is it almost impossible to properly color correct/adjust textures while in Gamma 2.2 mode?

 

Please take a look at the attached image below my post. You'll find different scenarios and how different it is adjusting textures in Gamma 1.0 and Gamma 2.2 mode. As you can see, In Gamma 2.2 mode even the slightest correction in contrast/brightness levels "burns out" the texture. Whereas in Gamma 1.0 the texture preserves its natural look and the color corrections behave as expected without destroying the color information. Whatever I do I cannot get natural looking textures when using Color Correct in Max. The textures always start looking like cr@p when I use CC and Gamma 2.2 color space. The same problem happens if I make brightness/contrast adjustments through the "Bitmap parameters" slot of the texture.

 

The only way I can get the textures look good is when I make the color corrections outside of Max and then load it back in Max without using Color Correction map. This however wastes a lot of time and makes the Color Correction map obsolete. This makes no sense at all.

 

Any ideas on this matter? I' believe that this has something to do with the math Max does under the hood when you adjust it to be in Gamma 2.2 space. Maybe the math operations get "skewed" and become erroneous when you tell Max to use Gamma 2.2. In a way, 1+1 no longer equals 2 but 3 instead. Do you get what I mean? Any insights on this is highly appreciated.