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www.assimilateinc.com Copyright ASSIMILATE, Inc. March 2011 1The SCRATCH X-perience

ForKarma , director Shesh Adivi set a well de ned look for thiscomplex project that included nearly 560 CG elements, skyreplacements, and extensive shapes/masks, all owingseamlessly together, says Amit Shetty, Director of QLAB andColorist. Using SCRATCH, we were able to process all of thisthe way a high-end DI system should work with almost 9TBof data on the system; handling all kinds of data sizes (r3d,DPX, and CG elements) without slowing down performance;getting instant response even when pushing the system with12 to 18 layers of scaffolds that included masks, blurs,quali ers, six vectors, mask tracking, secondaries, and more.

The high performance and stability of SCRATCH under this levelof pressure is truly astonishing, as is the price/performancevalue. Were able to do high-end DI, achieve the clients vision,and work within tight budget constraints.

Our SCRATCH system is tted with dual RED Rocket cards sowe were able to work off the native r3d les in raw format, withall the metadata information, at full resolution throughout the

entire project, adds Amit. We were working directly in the4K REDRAW les until the end of the project, doing the colorgrading, blurs, masks, burn-out correction, and more. Onlythen did we convert the les to the nal desired deliverableformat, with pan & scan, applying different format guide andblanking for real-time reference as we progressed to creatingthe nal product. The speed and ease of use of the SCRATCHsystem takes our productivity, and the ability to be morecreative, to a whole new level that is exciting for our postartists, and more than satis es the clients visionary goals.

Our SCRATCH DI theatre is equipped with 5.1 Dolby playback capability, which gave our director and colorist full audiosupport throughout the grading session. They used the feel ofthe audio treatment to create the looks that would best conveythe different moods of the scenes, says Amit. The ability towork in real-time was a huge asset because they couldimmediately see the changes and results, as well as compareversions of the same scene and make a nal selection. The

ef ciency of creating several versions without rendering meansno down time, which equals more time for creativity and costsavings for the client.

Amit notes, We created multiple deliverables - with subtitles -using the alpha channel. We were able to effortlessly match itup with the 4K r3d images, and then enhance with a bit of

shadow for perfect readability. Final deliverables included anintermediate negative, D5 HD Masters, and 2K DPX for DCI.

Performance Advantages of SCRATCHPaste grade is one of the coolest features of SCRATCH, saysAmit. It remembers the metadata, and any change in the EDLcan be re-conformed with the previous grade automaticallyapplied to the new timeline.

ASSIMILATEs SCRATCH is QLAB Mumbais DI workflow tool of choice for features shot using REDs

high-resolution digital cameras, because it packs the real-time performance needed to tackle the compleximagery of QLABs numerous projects. One of QLABs latest projects, director Shesh Adivis Karma (2011),was shot by cinematographer James Laxton using the RED ONE 4K Camera. From conform through finishingand final deliverables, QLAB utilized SCRATCH in its post-production of Karma, which featured a range of colorhues, numerous CG elements and multiple layers to convey the moods and details of this emotionally packed film.

Image

s courtesy of Thousand Lights Inc.

SCRATCHDI Tools Power QLABsSuccess in Complex Imagery

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www.assimilateinc.com Copyright ASSIMILATE, Inc. March 2011 2The SCRATCH X-perience

Also the one-click quali er option with instant selection ofshadows, midtones and highlights is a great tool that saves alot of time and effort, adds Amit. And with scaffolds, we canuse the recursive option to create separate layers for certainelements of the scenes and create different looks with theblend mode. Amit notes, A signi cant and unique advantage of SCRATCH

is the ability to share color grading les between multiplesystems and locations. A colorist working in India can email asmall color decision le (CDL) to a SCRATCH facility in anothercity or country, and that remote facility can update their systemand be ready for a client review. The high productivity, as wellas the time and cost savings that come from this ef ciency, issubstantial. This also enables us to expand our role in theglobal marketplace by taking on projects from anywherein the world.

Another productivity bene t is the ability to createmultiple-format deliverables from a single rendering, saysAmit. For example, inKarma, we sent out les for soundand VFX in multiple formats, such as mp4, h.264 .mov, DPX,and others.

Amit adds, the time and cost savings we achieve withSCRATCH allow us to stretch our creativity, giving us a hugeadvantage in the marketplace.

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Images courtesy of Thousand Lights Inc.

The highperformanceand stabilityof SCRATCHunder this levelof pressureis trulyastonishing