2022.1 ACES Setup Tweet

[RyanJP]

Hi I'm sorry I'm sure this has been asked but couldn't seem to find a straight answer on here. Coming from Redshift where there is no OCIO setup to speak of. Is there anything I need to do in Octane/Houdini beyond setting the ROP to ACESCG and ticking "ACES Tonemapping" in the Render Target? Thanks, again apologies if repeat post

[elsksa]

Besides from loading a successfully loaded OCIO config-file, the default "automatic" (preferences) settings are recommended.

However, the checkbox SHOULD NOT be ticked simultaneously with OCIO as it's basically one or the other (no worries as it will be bypassed when OCIO is active). A generic Octane ACES guide (plugin agnostic with principles generally applicable).

[RyanJP]

Oh interesting, so Octane is already spectral based and doesn't need OCIO, I was not aware. So then without OCIO/ACES does it still have the same range in the color gamut as ACES when exported? I love using ACES when comping renders, but does native Octane/EXR offer the same experience?

[elsksa]

(...)so Octane is already spectral based and doesn't need OCIO

It doesn't need it to produce appropriate and subjectively aesthetic images (this page takes a broader approach to this aspect), but it does for a "full ACES pipeline", as mentioned on the linked page. There are unfortunately no shortcuts to those deep topics, be sure to "read between lines" to avoid any misunderstanding.

Spoiler: it's needed for texture level color space operations and to properly conform during pre-viewing (IPR). The ACES checkbox is basically the ACES RRT+ODT (Output-sRGB).

(...) without OCIO/ACES does it still have the same range in the color gamut as ACES when exported?

During "rendering calculations", it does. During EXR (or JPG or whatever) encoding, it no longer does as it default to sRGB (non-linear or linear, depending on the chosen file format). However, there are conventional ACES color spaces natively available, so the option to encode to ACES (AP0 or AP1) is offered.

[RyanJP]

Ok, that's very good info, thanks so much