ACES way to control how much the highlights gets compressed?

[MantasKava]

Yes, ACES workflow here is just for example/for comparing, because I am familiar with that one.

I'd guess it should go like this (when using AgX):
1. Import the image
2. Do the PP
3. Convert from Linear BT.709 to sRGB:Punchy

But I'm not sure, would like to get a confirmation

[SSmolak]

What you exactly want to do ? If only compensate, compress highlights - just use camera highlight compensating

[MantasKava]

If I want to do some more serious PP/compositing etc, for example. For that I'd use Fusion, so I'm wondering what would be the exact steps for that workflow

[MantasKava]

What you exactly want to do ? If only compensate, compress highlights - just use camera highlight compensating

BTW, what do you exactly mean by this? If you're talking about "Highlight Compression" in the Camera Imager, it doesn't work when using OCIO (Both ACES and AgX)

[SSmolak]

Because if you use ACES you should do this manually in post proccess.

If you use Filmic or Agx or Octane camera highlight compensation - you have actually rendered image with highlight compensation.

[MantasKava]

Well, yeah, that's obvious. But now for example I decided that default AgX highlights compensation/compression is too much or too less for me- the only solution to adjust that is PP in an external app, correct?

[SSmolak]

I had the same problem months ago.

ACES = most of the highlights and shadowing you must do in post
OCIO like Blender Filmic, Agx, Octane Camera settings -> you have it already done like In-Render tone mapping.

If you use Agx or any other OCIO like filmic you don't have any control about highlight compensation because these are already compensated.

Only way is to render in plain linear or ACES - everything else is POST.

If you want control highlights in realtime the best way is to use default Octane camera highlight compenstation.

[MantasKava]

I see. So which path/method did you end up choosing? and why?

[SSmolak]

Blender Filmic I think is the best because you can choose many contrast scenarios and you see final render in Octane View.
But if you have many time for doing the same and even more in post - the best is to render linear exr 32bit and do everything manually.
ACES is the best for interiors and product like visualizations. This is my opinion.

[SSmolak]

Generally there is no need to use any OCIO or ACES in Octane. All of these things are for lazy people or if you want generate renderings without or very little post processing.

Octane has build-in many presets for custom LUT's or Responses in Camera Imager. They are really good.