FilmConvert adds the URSA Mini to its camera profile database for more accurate film conversions.
FilmConvert continues the evolution of its popular film stock emulation software with the addition of the Blackmagic URSA Mini to its line of camera profiles.
To truly emulate the look of specific film stocks, software needs not only information on the stock, but also the source video footage. Footage from a 5D will need dramatically different processing than footage from an Alexa to match Kodak Vision3 5218, for instance. FilmConvert of course can work without profiling the source camera, but they do a great job of profiling as many cameras as they can, and they are consistently adding more.
Today's release adds the URSA Mini 4.6k, along with the Sony FS5 and a6300, keeping the line current with some popular new cameras. There is a free trial available on their site, and the plugin works with Adobe, Resolve, Avid, FCP X/7, and as a standalone app. There’s really no excuse to not at least give it a shot.
Anyone out there using FilmConvert? How’s it treating you?
Your Comment
6 Comments
Definitely, a must have for quick color grading
July 20, 2016 at 1:28PM
Agreed. Can make the grading process a lot easier for quick turnarounds. If anyone is interested I just made a short demo of FilmConvert with before and after of footage from Ursa Mini 4.6k and BMCC - https://vimeo.com/175474882
July 20, 2016 at 3:55PM, Edited July 20, 4:42PM
Thanks for that. Do you feel FilmConvert is significantly better than just adding contrast and saturation/vibrance?
July 20, 2016 at 7:00PM, Edited July 20, 7:00PM
Yes, there is definitely a difference. Not only does FilmConvert add basic contrast and saturation to the image, many of the modeled film stock choices also add color contrast to the image. When properly dialed in, it can make skin tones pop in a way that's impossible to mimic with only simple lift gamma gain adjustments. It also rolls off saturation in the highlights in the same way as film. To accomplish that kind of roll off without FilmConvert requires either an inflexible LUT or the kind of luma v sat control that only exists in dedicated color software like Lustre, Baselight or Resolve.
Another way to think of the benefit of FilmConvert is this: digital video has only been around for a few decades and until very recently has mostly been engineered to meet the needs of television, in comparison color film stocks were continuously developed over nearly a century to meet the specific needs of cinema. By modeling film stocks for digital video FilmConvert is allowing you to access the aesthetics and color engineering wisdom of Kodak and Fuji.
July 20, 2016 at 8:02PM, Edited July 20, 8:05PM
Gave them my UM 4.6 to make this with a few weeks back, so happy to see the profile's done! Love it already :D
July 20, 2016 at 8:03PM
Does this correct the magenta cast issue a lot of people are seeing with the Ursa Mini 4.6k?
July 21, 2016 at 10:12AM
I love the Film Convert plugins especially for the Sony a6300. If I could afford an FS7, then I would probably be pleased with those plugins, as well. I have previously used presets for the 5Dii, FS100/700, A7s and A7sii. While probably not the only LUT out there Film Convert has stayed current with camera profiles and 4k compatibility. The results are pleasing and you can easily dial in or dial back the "film look." For example, if you think the "film look" is too saturated you can blend more of the original file -- this allows for a taking the edge off while not going full blast. I find the film looks add a lot of depth and realism to log footage especially in furs and hair. You can also dial in skin tones by experimenting with different film stocks -- some stocks give better contrast or bias green/magenta or define yellow. The black and white stocks are gorgeous too -- if you dare.
I also like the profile exposure +1 and +2 -- this allows better contrast settings based on your original recording. By selecting the "proper" exposure you can really nail it. People say that with Sony you want to "over expose" your log footage while recording being careful, of course, not to clip. This seems to work well allowing you to dial back the "over exposure" using a +1 or +2 Film Convert setting. The result is "did I really just shoot that on a 6300?"
Technically speaking, Film Convert will add drag to your CPU and GPU. This is not bad per se but with my 4k footage I feel my once fast laptop feels like HD editing in 2008 (i7 4 core 2.8GHz w/ discrete video card). I would say it's worth the wait and you can always toggle off the film convert if you want to quickly scrub through footage and when the footage is done rendering it'll look gorgeous. You can view your graded shots in real time giving you a pretty good idea of how things will look (not full frame rate playback but enough to let you know if you're on the right track or not).
July 27, 2016 at 11:07AM