HDR support in VEGAS

High bit-depth processing and ACES conformance

VEGAS color management is based on Industry standard ACES and OpenColorIO framework. Hence, it’s in a good position to take advantage of latest technological advancements in color science.

To support higher dynamic range, VEGAS supports the Academy Color Encoding System (ACES) created by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences technology committee. The ACES color space can encode any color that can be seen and supports high dynamic range cameras and output devices made today and in the future. Various input devices (such as cameras) are transformed into the ACES color space using device-specific Input Device Transforms (IDTs).

Once transformed into the ACES color space, input media can be intercut with each other and mixed with Computer Generated Imagery (CGI) in a scene-linear color space ideal for compositing and color grading. A standard Reference Rendering Transform (RRT) is applied to the final image and then various device-specific Output Device Transforms (ODTs) are applied for viewing and file output.

HDR workflow in VEGAS

VEGAS provides the simplest workflow in mastering HDR10 or HLG content. You can add media to timeline and select either HDR10 or HLG format in HDR mode in project properties. Now VEGAS is ready for HDR mastering. You can use VEGAS Color Grading panel and HDR scopes to assist the editing process. Also, if you are connected to an HDR monitor, you can preview in HDR10 quality. Once you are ready to create an output, go to Render as dialog and then select one of the HDR10 or HLG render templates to create HDR output.

HDR Color Grading

The Color Grading panel supports HDR color adjustments and provides the tools needed to perform detailed color-grading and correction work. Color wheels, curves, levels, and many other tools all work together for proper HDR color grading. LUTs can be added to the color grading chain both as camera LUTs and Look LUTs. The entire chain can be exported as a custom LUT file that can then be applied to different HDR media in the same or another project.

HDR scopes

To help grading HDR material, VEGAS supports scopes in HDR mode. In HDR scopes you can view waveforms and histogram in Nits scale. Nits scale shows how signal code values map to light output.

For example, when grading to HDR10 -1000 Nits output, this scope helps you to see Nits values of pixels in a frame, so that you can make right adjustments and make sure Nits values meets the required specification.

Input and Output Transforms

Since VEGAS color management is based on OpenColorIO and ACES framework, it supports variety of Input Transforms covering different cameras manufacturers, gamuts, transfer functions and camera settings.

For example, if you are editing Arri Alexa or Sony S-Log or HDR footage, you can apply corresponding input transform to convert source media to ACES color space.

Similarly, VEGAS supports variety of output transforms to produce content suitable for different displays. For example, you can produce output in Rec.2020 1000 Nits (HDR10), Rec.2020 1000 Nits (HLG), Rec.2020, Rec 709, sRGB or P3 color spaces.

HDR Preview

VEGAS supports HDR preview when in HDR mode, if the system connected to an HDR monitor and the graphics card supports HDR output.

See this link to configure your system to enable HDR.

HDR preview is supported in both windowed and full screen mode.

NOTE VEGAS HDR preview is based on HDR10 format. HLG format in preview is not supported yet.