LONDON — In a move to make grading data more accessible to creative artists throughout the production process, FilmLight (www.filmlight.ltd.uk) says it is making Baselight Editions available as a free reader for its Baselight Linked Grade color format BLG. The forthcoming version 4.4m1 release of Baselight Editions will make it free to view — or to render — grades passed between departments, or even to non-Baselight facilities. The new version will be released following IBC2015.
“Our aim is to make it even easier to pass around and refine the creative intent using BLGs,” says Steve Chapman, director at FilmLight. “If you want to see the latest color grade in, say Nuke or Avid, you can do so by applying a BLG to a shot with the free version of Baselight Editions. It even allows you to render out the grade in your deliverables. If you want to modify the grade from these applications with the power of the Baselight core toolset, then you can buy — for $995 — the Baselight Editions packages.”
According to FilmLight, the decision to offer a free BLG reader is in response to the growing interest in BLG as the color grade metadata format. Increasingly productions are using a collaborative workflow, with LUTs applied and initial grading performed on or near set, and final grading taking place in parallel with other post processes. With Baselight Editions, DITs, editors and compositors can see the latest grade and make minor — or major — adjustments where necessary. The free software reader is ideal for those who do not need active control.