Mailing List AE-List@media-motion.tv ? Message #51201
From: Chris Zwar <chris@chriszwar.com>
Subject: Re: [AE] Levels vs Curves render times
Date: Thu, 17 Oct 2013 20:46:53 +1100
To: After Effects Mail List <AE-List@media-motion.tv>
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I am a little late to the party, and all of the major suggestions seem to have been listed.

However a few small additional thoughts:

- a blend with original slider (and if you're generous, a blending mode option too!)
- have the ability to reset individual channels, not just the overall effect
- the ability to copy and paste a curve between channels


In terms of priorities, a histogram is something I think is very important (before and after even better), and the option to use bezier handles on the curve points.  While it may not be possible to have numerical values for all points, setting a numerical value for input black and whites would be vital.

While I think it is important that the curve window should be as large as possible, I also think it is important that the effect is restricted to the effects palette and the live feedback works in the same way - in other words no new, custom interface.  If this sounds confusing, I'm trying to contrast this with the full interface of colour finesse, which is great in its own right but just doesn't seem to get used much because of the way the separate interface opens up.  

While it is obvious to suggest that Adobe copy the Frischluft plugin, I think it might be more worthwhile to look at the way Colour Finesse works with the simplified interface and determine why so few people use it.  Some of the feature requests that have been listed in this thread are already covered by Colour Finesse, and I'm often surprised at how much better it looks that the standard Adobe curves plugin.  But there has to be some reason it is often overlooked…

No point updating the curves plugin with only a few new features that are already in Colour Finesse… better to give us new features that aren't - a whopping great big window and bezier handles would be a great start.


-Chris

On 12/10/2013, at 11:16 PM, Robert Kjettrup <robert@stvmayday.dk> wrote:

I have sent most of the following to the AE 'make a wish' report before, but now I just got around to make it a prioritised list :-)

1. Make the curve window resizable, so it always fits the effect panels width.

2. All channel curves viewable at the same time

3. Draw an indicator on the curve that shows the value of comp image under the mouse cursor

4. Every point on a curve should have numercial values that you should be able to enter manually.

5. Make it possible to also use bezier curves in the curve interface with same shortcuts to break an modify the points like regular AE masks. It should be an additonal input not a replacement of the current curve point input

6. Make buttons in the effect to change between the different channels instead of the current slow dropdown method. Shortcut keys too.

7. Histogram in the curve display, before and after curve adjustment

8. Button to invert the curve to reverse a former curve adjustment if needed

9. A new curves update should be developed to be implemented in Premiere and Speedgrade with the same controls.

10. Two overlay grid pattern sizes like in PS.

11. Luma channel mode, in addition to the current RGB, R, G, B and Alpha.

12. The "direct image manipulator" mode from PS and Lightroom is quite nice, and more precise than "guessing" what point on the curve you have to change to change a wanted value.

13. A saturation channel curve

14. A Hue channel curve (should probably be a horisontal line instead of a diagonal)

15. Have a subtle color gradient in the background of the curves grid to make it easier for users not familiar with curves on what adjustments will do to the colors. See the Avid MC color corrector for inspiration, just make it a bit more subtle and a toggle view mode.

16. A floating popup display that show all the channels beside each other. This display should be moveable and resizable, maybe with a custom transparency option. Clicking outside the dialog, or pressing ESC should automaticly close the display so it is quick to get out of. Take a look at the popup curves display in DaVinci Resolve for inspiration, just make it better and more customizable. This popup display could be used for more effects, like implementing the various Speedgrade color tools native in AE.

17. Add the parametic curve parameters from Lightroom along with the "direct image manipulator" to make curves easier for users not comfortable with the points in the curve UI

18. Remove the sketching method and loading and saving of .ACV files if this is holding back useful updates. This should just be used in a "legacy curves" effect, the current effect :-)

Robert

Den 12/10/2013 09.32 skrev "Jarle Leirpoll" <leirpoll@online.no>:
Steal the RGB Curves effect from Premiere Pro - It's awesome, because it can
be scaled to a large size, and we see all four curves at the same time! Then
add a Histogram and a Saturation slider, and we have an all-purpose color
corrector. :-) Share this new effect with the Premiere Pro team and make
sure it travels safely between the apps. :-)

/jarle

---------------------
Todd Wrote:
If we were to spend time improving the Curves effect, what would be the
changes that you'd want to see? Be as specific as possible, and list things
in your priority order. Anything in the Curves effect is fair game for this
conversation, including user interface, performance (as noted by Chris
below), and additional features.



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