Importing Cineon files

You can import Cineon 4.5 or Digital Picture Exchange (DPX) files directly into an After Effects project as individual frames or as a sequence of numbered stills. Once you have imported a Cineon file, you can use it in a composition and then render the composition as a Cineon sequence. (See Importing a sequence of still-image files.)

Cineon files are commonly used to transfer motion-picture film to a digital format. To preserve the full dynamic range of motion-picture film, Cineon files are stored using logarithmic 10 bits per channel (bpc) color. However, After Effects internally uses linear 8-bpc color, (or 16-bpc color for the After Effects Professional Edition only). By default, After Effects stretches the attendant logarithmic values to the full range of values available. You can then use the Cineon Import Options dialog box or the Cineon Converter effect to control the conversion. If you are working with a film sequence in which exposure conditions vary over time, you can vary the conversion over time by setting keyframes.

For information on using the Cineon converter, see "Cineon Converter" in the online Effects Help.

To import a Cineon sequence:

1. Choose File > Import > File.
2. For the file type, select Cineon, and then select Cineon Sequence.
3. Locate and select the first numbered Cineon sequence file.
4. Select the Cineon Sequence option, and then click Open.

The Cineon file or sequence appears in the Project window.

To convert a Cineon sequence from logarithmic to linear:

1. Select the sequence in the Project window, and choose File > Interpret Footage > Main.
2. In the Interpret Footage dialog box, click More Options.
3. In the Cineon Conversion dialog box, select the Logarithmic Conversion option, click OK, and click OK again.

When you are ready to produce output from the Cineon file, it is important that you reverse the conversion from logarithmic to linear.