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Color Grading – Delivery Guidelines

To ensure an efficient workflow for your color grading project, please follow these delivery requirements for the picture lock (final sequence). Adhering to these guidelines ensures that the grading process runs smoothly and minimizes delays, allowing us to focus on perfecting the final look.

But these are only guidelines for the best case. Deviations are possible. Contact us if you are unsure, we will be happy to help.

Frame Rate

  1. Ensure the project is shot and set up in 24 or 25fps. If not, contact REDSPACE before delivery.

Required Materials

  1. Send the following, depending on the editing software used and ensure the project is consolidated and follows the “Project Structure” guidelines outlined below.

    • Send a XML (preferred) or AAF.

    • If you have edited in Adobe Premiere or Apple Final Cut Pro or DaVinci Resolve additionally send us a corresponding native project file (.prproj or .fcpbundle or .drp) along the XML/AAF.

  2. High-quality reference video (e.g., ProRes LT or H.264) with small burnt-in timecode matching the final timeline.

Project Structure

  1. Deliver a consolidated project with only one timeline – the final edit / picture lock.

  2. Consolidate only the source footage used in the edit. All clips in the timeline must be linked to the consolidated footage.

    Please note: ProRes RAW is not supported. If you are unsure about the compatibility of your format, contact us before delivery.

  3. Avoid nested or compound clips or multi-cam sequences — flatten these to source clips.

  4. Send a track plan showing the layout of the timeline so we know what is where and organize different footage types on separate tracks for:

    1. Different camera models

    2. Interlaced footage

    3. Different resolutions (SD, HD, UHD)

    4. Different frame rates (24, 25, 50, high-speed, etc.)

    5. Stills and photos

    6. Archive material and stock footage

    7. VFX shots

  5.  Remove all empty video tracks and audio tracks.

Metadata

Please provide the following details to ensure a seamless workflow:

  1. Camera model, codec, gamma and color space of the footage.

  2. A list of all relevant effects applied, including timecodes for each instance (e.g., speed changes, resizing, flip/flop, etc.).
    Example: “00:01:30:12 - Speed change applied, 150%.”

  3. If you already have a look in mind, please provide references such as sample stills or descriptive notes.

  4. Software and version used for editing.

  5. Contact details for the editor in charge.

Contact

If you have questions or need clarification, don’t hesitate to contact us! We're glad to help.

Providing these materials accurately and in full helps ensure a smooth and efficient grading process.