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TAKE CONTROL OF YOUR COLOUR...
Overview
The Light Illusion LightSpace CMS (Color Management System) User Manual information is split into various component parts.
The aim is to provide quick references to specific menu/button options and functions by using clickable images of the various menus, and also provide a real step-by-step guide to performing the various workflows involved in LUT manipulation, Calibration, and Profiling.
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Probe Integration Manual
This Probe Integration Manual focuses only on the menu and facilities of LightSpace CMS used directly with a probe. To see the other menus and features of LightSpace please review the Manual on LUT Building and Manipulation.
PC Requirements
Please note that LightSpace does not require a very powerful PC, but it does need enough RAM to stop the PC going into paging mode (memory swapping/virtual memory). This is required to maintain accurate timing when performing display characterisation/profiling. As a general rule of thumb 2G RAM minimum is recommended, and it is best to check that when LightSpace is running that the physical memory usage is well below 50% of the available memory.
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Menu Options
Use the following menu bar to explore the various options - clicking on a menu or button will take you directly to an explanation of its functions.
Note: only those menu options associated with probe integration are active within this manual.
Click any menu name or button so see details of its use
Tools Menu
The Tools Menu is dedicated to all the Calibration and Profiling capabilities of LightSpace, as well as its image processing capabilities.
Please see the LUT Building and Manipulation Manual for further details on image processing.
(Return To Main Menu Options)
Calibration
The Calibration Menu opens a drop down menu with options for display calibration.
(Return To Tools Menu Options)
Colour Space
The Colour Space Menu opens a drop down menu with options for colour space management.
(Return To Tools Menu Options)
Calibration Interface
The Calibration Interface Menu provides access to all the tools required for manual display calibration and profile checking.
(Return To Main Menu Options)
Show Gamut & Show Gamma
The Show Gamut & Show Gamma Tabs change the main display to either of the selected preferences. The displays show the target colour space gamut or gamma values and the actual measured results, especially after a 'Quick Profile' has been performed.
 
(Return To Calibration Interface Menu)
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Show Gamut & Brightness Displays
The Show Gamut & Brightness Displays provide real-time feedback on any display being measured or profiled, and are key to getting a good understanding of any display's underlying calibration capabilities. The displays are especially useful when 'Quick Profile' is used, as can be seen above, where the measured values are plotted directly on to the display.
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Brightness Display
The Brightness display provides real-time feedback on the measured brightness of the display, showing the result as either FtL or Nits (cd/m2), depending on the settings within the 'Probe Options' menu.
(Return To Calibration Interface Menu)
Active Measurement Values
The Active Measurement Values display provides further real-time feedback of the measured values, showing brightness result as either FtL or Nits (cd/m2), depending on the settings within the 'Probe Options' menu, as well as the xy coordinates of the colour value being measured. The RGB values show the target colour (the Patch Colour) as normalised percentage values from 0 to 1.
(Return To Calibration Interface Menu)
Patch Colour
The Calibration Patch Colour shows the colour LightSpace is generating and therefore the colour it is expecting to be measuring. If using DIP mode (Display Independent Profiling) it is important the colour shown here matches accurately the separately displayed colour.
(Return To Calibration Interface Menu)
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DIP (Display Independent Profiling)
DIP is a process where the actual display being measured is not directly connected to LightSpace, or being controlled by the Network Java Application or DI system Plug-in, such as the Scratch Plug-in. This can be required if the DI system has an output that is isolated from the underlying OS - such as with Quantel systems (although they are working on a Plug-in). The process is simply to play the same colour patch from the DI system time-line as LightSpace itself is expecting. When getting into real profiling (Display Characterisation) the time line needs to run at the same speed/duration as the output from LightSpace, but only within a 'close' sync relationship - quarter of a second. More on this when discussing Display Characterisation.
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Patch Colour Drop-Down
The Calibration Patch Drop-Down menu provides for the selection of the target colour for measurement.
(Return To Calibration Interface Menu)
Manage Colour Patch Colours
The Colour Patch Manager enables the colours displayed in the drop-down list to be altered if required, as well as the actual colour patches to be exported as HD or 2K resolution DPX frames for DIP (Display Independent Profiling) use.
(Return To Calibration Interface Menu)
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Managing Colour Patches
The ability to manage the colour patches can be helpful if there are specific colour that are causing a problem with calibration. After LightSpace is closed and re-opened the colour patches will return to their default colours.
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Colour Standard Target Values
The Colour Standard Target Values show the primary (RGB), secondary (CMY), and white (W) point target values for the colour space selected via the drop-down menu situated below these target value boxes. The active patch colour is shown highlighted in light blue.
(Return To Calibration Interface Menu)
Colour Space Selection
The Colour Space Selection drop-down menu selects the target colour space from a selection of pre-sets spaces, as well as any user saved spaces. The colour space options are:
- P3 DCI D55
- P3 DCI D65
- Rec601-NTSC (this is an old and unused colour space - included just for historical reasons)
- Rec601_EBU (the present SD PAL standard)
- Rec601-RP145 (the present SD NTSC standard)
- sRGB
- XYZ (the DCI projection standard)
- Vision Print Stock
- Premier Print Stock
- Fuji Print Stock
- *Any User Generated profiles
As each colour space is selected the CIE diagram shows the colour coordinates, including primary and secondary, and the gamut profile.
(Return To Calibration Interface Menu)
Measure Display Values
The Measure Display Values menu opens a new drop-down selection of direct measurement options, depending on the probe being used.
Measure: will start the connected probe making continuous measurements, with each measurement reported within the Active Measurement value boxes, as well as visually within the gamut CIE diagram.
Measure and Log: will open a browser window allowing a location to be selected for a .vs file of all measurements made to be saved. This can be very helpful when comparing a displays stability over a number of days.
Manual Mode and Log: will also open a browser window allowing a location to be selected for a .vs file of all measurements made to be saved. The difference is that on a Hubble probe the blue 'manual' button is used to make individual measurements, and save them to a .csv file.
(Return To Calibration Interface Menu)
Quick profile
The Quick Profile menu opens a new window providing options for performing a Quick profile of any display using 21 steps RGBW, including the tools required for DIP (Display Independent Profiling).
Select Time per Frame: selects the time each frame patch is displayed for - different values are required for different probes when using DIP mode for profiling. For direct connection profiling the probe controls LightSpace so the value is then irrelevant.
Start: opens a new windows that allows a name to be entered that the profile will be saved as. It is best to use something that readily identifies the profile from any others.
OK: will accept the entered name and bring up a 30 second delay window so you can leave the room and close the door before profiling commences. To cut short the delay and start the characterisation process immediately, simply click 'OK'.
Export Patches: will export dpx frames of the patches need to perform a Quick Profile via DIP mode - the exported frames can be HD (1920x1080) or 2K (2048x1556).
Total Frames: display the total number of frames that will be used for the Quick Profile - 21 patches per colour, but with black only used once.
Total Time: display the total time taken for the Quick Profile using the select frame count and Time per Frame, that will be used for the Quick Profile.
Use Primary: will perform a Quick profile with Primary colours only (RGBW).
Primary & Secondary: performs a Quick profile with Primary & Secondary colours (RGBCMYW).
Close: will abort and close the Quick Profile window.
(Return To Calibration Interface Menu)
Stop
Stop the present profile measurement or profile operation.
(Return To Calibration Interface Menu)
Cancel Profile
Cancel the recorded Quick Profile in readiness for a new Quick Profile to be performed.
(Return To Calibration Interface Menu)
Probe Options
The Probe Options menu provides controls for setting any user adjustable probe options applicable to the probe in use, and the function being performed. The available options will vary as required.
Luminance Units: selects the units used on the vertical luminance measurement bar on the main Calibration Interface window.
Integration Time: sets the amount of time the probe will integrate measurements over, if applicable. Some probes will ignore these setting, other will use them. In general, the longer the Integration Time the more accurate the reading.
Calibration Settings: provide options for probe use, depending on the probe being used. Example options include LCD/CRT for some contact probes (i1-D2 for example), and Direct View/Projection for non-contact probes, such as the Hubble.
Probe Calibration: performs a calibration pass on the attached probe, which may be a black or white calibration depending on the probe. Follow the on-screen instructions.
OK: will accept any menu changes and close the menu.
Cancel: will abort and close the Probe Options window.
(Return To Calibration Interface Menu)
Network manager
The Network Manager menu allows a network connected Mac/PC/Linux system to have its displays measured and profiled via LightSpace CMS on running on a sperate PC connected via WiFi or Ethernet.
Enable: enables the network manager. This needs to be set before the Java Application on the remote PC/Mac/Linux system is enabled.
Disable: simply disables the network connection.
Port: shows the active communications port for the network connection.
Server IP Address: shows the IP address of the PC that LightSpace is active on. Use this IP address within the networked PC/Mac/Linux system running the Java Application to make an active connection .
1 available client/s: shows how many available clients (systems running the Java App) are active as more than one can be connected at any given time.
Close: ok, I give in - I have no idea what this button does...
(Return To Calibration Interface Menu)
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Network Profiling
 When LightSpace CMS is installed a sperate Java Application (called 'Calibration Client')is installed along with the main software, and can be seen within the main 'Programs' menu.
This application can be copied and loaded into any other system (PC/Mac/Linux) running Java to enable calibration of displays over a facility wide network.
See Workflow description for Probe Integration, Calibration & Profiling for further information on using network based profiling.
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Close
Yup, another one of those damn 'Close' buttons!
(Return To Calibration Interface Menu)
Display Characterisation
The Display Characterisation menu controls all options for full display profiling using a pre-set sequence of calibration flats self generated within LightSpace.
(Return To Main Menu Options)
Cube
The Cube tab provides access to the option available for selection the size of the cube to be used for profiling, using the 'Select Cube Size' slider control.
(Return To Display Characterisation Menu)
Folder
The Folder tab provides access to options for the selection of a target folder into which any 'Exported Patches' will be saved.
(Return To Display Characterisation Menu)
Measure
The Measure button will open a selection of new windows all linked with display characterisation, and initiating the profiling process.
Please enter a name: allows a name to be entered that the profile will be saved as. It is best to use something that readily identifies the profile from any others.
OK: will accept the entered name and bring up a 30 second delay window so you can leave the room and close the door before profiling commences. To cut short the delay and start the characterisation process immediately, simply click 'OK'.
Cancel: aborts the display characterisation process.
Calibration Status Window: shows the actual colour being measured via a real-time feedback 'cross', as well as showing how far through the actual characterisation process is via a vertical thermometer and percentage display.
Calibration Area Window: displays each colour patch in turn, and can be resized and positioned as required for direct connected display profiling .
(Return To Display Characterisation Menu)
Toggle Status Window
The Toggle Status Window will show or hide the characterisation display window. This window shows the active colour being measures via a CIE display, as well as a time thermometer showing how much of the characterisation has been performed.
(Return To Display Characterisation Menu)
Close
Close the Display Characterisation menu, and abort the process.
(Return To Display Characterisation Menu)
Select Cube Size
The select Cube Size slider defines the cube size of the profile to be performed. As a rule, the larger the cube size the better and more accurate the profile result. As a minimum a cube size of 10 is recommended for accurate profiling, with smaller cube sizes used for quick check profiles.
(Return To Display Characterisation Menu)
Select Time per Frame
The select Time per Frame slider defines the anoint of time each calibration patch will be displayed for. This is required to be set to different values for different probes.
As a Guide:
- Hubble: 3 secs per flat
- i1-Pro: 10 secs per flat
- CS-200: 12 secs per flat
Some probes, such as the i1-D2, do not provide fixed duration measurement, and are therefore not controlled by the Select Time per Frame value.
(Return To Display Characterisation Menu)
Total Frames
The Total Frames information box shows the total number of frames required for the given cube size.
(Return To Display Characterisation Menu)
Total Time
The Total Time information box shows the total duration in minutes and seconds for the profile to be completed for the given cube size.
(Return To Display Characterisation Menu)
Export Patches
The Export Patches button will export dpx frames of the patches need to perform a Display Characterisation via DIP mode - the exported frames can be HD (1920x1080) or 2K (2048x1556).
(Return To Display Characterisation Menu)
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DIP (Display Independent Profiling)
DIP is a process where the actual display being measured is not directly connected to LightSpace, or being controlled by the Network Java Application or DI system Plug-in, such as the Scratch Plug-in. This can be required if the DI system has an output that is isolated from the underlying OS - such as with FCP and BaseLight systems. The process is simply to play the same colour patch from the creative system time-line as LightSpace itself is expecting. When performing a Display Characterisation the creative system time line needs to run at the same speed/duration as the output from LightSpace, but only within a 'close' sync relationship of +/- quarter of a second.
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Convert Colour Space Menu
The Colour Space Conversion Menu opens a window that is used to build LUTs based on different display profiles, allowing conversion and calibration LUTs to be automatically generated.
(Return To Main Menu Options)
Additionally, colour space conversion is also used to manage different colour spaces.
Please see the LightSpace Manual for further details on working with colour spaces.
Name
The Name box allows a user name to be entered for the new calibration LUT about to be generated.
(Return To Convert Colour Space Menu Options)
Source
The Source menu area contains a selection of options associated with the colour space given images are presently intended to be seen in. A drop-down selection window shows the pre-sets LightSpace comes with, including standard video and digital projection colour spaces. Below the pre-set colour spaces any measured display profiles or loaded film profiles will be shown.
(Return To Convert Colour Space Menu Options)
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Using Convert Colour Space
The Convert Colour Space menu is a key component of automated LUT building when making calibration LUTs from display profiles. The concept of 'Source' colour space is always as the expected colour space any given images are expected to be viewed in. So, for example, Log .dpx images will usually be expected to be viewed via a film projector after first being film recorded and printed, making a 'film profile' the Source colour space to select.
The 'Destination' colour space is the new colour space the given images now need to be seen in - which for a DI project will mean the digital display in use, and so the profile measured for this display should be selected as the 'Destination' colour space.
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Destination
The Destination menu area contains a selection of options associated with the 'Destination Colour Space' given images are now going to be seen in, as apposed to their original 'Source' colour space. A drop-down selection window shows the pre-sets LightSpace comes with, including standard video and digital projection colour spaces. Below the pre-set colour spaces any measured display profiles or loaded film profiles will be shown.
(Return To Convert Colour Space Menu Options)
Out of Gamut
The Out of Gamut tick box will generate a LUT that shows where areas in a given image made using the 'Source' colour space will exceed the new 'Destination' colour space (and vice-versa) when such a colour space conversion LUT is applied to the given source images.
(Return To Convert Colour Space Menu Options)
Peak Luma or Chroma
The Peak Luma or Peak Chroma drop down menu alters any LUT generated to use Peak Luma or Peak Chroma as the basis for the calculation. Peak Chroma should normally be used for matching one display to another, while Peak Luma should be used when matching a display to a film print profile.
(Return To Convert Colour Space Menu Options)
Create New
The Create New button will generate a new LUT Image using the Source and Destination colour spaces selected. If the source gamut is greater than the destination gamut a warning will be shown:
(Return To Convert Colour Space Menu Options)
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Colourspace Conversion Report
The Colourspace Conversion report shows the amount of the source gamut that can be contained within the destination gamut, if the value is less than 100% (if the value is 100% or more no warning is shown). If attempting to make a display accurate to a 'fixed' colour space standard (Rec709, P3, etc) and this value is below 95% it is unlikely that the resulting calibration will be accurate enough and the display's underlying settings will need to be re-checked. Quick Profile is a good tool for this.
If making a LUT to calibrate to film print it is much more likely that the report will be in the region of 50% (for a Rec709 display) due to the large variation in colourspaces. This is far less critical than when calibrating to a technical standard as much of the out-of-bounds colours will be at colour extremes.
To visually see colours that will be out of gamut use the 'Out Of Gamut' option to make a LUT that will visually display these colours on real images.
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Use Existing
The Use Existing button provides a drop down menu with two additional options.
(Return To Convert Colour Space Menu Options)
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Use Existing
The Use Existing options enable a colour space conversion to be concatenated (added) to an existing LUT This is a very powerful tool as it enables a calibration LUT made for one colour space to automatically be converted to a calibration LUT for a different colour space, without any intermediate process, so maintaining the best LUT quality possible.
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Apply to the Image
Apply to the Image will apply the colour space conversion to presently active LUT Image and any associated reference image that has been inserted.
(Return To Use Existing Menu Options)
Apply to the Data
Apply to the Data will apply the colour space conversion only to presently active LUT Image, and NOT to any associated reference image that has been inserted.
(Return To Use Existing Menu Options)
Cancel
Abort and go home....
(Return To Convert Colour Space Menu Options)
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LUT Manipulation
After a LUT has been generated it can be adjusted using the LUT Manipulation tools, which provide for direct alreration of the LUT data using Pre-Pend data; Printer Light adjustments; Filters; Lift, Gamma, Gain and HSL controls; CDL controls; LUT addition. LUT Subtraction and LUT Invert.
See the LightSpace User Manual page, LUT Manipulation, for more information.
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Manage Colour Spaces
The Manage button opens a new library window where you can manage (import/export/rename/display/delete) any custom colour spaces that have been generated. In the image below a profile measurement is highlighted.
(Return To Main Menu)
The Manage window is used to manage all colour space data and display profiles generated by performing a Qulck Profile, Display Characterisation, or via film profiling.
Display Profile
The Display button opens a new window showing the profile data as Gamut and Gamma graphs.
 
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Profile Displays
The 'Display' capability allows any display profile to be seen as Gamut and Gamma graphs, showing the actual data measurements plotted against an colour space preset (including saved user pre-sets).
This display capability shows the underlying projector or monitor gamut and gamma, helping understand what future calibration will be capable of.
For example, the above gamut show a monitor profile matched to P3-D65 colour space, and blue and green are specifically out of gamut, and therefore no LUT or claibration will ever bring this back into gamut.
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As with everything to do with Light Illusion, Steve is more than happy to answer questions - feel free to contact him on: steve@lightillusion.com.
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