ARRI ALEXA 35 Body & PL Mount Set (LBUS) - Manual (Page 47)

ARRI Textures 47
11 ARRI Textures
ARRI digital cameras have always had a ‘texture’ setting that is programmed into the way the sensor
captures images and subsequently bakes them (the images) into the ARRIRAW and ProRes outputs.
That texture setting, comprising many carefully balanced parameters, determines the amount of grain in
the image and the character of that grain. It also determines the amount of contrast at different levels of
detail in the image, which defines the perceived sharpness (technically called the MTF curve).
Up until now, ARRI cameras have been pre-programmed with a single, unchangeable texture
setting that is optimized for the widest possible range of shooting scenarios. The ALEXA 35
gives cinematographers the option to go beyond this default texture setting and choose from an
evolving menu of ARRI Textures, each designed for specific applications. This unique feature allows
cinematographers to fundamentally alter the way in which the camera records images.
Behind the three main texture characteristics of grain volume, grain character, and perceived
sharpness, are around 30 image processing settings that occur early in the imaging chain inside the
camera, even before the ARRIRAW image is created. Since many of these steps interact with each
other in complex ways, any user interface providing full access to all settings would be prohibitively
complicated. Instead, we decided to collect sensible combinations of settings into individual ARRI
Texture files. The camera comes with several ARRI Textures pre-installed, which have been designed
in close cooperation with selected cinematographers. ARRI Textures are applied to the image before
the exposure index setting, which controls the camera's sensitivity, and before the ARRI Look File
processing, which controls color. Since ARRI Textures are settings for image processing steps that
occur before the ARRIRAW image is created in the camera, ARRI Textures are always baked into
ARRIRAW and ProRes.
If a texture other than the K445 Default texture is to be used, it is very important for ARRI Textures to
be tested during preproduction, in the highest quality viewing environment possible. An ARRI Texture
that looks right in a DI suite or on a high end display will be very subtle or perhaps even invisible
when viewed in the camera's viewfinder or on the camera's SDI outputs. It is for this reason that we
recommend testing ARRI Textures in preproduction and viewing them on a large (at least 30-inch) high
quality UHD 4K monitor, ideally in HDR. Best practice is to view the images using an HDR 4K grading
display.
If a texture other than the K445 Default texture is to be used, it is very important for ARRI Textures to
be tested during preproduction, in the highest-quality viewing environment possible. An ARRI Texture
that looks right in a DI suite or on a high-end display will be very subtle or perhaps even invisible when
viewed in the camera's viewfinder or on a small regular SDR display connected to the camera's SDI
output. It is for this reason that we recommend testing ARRI Textures in preproduction and viewing
them on a large (at least 30-inch) high-quality UHD 4K monitor, ideally in HDR. Best practice is to view
the images using an HDR 4K grading display.
► Select MENU > Image > Texture > Texture to set the Texture.
Following options are available:
K445 Default The K445 Default texture is designed to work well for all subject matters and settings,
while making the most of the camera’s cinematic strengths. It is forgiving on skin, but al-
so renders images with exceptional clarity and detail, which makes it also a perfect tex-
ture for green screen shots. This is also the texture to use when shooting with ALEXA 35
and previous ARRI digital cameras, as it closely matches those cameras textures. Per-
fect for all EI settings.
P425 Cosmetic A softer texture, very close to the cinematic K445 Default, especially recommended for
rendering skin tones. More forgiving on skin while keeping structures and highlights pro-
nounced. Low to moderate grain. Perfect for all EI settings.
G522 Soft Nostalgic A grainy texture with a subtle vintage feel, designed to render some unsaturated grain
and a softer character. Little softer vintage Texture than G733 Nostalgic. Perfect for all EI
settings.