LWF - what am I doing wrong?

Problem:
I just realized that the Linear Workflow color mapping checkbox in Vray1.50sp3 is supposed to be unchecked for LWF. Now gamma seems baked in to EXRs in After Effects.

Workflow:
Max2010>SolidRocks (0.8x)>VFB(1.50sp3a)>OpenEXR format @1.0gamma>After Effects CS4. I'm using ProPhotoRGB colorspace for all maps, so it's 1.8 gamma workflow.

Settings:
Max: Gamma/LUT - 1.8 input, 1.0 output, affect colors/selectors=ON
SolidRocks: Gamma Correction on, 1.8, LATER button selected (don't affect colors, adaptation only)
Vray color mapping: Reinhard, g1.8, 0.3 burn, no clamp, linear workflow checkbox deselected (they really need to rename that)

Process:
I set cameras and light according to the SR minipreview (with gamma 1.8 on, LATER deselected).
I'll send out some half/full process renders to VFB (with g1.8, LATER selected) and use sRGB in the VFB to view the exposure.
Final render is from SR (g1.8, LATER on) to VFB. In VFB, I turn off clamping, turn off sRGB and save each channel as EXR to 1.0 gamma.
When I open in After Effects, the image looks as it did with sRGB on in the VFB.

Notes:
1. Monitors all calibrated with a Spyder3Elite.
2. After Effects is adjusted for Linear 32-bit workflow in the ProPhotoRGB working space.
3. In After Effects, the EXR footage is interpreted as sRGB2.1_____ on import. It says the colors are linearized to display correctly in my monitor colorspace. If I try changing to ProPhotoRGB interpretation, all the colors get oversaturated.
4. In my previous workflow (with the linear workflow color mapping checkbox selected), I would do the same process and have to apply an inverse gamma (0.5556 for 1.8) to the EXRs in After Effects.

I hadn't got my head around LWF in 2009/sp2, so I can't help you there. Seeing as though I was using the LWF checkbox in sp3a - I haven't really got it now either.

I ran some tests. This is from a scene I setup with SR0.75/0.8x and I had the LWF checkbox on (probably not the best test scene). When rendering:
-LWF checkbox is now off
-all saved through VFB with clamp off and sRGB off
-all saved as JPG/1.0gamma and EXR/1.0gamma then brought into AFX for review

1. JPG looks fine as-is in AFX. EXR needs 0.55 gamma (1.8 inverse).

1.exr

2. JPG highlights blown out in AFX. EXR looks close as-is.

2.exr

3. JPG looks fine as-is in AFX. EXR needs 0.55 gamma (1.8 inverse). SAME AS #1??

3.exr

4. JPG needs 1.8gamma curve to look like EXR in AFX. EXR shadows good, highlights blown out.

4.exr


If you could provide an ideal test scene, I'll run tests again.
n

Ok, if I understand correctly - since I had the LWF checkbox on while setting this scene up, my camera/sun is overcompensating because all of my materials had an inverse gamma applied (darker). In that case, all of these renderings should be darker/less contrast because my sun should be turned down and my materials should be at normal gamma.

You sent me the 0.8x build a couple of weeks ago to get rid of the annoying gamma popup.

I wouldn't change much with SR- maybe just overrides to manage gamma on a more advanced level. It would be nice to know exactly how the gamma was programmed into your script so I could work in LWF.

Ideal workflow would be to bring in g1.8/2.2 maps and have Max gamma/LUT prefs ON. Rig cams/lights using minipreview in SR and/or VFB with sRGB ON. Send out final renders (later ON) through VFB to 1.0 gamma and comp in AFX/Nuke/Combustion.

Maybe you could make a LWF gamma sticky so we can all figure out the proper SR LWF.