Assimilate SCRATCH Lab (Mac OS X)

Assimilate SCRATCH Lab (Mac OS X) is an end-to-end digital lab system that adroitly handles the complexities of producing on-set or VFX dailies for feature films. For production of on-set dailies, SCRATCH Lab is a comprehensive workflow tool that combines an exceedingly fast creative review process with effortless shot & metadata management, the world-class color grading for which Assimilate is known, flexible conform, and an automated deliverables workflow. For producing dailies in a visual effects pipeline, SCRATCH Lab offers painless media loading, unparalleled shot management, and 2D & stereo 3D playback – all to help you streamline the VFX dailies process so you can maximize productivity and creativity.

SCRATCH Lab software features real-time playback and review of media up to 5K resolution. It supports a wide range of native camera and input formats, such as Red Epic 5K, ALEXA ARRIRAW, and DSLR RAW, and offers instant conform and fully interactive color grading. SCRATCH Lab is optimized for DPX, OpenEXR and RAW formats, so you can confidently load any combination of format, resolution, and color space into a timeline.

The software outputs to deliverable formats such as DPX, DNxHD MFX, and ProRes. In addition to side-by-side loading of any camera format at any resolution or color space, its CONstruct view of shots allows mixing 2D and stereo 3D. Along with fully customizable user interface controls, the software provides full 3D stereo support, including controls for convergence adjustments with full dual-stream playback. For VFX workflows, SCRATCH Lab's CONstruct view allows you to seamlessly manage an unlimited number of previous versions and plates from a shot on a single timeline. This saves huge amounts of time in review. Meanwhile, Lab's Dual View mode provides immediate switching between 2D and stereo 3D playback.

The software allows you to mix-and-match various media formats such as RED.r3d files with Arri RAW or Phantom or Canon DSLRs etc. within the same resolution-independent timeline. You can work on multilayer timelines to support the most complex EDLs, and also use quick keys to move through a timeline.

The advanced color grading tools of SCRATCH Lab allow real-time, non-destructive primary grading. The software provides a color-grading interface and also supports Avid Artist Color series and Tangent Wave panels. The software allows source-side adjustments for mixed color space workflows. You can group shots, copy/paste color grades, and use reference libraries.

Full HTML support allows the flexibility of remote client review and approvals, while an OFX plug-in architecture allows application enhancement via plug-ins, such as The Foundry’s Furnace and GenArts Sapphire. Equipped with comprehensive data-management capabilities, SCRATCH Lab has an SQL database to organize metadata from different sources such as cameras, rigs, and lenses. You can automate deliverables by designing templates based on output format, metadata, and LUTs/grades. XML support means you can smoothly integrate with even the most complex media database to automatically associate the media and load it into the required slots and layers in the CONstruct. This takes the guesswork out of loading thousands of media clips per day regardless of format, codec, or resolution.