FilmLight has introduced the latest iteration of its grading software, Baselight 6.0. This release, following an extensive beta program, incorporates years of machine learning (ML) development and introduces features aimed at boosting productivity and fostering creativity.

Among the enhancements are a refined and modernized timeline, a new primary grading tool called X Grade, a revamped development tool named Chromogen, and a novel ML-driven tool known as Face Track. Face Track is designed to identify and track faces within a scene, adapting to their movements and rotations. It associates a polygon mesh with each face, facilitating the distortion of perspective-aware tools like Paint and Shapes with the mesh. Colorists can seamlessly apply corrections and enhancements made in Face Track to the entire timeline through a simple copy-and-paste process, ensuring consistency across a sequence or episode.

Martin Tlaskal, head of development at FilmLight, expressed the belief that this release significantly advances their technology, providing a platform that aligns with the needs of contemporary colorists. Face Track, in particular, is highlighted for its ability to substantially reduce the time spent on beauty work by colorists, streamlining processes and corrections across characters. Leveraging machine learning, Face Track revolutionizes face tracking, allowing colorists to make corrections and enhancements across multiple scenes efficiently.

Freelance colorists, including Cem Ozkilicci and Raúl Lavado, who participated in the beta program, praised Face Track as a game changer. It reduces time spent on tedious tasks like keying and shaping, providing efficiency in brightening/darkening faces, lifting eyes, and handling beauty and skin work. With the integration of paint tools, Face Track becomes even more potent, enabling colorists to focus more on grading and less on drawing shapes and tracking.

Leading up to the Baselight 6.0 release, FilmLight developed Flexi, a framework facilitating the swift integration of future ML-based tools into Baselight. The new tools in Baselight 6.0 encompass the RIFE ML-based retimer, a redesigned Curve Grade, integrated alpha for seamless compositing, an improved Gallery for enhanced searching and sorting, and various new and enhanced color tools such as Sharpen Luma, a built-in Lens Flare tool, Bokeh for out-of-focus camera effects, Loupe magnifying for precise adjustments, an upgraded Hue Angle, and more.

Digital Cinema colorist Sudip Shrestha have lauded the creative leap provided by Baselight 6.0, expressing excitement about the impact of new tools such as X Grade and Chromogen, along with the other upgrades, on their ability to deliver and realize their creative vision.