SMT 200 — Systems

Operational workflows and implementation patterns: colour management, transforms, trims, and tooling.

SMT 201 — Scene-Referred Pipeline Architecture

A scene-referred pipeline is the foundation of repeatable finishing. Define the working space, define where transforms occur, and keep creative intent separable from technical conversions.

SMT 202 — Input Normalization

Normalize camera sources before creative work: consistent IDT strategy, exposure offsets, gamut mapping, and highlight handling. Without normalization, every shot becomes a one-off.

SMT 203 — Display Transform Discipline

Separate working colour from viewing colour. Treat the display transform as a contract, not a look. Know what is baked, what is reversible, and what must remain stable across deliverables.

SMT 204 — HDR ↔ SDR Trim Strategy

Trims are not an afterthought. Define intent in HDR, define preservation in SDR, and ensure the relationship between versions is controlled, documented, and repeatable.

SMT 205 — LUTs, DCTLs, and Tooling as Systems

Tools are systems. A LUT or DCTL should encode constraints, preserve optionality, and expose parameters with intent. If a tool hides behaviour, it cannot be trusted in a finishing pipeline.

SMT 206 — Texture: Grain as Embedded Signal

Texture must live in the image, not on top of it. An embedded grain system is exposure-dependent, temporally stable, and respects colour space and tone mapping order.

SMT 200 Scope

SMT 200 defines implementation patterns. Analytical deep dives live in SMT 300 — Research. Applied breakdowns live in SMT 400 — Projects.