From the Project panel menu, select Project Settings.
Last updated on
May 5, 2026
Manage color consistently in Adobe After Effects using OpenColorIO and Academy Color Encoding System to ensure accurate, predictable color workflows across pipelines and devices.
OpenColorIO (OCIO) is a color management solution used primarily in motion picture production that helps enforce a color management methodology required for high-fidelity color imaging.
The Academy Color Encoding System (ACES) is a free, open, device-independent color management system that aims to be the filmmaking industry standard for managing color.
After Effects enables the ACES workflow by integrating OCIO as a color management engine.
Specify color management settings
The Color Engine has the following two options:
- Adobe color managed: This is the default Adobe color management engine, which uses ICC profiles.
- OCIO color managed: This mode uses OpenColorIO (OCIO) for color processing and is recommended when you need to work with the ACES workflow.
Use the OCIO Config dropdown and select the OCIO configuration. You can also use the Custom OCIO Config to add a custom configuration.
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Specify media color input in the Project Panel
The Media Color Space is automatically assigned to the default set in the OCIO Configuration under Project Settings. To override, right-click the footage > Interpret Footage > Main > Color > Override Media Color Space.
Specify your color while creating a composition
The Composition panel displays colors converted from the working color space to the display color space.
To change the display color space, choose a color space from the Display Color Space menu at the bottom of the Composition panel.
Note
The Display Color Space menu only appears when the project is set to use OCIO color management.
Specify color output in the Render Queue
After adding the composition to the Render Queue, use the Output Module drop-down list > Custom > Color > Output Color Space, or select blue text next to Output Module drop-down list > Color > Output Color Space.
After Effects includes the following effects that use OpenColorIO to process color. You do not need to enable OpenColorIO color management in the project to use these effects.
OCIO File Transform
The OCIO File Transform effect is used to apply a LUT or CDL.
OCIO Color Space Transform
The OCIO Color Space Transform effect is a color space converter effect implemented using the OpenColorIO engine.
The OCIO Display Transform effect is a color space converter effect implemented using the OpenColorIO engine.
The effect includes the following options:
Input Color Space
Select the input color space for the transform.
Display Device
Select from the available display devices. This list is dynamic and populated from the selected OCIO Configuration.
View Transform
Select view transforms available for a selected display. This dynamic list depends on the selected OCIO Configuration file and selected display device.
Inverse Transform
Allows you to invert the transform, for example, for import workflow.
Information
The Information section will provide details such as the OCIO configuration selected. It also includes error information. For example, if you change OCIO Configuration in the Project Settings and if the change made makes the current effect invalid.
Note
You can use the OCIO Display Transform effect to convert to working color space or assign a display view color space to the imported media.
Use the Show all check box in Interpret Footage > Color tab and Output Module Settings > Color tab to list all color spaces from the OCIO configuration file and also the display view transform options.
The OCIO Look Transform effect under the Color Correction category enables you to apply a Look transform or its inverse to a layer or composition.
The effect includes the following options:
Input Color Space
Select the input color space for the transform.
Look
Select the Look. This drop-down list is populated from the selected OCIO configuration file.
Output Color Space
Select the output color space for the transform.
Inverse Transform
Invert the transform.
Information
The Information section will provide details such as the OCIO configuration selected. It also includes error information. For example, if you change OCIO Configuration in the Project Settings and if the change made makes the current effect invalid.
The OCIO CDL Transform effect allows you to apply CDL transform or its inverse to a layer or composition.
The effect includes the following options:
Select
Browse your system and select a supported CDL file. For example, a .ccc file.
CCCID
The list of all the ccc (color correction collection) nodes as a ccc-id list in the drop-down list. You'll be able to select any one of them. By default, the first in the list will be selected.
Inverse Transform
Invert the transform.
Information
The Information section will provide details such as the OCIO configuration selected. It also includes error information. For example, if you change OCIO Configuration in the Project Settings and if the change made makes the current effect invalid.
These effects can be used together to apply a LUT or CDL created to work in a specific color space that is different from the selected working color space:
- Apply the OCIO Color Space Transform effect to convert from Working Color Space to the color space your CDL/LUT file requires.
- Apply LUT or CDL using the OCIO File Transform effect.
- Apply the OCIO Color Space Transform effect again to convert back to Working Color Space.
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