Blender 5.0 to Feature Built-In ACES 2.0 View Transform

As November 11, the expected launch date for the highly-anticipated Blender version 5.0, steadily approaches, more and more features from the impending release begin to surface, with the latest to capture the community's attention being the upcoming integration of the ACES 2.0 color encoding system into the software.

First spotlighted by Thomas Marcos, a brilliant 3D Artist whose works we featured here on 80 Level on more than one occasion, Blender 5.0 will include the new ACES 2.0 view transform, designed as an alternative to AgX and Filmic, and available in both standard and high dynamic range versions.

As stated by Blender's Brecht Van Lommel, ACES 2.0 will be integrated into OpenColorIO and begin working seamlessly with the upcoming wide gamut display changes. He notes that the update will be especially useful for those working in an ACES pipeline when the full ACES OpenColorIO config is not required. The update will also introduce heuristics to better match display and view names, improving compatibility when switching between Blender and ACES 2.0 configs, as well as when there is no exact matching view name when switching displays.

For those unfamiliar, ACES, or the Academy Color Encoding System, is a global standard for digital image interchange, color workflow management, and the creation of masters for delivery and archiving. The system standardizes color management by preserving maximum color fidelity across production, post-production, and archiving, simplifies camera matching in DI, enhances color and workflow communication, ensures reliability in the color viewing pipeline, and helps future-proof output creation.

ACES can be used on any type of production from features to television, commercials, AR/VR, and more. As Thomas pointed out, its integration into Blender will primarily benefit freelancers and smaller studios, since larger teams typically rely on custom OCIO configs.

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