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Using DaVinci Resolve as a Pattern Generator

DaVinci Resolve color correction software interfaces directly with Calman Display Calibration Software to create a display calibration 3D LUT file for a secondary display driven through a Blackmagic Design video output device (e.g. DeckLink). DaVinci Resolve automatically produces the required test patterns (patches) as Calman measures the display

Calman Required Software Version:

  • Version 5.3.0 or later

DaVinci Resolve Required Software Version:

  • Version 10.1 or later

Calman/Resolve Luminance Levels

Calman needs to be configured to control the output from DaVinci Resolve at video levels.

  • To configure Calman, under Settings/Workflow Basic Options/Luminance Levels, select Video (16-235) (10-bit displays will receive 10-bit signals).
  • On the DaVinci Resolve Master Project Settings page, under Video Monitoring, the Colorspace (levels) setting should be at Video Levels.

Note: When Video Levels is selected in DaVinci Resolve, the SDI and HDMI outputs from Blackmagic video output devices produce signals limited to SMPTE legal (studio) levels (bit levels 64-940). Signal levels between black and reference white are always accurate.


Connect as a Pattern Generator

Follow this procedure to:
  • Connect Calman to DaVinci Resolve for use as a pattern generator
Session Setup – Source Connect

Note: To produce automated test pattern output, Resolve requires an open project with at least one image loaded into a timeline. This project can be one of your regular video production projects.

  1. On the Calman Source Settings tab, click the Find Soxurce button.
  2. On the Source dialog, under Manufacturer, select DaVinci. Under Model, select DaVinci – Resolve pattern generator. Click Connect.
  3. On the Calman “Waiting for connection” screen, note the IP address
  4. On the Resolve Color page, click Color in the bottom toolbar
  5. In the top toolbar, open the Workplace
  6. From the Workplace Menu, open Monitor Calibration then select SpectraCal Calman
  7. Enter the Calman computer IP address
  8. Click Connect

Note: If Calman doesn’t connect with the displayed IP address, confirm that the displayed IP address is the Calman computer’s network adapter IP address. See the Calman/Resolve Connectivity section, below.


Calman/Resolve Connectivity:

  • Uses IP connection from Calman to DaVinci Resolve, on port 20002.
  • The IP address is the network IP address of the Calman Windows computer.

To confirm the IP address of the Calman Windows computer, in a Windows command window (cmd), enter ipconfig then look for the IPv4 address for the Ethernet adapter or the Wireless LAN adapter.

Any firewall on either the Calman or the Resolve end of the link needs to either be disabled, or outbound port 20002 needs to be open on the Calman end, and inbound port 20002 needs to be open on the Resolve end.

To open a Windows Firewall port in Windows 7:
  1. Open Windows Control Panel / Windows Firewall / Advanced Settings
  2. Chose Inbound Rules, or Outbound Rules
  3. Choose New Rule / Port / TCP / Specific remote ports:  20002 / Allow the connection
To allow incoming connections through an active Mac firewall:
  1. Open System Preferences
  2. Choose Security & Privacy
  3. Choose Firewall / Advanced
  4. Enable Automatically allow signed software to receive incoming connections

Calman/Resolve Computer Configurations

Calman for Resolve can control the test pattern output from DaVinci Resolve in a number of different computer configurations. These configurations are described below, starting with whether DaVinci Resolve is running on a Mac or Windows computer.

When DaVinci Resolve is running on a Mac computer, under OS X:
  1. Calman can be installed on a separate Windows computer or on a separate Mac computer, running in a VMware Fusion virtual Windows machine or under Boot Camp with Windows*. Calman will connect to Resolve over TCP/IP.
  2. Calman can be installed on and running in a VMware Fusion virtual Windows machine on the same Mac that Resolve is running on. Calman will connect to Resolve over TCP/IP.

Note: Calman can also run on a Mac in a Parallels virtual Windows machine, but due to occasional USB device driver issues with Parallels, it is not currently recommended.

When DaVinci Resolve is running on a Windows computer:
  1. Calman can be installed on a separate Windows computer or on a separate Mac computer, running in a VMware Fusion virtual Windows machine or under Boot Camp with Windows. Calman will connect to Resolve over TCP/IP.
  2. Calman can be installed on and running on the same Windows computer that Resolve is running on. Calman will connect to Resolve over TCP/IP.

Tags:  DaVinci Resolve