ADVANCED COLOUR SCIENCE - 2025/6

Module Overview

This module explores human vision and colour science relating to workflow in film and high end television. Cutting edge innovation in the form of High Dynamic Range standards and current practice, as well as film colour management such as the Academy Color Encoding System (ACES) will be of essential use to a wide range of careers and further study. The coursework encourages the investigative mind, and a culture of testing and experimentation.

You will learn about eye the eye-brain system makes sense of the world, aquisition with high end digital cinematography cameras, and the role of the Digital Imaging Technician. Tools for colour grading and finally deliverables to cinema and home formats.

Module provider

Music & Media

Module Leader

HAIGH Alan (Music & Med)

Number of Credits: 15

ECTS Credits: 7.5

Framework: FHEQ Level 6

Module cap (Maximum number of students): N/A

Module Availability

Year long

Prerequisites / Co-requisites

N/A

Module content

Indicative content includes:

• Human vision as it relates to colour and contrast and film making.


• Comparison of camera RAW and log formats,


• Post production digital pipelines


• The digital intermediate


• File formats for distribution and mastering


• Digital Cinema Mastering


• Film outputs and LUTs


• Colour space conversion and out of gamut colours


• Gamma and dynamic range


• Colour grading

Assessment pattern

Alternative Assessment

N/A

Assessment Strategy

The assessment strategy is designed to provide students with the opportunity to demonstrate their technical skills and theoretical understanding of colour workflow in acquisition and post production.

Thus, the summative assessment for this module consists of:

• Coursework


• Exam - 2 hours

Module aims

• explore the current industry practice of colour management and workflow for motion picture films and high end television
• examine colour spaces and colour conversion
• explore gamma and bit depths for digital cinema and HDR television
• further develop understanding of colour, gamma, file formats and deliverables in colour grading and mastering

Learning outcomes

Methods of Teaching / Learning

The learning and teaching strategy is designed to: further develop theory and practice film and broadcast technology, using both lectures and workshop sessions

 

The learning and teaching methods include:

• Lectures


• Workshops on colour grading


• Seminars

Indicated Lecture Hours (which may also include seminars, tutorials, workshops and other contact time) are approximate and may include in-class tests where one or more of these are an assessment on the module. In-class tests are scheduled/organised separately to taught content and will be published on to student personal timetables, where they apply to taken modules, as soon as they are finalised by central administration. This will usually be after the initial publication of the teaching timetable for the relevant semester.

Reading list

https://readinglists.surrey.ac.uk
Upon accessing the reading list, please search for the module using the module code: FVP3001

Other information

Digital capabilities: the module covers the digital manipulation of video images through a post production workflow to ensure image quality is maintained. Knowledge of how the tools of colour correction work and are used in practice informs you in how to get the most out of any colour correction software. This means the knowledge is more applicable for longer.

Employability:  The lectures cover advanced colour management and video systems, required to understand and fault-find in practical situations. Theses slides have already proved useful practically by several graduates. The coursework is designed as a recorded discussion, encouraging the fact that teaching complex concepts to others is a transferrable skill for future study and employment. The student led seminars encourage explanation and leadership in a non threatening environment.

Programmes this module appears in

Please note that the information detailed within this record is accurate at the time of publishing and may be subject to change. This record contains information for the most up to date version of the programme / module for the 2025/6 academic year.