Gamma

Applies a constant gamma value to a set of channels. This lightens or darkens the midtones.

The actual function is 1/pow(value).

Note:  Increasing the gamma to lighten the midtones darkens any values above 1. Similarly, decreasing the gamma to darken the midtones lightens any values below 0. If you don’t want this to happen, you can instead use a Colorspace node, which allows you to adjust the gamma using a color curve rather than a slider. Simply add points on the curve just below 0 and above 1 to preserve the super blacks and whites.

Inputs and Controls

Connection Type

Connection Name

Function

Input

unnamed

The image sequence to which you want to apply a gamma value.

mask

An optional image to use as a mask. By default, the gamma adjustment is limited to the non-black areas of the mask.

At first, the mask input appears as triangle on the right side of the node, but when you drag it, it turns into an arrow labeled mask. If you cannot see the mask input, ensure that the mask control is disabled or set to none.

Control (UI)

Knob (Scripting)

Default Value

Function

Gamma Tab

channels

channels

all

The gamma adjustment is only applied to these channels.

If you set this to something other than all or none, you can use the checkboxes on the right to select individual channels.

value

value

1

The gamma value. The default value of 1 equals no change.

Note that you can enter formulae into this field, making it easy to do quick calculations. For example, you could type 1/2.2 here and press Return to get 0.45454545.

mask

N/A

disabled

Enables the associated mask channel to the right. Disabling this checkbox is the same as setting the channel to none.

maskChannelInput

none

The channel to use as a mask. By default, the gamma adjustment is limited to the non-black areas of this channel.

inject

inject

disabled

Copies the mask input to the predefined mask.a channel. Injecting the mask allows you to use the same mask further downstream.

invert

invert_mask

disabled

Inverts the use of the mask channel so that the gamma adjustment is limited to the non-white areas of the mask.

fringe

fringe

disabled

When enabled, only apply the effect to the edge of the mask.

When disabled, the effect is applied to the entire mask.

(un)premult by

N/A

disabled

Enables the associated channel to the right. Disabling this checkbox is the same as setting the channel to none.

unpremult

none

The image is divided by this channel before being processed, and multiplied again afterwards.

If you are using premultiplied input images, you may want to check (un)premult by and select rgba.alpha here. This will simulate doing the gamma adjustment before the premultiplication was done. It is the same as adding an Unpremult node before this node and a Premult node after, but allows you to work faster if you’re only using one color correct node.

If you are using unpremultiplied input images, you should leave this set to none.

invert

invert_unpremult

disabled

Inverts the use of the (un)premultiply channel.

mix

mix

1

Dissolves between the original image at 0 and the full gamma adjustment at 1.