onyspot

Thanks for all the replies. After further testing this seems to be a render engine specific problem and not something related to Affinity.

I've read multiple topics but never found a clear solution. The thing is I do not want to gamma correct my .exr because even if I try to match it to my render frame buffer image, the tones are different (second image where I applied Levels adjustment layer) and so are the LUT's (because they are applied to an initially different gamma?) which then messes up the colors, shadows, etc.. It can't be seen well in the cropped photo but essentially the whole lighting changes. In some cases it wouldn't make any sense to spend all this time perfecting materials and lighting like I see them in my frame buffer to then have to do it all over again with post processing after using gamma correction because an app doesn't display it (or save it) the same way it is displayed in the frame buffer. The first image shows what I was talking about in my first post. You can see the unmanaged one being displayed exactly like the render.

Thanks for replying v_kyr but could you be a bit more specific? I am still trying to wrap my head around the topic.

Hello, I had the chance to test Affinity Photo and it looks promising. I need it mainly for post production of 32-bit full float .exr renders which Photoshop cannot handle. I am having a slight issue with how AP is displaying the renders that are saved from the render frame buffer. If I import an .exr into AP from the frame buffer using the automatic gamma settings (1.0) the image is not displayed correctly in AP, the gamma is incorrect resulting in a very dark image. The imported .exr has an sRGB IEC61966-2.1 Linear profile attached to it. However if I set to Unmanaged in 32-bit Preview window and set the gamma to 2.2 I get exactly the same image as I see in the render frame buffer - which is what I want to work with since the render frame buffer will also export the same image as .png, .tiff, etc. However I cannot export an "unmanaged" image as a .png from AP since it will always export the image with ICC Display transform set to 1.0 gamma. How do I get around this? Working with the ICC Display transform image and playing around the gamma adjustment layer I can never get the same image I had in the render frame buffer. My next question is with regards to LUT's. I get very different results if I apply the same LUT in AP or the render frame buffer. The frame buffer will apply the LUT correctly, exactly the same as After Effects however AP gives a completely different result which doesn't look right. Any thoughts on why is this happening? I am not really an expert on the subject of color management so it's possible that my workflow is incorrect however I do need to post edit and be able to save the image that I am seeing as the Unmanaged 2.2 gamma preview otherwise there would be no point of using the app for my renders. Thanks for the help.