Automated VFX pulls anyone? Ci Workflow is an app that brings EDL-triggered workflow automation to your browser. In this article you will learn how to configure workflows by defining input and output file specs and designating output recipients. Then use an EDL to kick off the workflow and tell Ci exactly which clips to pull. Here's how you can do that:
Configuring Workflows
To get started, open a Workspace and select the Workflows icon in the navigation menu:
Figure 1: Opening Workflow
Your Workflow Dashboard will open in a new tab showing a list of configured Workflows. To search for Workflows, type the name in the Jump to Workflow search box. To create a new workflow, select the plus icon near the upper-right corner — :
Figure 2: Workflow Dashboard
First, create a Workflow name and from the drop-down menu select the target Workspace where your source files are located. Please note that only .MXF & RAW file formats are supported in Workflow.
Please note that if the file is archived then we auto-standard restore it but we do not archive it again. We assume there are storage management policies in place. For more information on storage policies, please visit our help desk article Storage Management Policies.
Once name is created and Workspace are selected click Next:
Figure 3: Configure Workflow (General)
Configuring Input Profile
You will be prompted to configure the Input Profile. This is where we are telling Ci to look for the source file, and to define the color of the EDL Event Markers. We highly recommend selecting the exact folder the file is located so that the EDL doesn't accidentally pick a different file that is named identically to the target source content. To locate the folder, select the dropdown menu and click the icon to navigate the Workspace folder tree until you've found the folder.
In the EDL Event Markers section, open the drop-down menu and select Red. This controls which marker color will contain the event name. Once this is selected, click Next to set the Output Profile:
Figure 4: Configure Workflow (Input Profile)
Configuring Output Profile
Select the Output Root Folder location by clicking the drop-down menu and select the icon to open the Workspace folder tree. Please note that the Output Root Folder location doesn't have to stay within the Input Workspace folder. Any Workspace & folder can be selected as the Output location for the VFX pulls:
Figure 5: Selecting Output Root Folder
Next, select a File Format for the VFX pulls. There are 3 options to choose from: EXR, TIFF, & DPX:
Figure 6: Choosing File Format
Among the several File Format options to choose from are the following:
EXR:
— Uncompressed
— RLE lossless
— ZIPS lossless
— ZIP lossless
— PIZ lossless
— PXR24 lossless
— B44 lossless
— B44A lossy
— DWAA lossy
— DWAB lossy
TIFF:
— 16 bit uncompressed
DPX:
— 10 bit
— 12 bit
—16 bit
In this example, we've selected DPX, 10 bit. Now we will set the Output pixel aspect ratio. Regardless of which file format you choose, there are two options to choose from - Square (1:1) or Native to Capture:
Figure 7: Select output pixel aspect ratio
For Output resolution, there are many options to choose from. Regardless of which file format is selected, the following options are available:
— Native
— 4k Full Frame: 4096 x 2160
— 4k Anamorphic: 4096 x 1716
— 4k Flat: 3996 x 2160
— 2k Full Frame: 2048 x 1080
— 2k Anamorphic: 2048 x 858
— 2k Flat: 1998 x 1080
— UHD: 3840 x 2160
— HD: 1920 x 1080
— 720P: 1280 x 720
— Custom
If you choose Custom, the max resolution cannot exceed 16999 pixels for both width & height:
Figure 8: Custom Output Resolution
Next, determine the Scaling. The options to choose from are:
— Fit entire image (pillarbox, letterbox)
— Fill (fill the output resolution - no pillarbox, no letterbox)
— Custom protection area (* If selecting this option, you will need to specify a percentage between 80 and 100 with no more than 2 decimal places)
Figure 9: Select Scaling
For Color Space, there are three options to choose from:
— ACES Linear (common color space)
— Native to Camera (Linear)
— Native to camera (no color conversion)
In this example, we've selected ACES Linear:
Figure 10: Selecting Color Space
Now set the Default Handle Length. After clicking the drop-down menu, the available options are 0 frames, 8 frames, 16 frames, 24 frames, or Custom:
Figure 11: Setting Handle Length
For start frame, we set the default to 1001. To modify the custom start frame, select the frame number field and type in the new start frame (see figure 12). Additionally, you could select Use frame numbers from source. Click Next for the final configuration step:
Figure 12: Select Start Frame
If any parameters need to be adjusted for this Workflow, simply select the blue Update button according to the section you need to apply changes (see Figure 13).
Uploaders & Recipients
The EDL Uploaders section gives you the option to invite Workspace members or external contributors to submit EDL jobs to this workflow. Invited members will not have access to the Workflow settings. To define EDL uploaders, enter their email address and select Add. Invited members will receive an email notification.
The Recipients option allows you to notify the VFX vender or specific Workspace members that an EDL job is completed. Additionally, added recipients can also receive a MediaBox containing the completed EDL job + additional files such as references and a line-up sheet. Click the drop-down menu next to Add to specify if the recipient will receive a MediaBox or notification. Click Activate to complete configuration:
Figure 13: Adding Uploaders and Recipients
Upon clicking Activate, the EDL Uploader recipient(s) will receive a notification message prompting them to enter the Workflow and upload an EDL. To do so, click Join Workflow:
Figure 14: Join Workflow Notification
Create a New Job
The EDL Uploader will be brought into the newly created Workflow. To start a new job, select the button:
Figure 15: Creating a New Job
Drag-and-drop and EDL file or click the plus icon to select a file. Each EDL can contain as many events as necessary to complete the job:
Figure 16: New job / EDL Selection
Once the file is selected, you have the option to re-confirm or modify the handle length for this specific job (by default, the handle length settings will be inherited from the workflow). Users also have the option to customize the Start Frame. This change will apply to the selected EDL, and every event in the EDL.
Additionally, we give users the option to take this further by customizing the start frame number for a single event in the EDL. To do so, select Customize per event (see Figure 17). A dropdown menu will display each event in the EDL, allowing you to granularly modify each one. After this step is completed click Next.
Figure 17: Customizing Start Frame Per Event
For the final step in creating a new job, the user can upload additional files such as references, a line-up sheet, CDL, or any necessary files. Once your files are uploaded, select Submit and the job will begin to process:
Figure 18: Uploading additional files
Processing times will vary, and are faster than the industry standard of ~12 hours. The submitter of Job will be notified when the Job completes or if it happens to fail, but that doesn’t mean they have access to see the output of the Job, which would be located in a folder in a Workspace. The EDL uploader’s job is to simply upload the EDL. Here is a list of statuses that may appear as the new job is in progress:
— In Progress: EDL pulls are processing and will appear in output root folder when complete;
— Complete: EDL pulls are successful;
— Partially Successful: Only part of the EDL pulls were completed. We'll send you a MediaBox containing these;
— Failed: Processing failed. We will notify the job creator and Ci customer success will be in contact with you.
Figure 19: New job Complete
Once the job has completed processing the status will display Complete. The files will appear in a folder within the specified output folder with the creation date as the title. As you drill down into the folder structure you will reach the DPX files (Shots) along with the reference file and EDL (see figure 19):
Figure 20: Completed Pull Request
This same folder structure will be shared in a MediaBox if recipients were added. MediaBox recipients will receive an email notification when the Job completes:
Figure 21: MediaBox containing DPX files (Shots), Reference, and EDL folders
The Shots folder will contain the EDL pulls:
Figure 22: EDL Pulls
When the job has completed, defined Workspace members will be notified. As mentioned above, recipients will receive a notification or a MediaBox containing these files.
For any additional questions, please reach out to the Ci Customer Success Team by submitting a request here in the Help Center.