This tool reveals the part of an image that sits between ½ stop below mid-gray and 1 stop above, letting everything else fade to gray.

Purpose and Functionality

The primary concept behind Sweet Spot is to allow users to achieve the base exposure accurately, enabling them to focus more on the creative aspects of image exposure rather than the technical details. Sweet Spot is available as a LUT (Look-Up Table), which can be integrated into existing workflows by downloading the appropriate LUT for the Log space being used and installing it into the camera or monitor.

Compatibility and Advantages

Sweet Spot works consistently across different cameras and monitors, provided the correct Log curve LUT version is used. According to Cullen Kelly, Sweet Spot offers an advantage over false color as it avoids the display of multiple colors on the screen and eliminates the need to deal with IRE values. Instead, it measures the light hitting the sensor directly.

Expert Endorsement

Oscar-nominated cinematographer Seamus McGarvey, ASC, BSC, has praised Sweet Spot, stating, “You’ve built something every cinematographer worth their salt will respond to.”

Practical Example

To illustrate the use of Sweet Spot, consider a scene setup that appears underexposed on the monitor. By activating Sweet Spot, the user can see that the subject is indeed underexposed. The user can then adjust the exposure by either opening the iris or increasing the light levels to bring the subject into the optimal exposure range. If the exposure is increased too much, the subject will start to overexpose and fall out of the optimal range again.

Usage in Different Scenarios

Once the adjustments are made and Sweet Spot is turned off, users can confidently continue using their monitor for further adjustments, knowing that the exposure is accurately set. This allows cinematographers to use their monitors instead of relying solely on digital metering.

In another scenario, turning on Sweet Spot will clearly show if a shot is underexposed. By adding more light or adjusting the iris, the exposure can be increased until the key-lit areas of the subject are properly exposed. Once Sweet Spot is turned off, the image will appear correctly exposed.

Sweet Spot simplifies the process of setting the base exposure, providing a consistent and reliable method for cinematographers to achieve optimal image quality across various cameras and monitors.