Academy Color Encoding System

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The Academy Color Encoding System (ACES) is a color image encoding system created under the auspices of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. ACES is characterised by a color accurate workflow, with "seamless interchange of high quality motion picture images regardless of source".^[1]

The system defines its own color primaries based on spectral locus as defined by the CIE xyY specification. The white point is approximate to the chromaticity of CIE Daylight with a Correlated Color Temperature (CCT) of 6000K.^[2] Most ACES compliant image files are encoded in 16-bit half-floats, thus allowing ACES OpenEXR files to encode 30 stops of scene information.^[1] The ACESproxy format uses integers with a log encoding. ACES supports both high dynamic range (HDR) and wide color gamut (WCG).^[1]

The version 1.0 release occurred in December 2014. ACES received a Primetime Engineering Emmy Award in 2012.^[3] The system is standardized in part by the Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers (SMPTE) standards body.