Features in Depth

OCIO Color Grading

Film-industry grading pipeline

OpenColorIO v2 is built in (via ocio-rs, safe Rust bindings). Load your studio's existing OCIO configs (including ACES) or apply .cube / .3dl LUT files for creative looks, with color transforms identical to Nuke, Maya, and other post-production tools.

• ◆Load complete OCIO configs (including ACES) and reuse your team's grading pipeline
• ◆Apply .cube / .3dl LUT files directly
• ◆Color processors run through the whole pipeline with real-time preview

OpenFX Plug-in Support

A vast third-party effects ecosystem

OpenFX (OFX) is the open standard for video effects plug-ins — the same plug-in format used by DaVinci Resolve and Vegas Pro. Oak is a full OFX host: it automatically scans the standard system and user plug-in directories and loads third-party OFX plug-ins (denoise, beauty, glow and more) with no porting required.

• ◆Shares its plug-in format with DaVinci Resolve / Vegas Pro
• ◆Scans the standard OFX directories (/Library/OFX/Plugins on macOS, /usr/OFX/Plugins on Linux, Common Files\OFX\Plugins on Windows), extensible via OFX_PLUGIN_PATH
• ◆Adjust plug-in parameters live in the inspector panel

OpenTimelineIO Import & Export

The open timeline interchange format

OpenTimelineIO (OTIO) is an open timeline format started by Pixar and maintained by the Academy Software Foundation. Through its native oakotio engine, Oak imports and exports both .otio and .fcpxml (Final Cut Pro XML): sequences, video/audio/subtitle tracks, clips, gaps and transitions all come across — smooth project migration from other editors and editorial exchange with downstream departments.

• ◆Import and export both .otio and .fcpxml
• ◆Preserves track structure, edit points and transitions
• ◆Ideal for project migration, collaboration and archiving

Note: OTIO is an interchange format focused on timeline structure; effect chains and keyframe animation do not travel with it.

Color Management

End-to-end color accuracy

Full-pipeline color management from media decode through the timeline working space to monitor output. The project output space is well defined (sRGB / Rec.709, or wide-gamut P3 / BT.2020), with PQ (ST 2084) and HLG high-dynamic-range transfers. Display output follows a single-mapping rule: the OS handles the display transform on Wayland, Windows 11 ACM and macOS ColorSync, while on X11 and older Windows Oak applies the display ICC itself — accurate colors even on wide-gamut screens.

• ◆HDR-ready: PQ (ST 2084) / HLG output transfers
• ◆Wide gamut: Display P3 / BT.2020 project output spaces
• ◆Automatically picks OS- or app-level display correction per platform

10-bit Display Output

What you see is what you grade

Frames are processed and sent to the display at 10-bit precision (U10) end to end, rendering over a billion colors on supported GPUs and monitors. Gradients stay smooth with no banding — every step of skies and shadow detail stays visible while you grade.

• ◆10-bit (U10) precision through processing and display output
• ◆Eliminates 8-bit gradient banding
• ◆More accurate HDR monitoring together with color management