https://github.com/ampas/aces

The Academy Color Encoding System (ACES)
https://github.com/ampas/aces

aces color-encoding color-management color-transformations

Last synced: 7 months ago
JSON representation

The Academy Color Encoding System (ACES)

• Host: GitHub
• URL: https://github.com/ampas/aces
• Owner: ampas
• License: other
• Created: 2024-05-24T20:26:16.000Z (about 2 years ago)
• Default Branch: main
• Last Pushed: 2025-09-11T15:27:59.000Z (9 months ago)
• Last Synced: 2025-09-11T18:34:30.793Z (9 months ago)
• Topics: aces, color-encoding, color-management, color-transformations
• Homepage: https://www.acescentral.com
• Size: 120 KB
• Stars: 14
• Watchers: 3
• Forks: 2
• Open Issues: 1
• Metadata Files:
  • Readme: README.md
  • Contributing: CONTRIBUTING.md
  • License: LICENSE.md
  • Support: SUPPORT.md

Awesome Lists containing this project

README

          


![Academy Color Encoding

System](https://github.com/AcademySoftwareFoundation/artwork/blob/main/projects/aces/horizontal/color/aces-horizontal-color.png)

# Academy Color Encoding System

[![License](https://img.shields.io/badge/License-Apache_2.0-blue.svg)](https://opensource.org/licenses/Apache-2.0)

## Introduction

The Academy Color Encoding System (ACES) started as an initative led by the

Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences to establish a unified,

device-independent system for managing color throughout motion picture

production. It has found usage in motion pictures, television, animation, VFX,

gaming, immersive media, and related fields. The project’s mission is to enable

predictable, high-quality color reproduction across diverse workflows and

technologies, preserving creative intent while supporting interoperability,

archival needs, and future innovation.

## ACES Project Mission

The Academy Color Encoding System (ACES) aims to provide a standardized,

device-independent, and future-proof system for managing color throughout a

production pipeline.

ACES aims to:

- define and maintain open, standardized encodings and transforms for color

  management

- provide a robust framework to support production, post-production,

  distribution, and archiving

- ensure compatibility with emerging imaging technologies, including high

  dynamic range and wide color gamut

- enable consistent color reproduction from image capture through editing, VFX,

  grading, mastering, and archiving, regardless of hardware or workflow

- support long-term archiving of motion picture assets in a format that can be

  faithfully re-rendered on future display technologies

- promote wide industry adoption

- foster a healthy and active community

## ACES Components

This repository provides a structured and organized way to track and manage

different versions of ACES, along with their associated modular components,

which are separated into subrepositories:

- **aces-core:** 

  - contains the maths and algorithms that are at the core of the ACES rendering

  transforms 

- **aces-amf:** 

  - holds the XSD schema and example files for ACES Metadata File (AMF)

- **aces-input-and-colorspaces:** 

  - contains color space definitions and the conversions between them, i.e.

  to/from ACES2065-1

- **aces-output:** 

  - transforms with parameters preset to correspond with characteristics of

  standard or common display configurations

- **aces-look:** 

  - contains any transforms that serve to modify the default appearance of

  images through an ACES pipeline

## Tags and Releases

ACES uses [semantic versioning](https://semver.org/). The version number of ACES

reflects changes to the ACES core algorithms. 

- **MAJOR.MINOR.PATCH**: Reflects changes to the core ACES algorithms.

A build number denotes the specific collection of modular components (e.g.,

[Input and Color Space

Transforms](https://github.com/ampas/aces-input-and-colorspaces), [Output

Transforms](https://github.com/ampas/aces-output), etc.) in date format.

- **Build Number**: Identifies the specific collection of modular components

  from the submodules - formatted as `+YYYY.MM.DD`

### Modular Components

The modular components of ACES can be updated at any time by the ACES team or by

end users. These components do not affect the core functionality of ACES, which

is why they are not included in the MAJOR.MINOR.PATCH version number.

> [!IMPORTANT]

> This repository only contains history for ACES 2.0 and newer. The git history

for earlier ACES versions is [preserved in

`aces-dev`](https://github.com/ampas/aces-core/tags), which was relabeled as

`aces-core` during a code reorganization associated with the release of ACES 2.  

## ACES Resources

- Website: 

  - Documentation: 

  - Forum: 

- Slack workspace: 

  - New users can join via 

## Contributing

ACES depends on community participation. Developers, manufacturers, and end

users are encouraged to contribute code, bug fixes, documentation, and other

technical artifacts.

All contributors must have a signed Contributor License Agreement (CLA) on file

to ensure that the project can freely use your contributions. 

See [CONTRIBUTING.md](./CONTRIBUTING.md) for more details.

## Governance

ACES is a project hosted by the [Academy Software Foundation](https://aswf.io). 

See [GOVERNANCE.md](GOVERNANCE.md) for details about how the project operates.

## Reporting Issues

To report a problem, please open an issue. 

- Whenever possible, issues specific to a particular transform or component

  should be filed using the issue tracker of its containing repository.

- General issues can be filed in this repository's [issue

  tracker](https://github.com/ampas/aces/issues). 

- For sensitive or security-related issues, do not use the public issue tracker.

  Instead, refer to [SECURITY.md](SECURITY.md) for details on the project's

  security policy.

## License

The ACES Project is licensed under the [Apache 2.0 license](./LICENSE).