ARRI Film Lab 1.5 Expands Analogue Film Aesthetics

ARRI has released Film Lab 1.5, a substantial update to its licence-based OpenFX plug-in that brings analogue film characteristics to digital images. The new version broadens creative controls, boosts processing performance and tightens integration with colour-managed workflows for filmmakers and post-production teams.

Beyond its original 35 mm foundation, users can now choose 8 mm, 16 mm, 35 mm or 65 mm as their starting point. Two new parameters—Grain Size and Rendition of Detail—let editors fine-tune grain scale and perceived sharpness across a range of 0.75 to 1.5, enabling looks that bridge the aesthetic gaps between formats.

The update adds an Anamorphic Ratio control with eight squeeze options from 1.25x to 2.0x, aligning the horizontal stretch of film grain and halation glow with footage captured on different anamorphic lenses. A new Halation Spread setting further shapes the radius and character of glow around highlights and high-contrast edges.

Responding to user feedback for bolder analogue treatments, ARRI has doubled the maximum values for Grain Intensity and Halation Intensity to 2.0. Existing controls—Negative Stocks, Print Processes and Gate Weave—remain in place, preserving familiar workflows while extending the creative range.

Performance is up to four times faster, delivering super-quick rendering and smooth, real-time 4K playback on a wider array of systems, including Apple Silicon MacBook Pro machines, for more immediate visual feedback while crafting looks.

Colour management support has been expanded with ACES 2.0 ACEScc and ACEScct input and output options for applications such as DaVinci Resolve and Baselight. In Baselight, OpenFX 1.5 colour-management integration allows Film Lab to follow the timeline colour space automatically and receive the correct input transform, removing the need for manual selection.

ARRI Film Lab 1.5 is available now from RE:Vision Effects as a free upgrade for existing licence holders or as a new purchase for first-time customers.

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