ctl ☆

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Description:
Programming language for digital color management

Type: Formula | Latest Version: 1.5.4@2 | Tracked Since: Dec 17, 2025

Links: Homepage | formulae.brew.sh

Category: Multimedia

Tags: color-management aces vfx digital-color film

Install: brew install ctl

About:
CTL (Color Transformation Language) is a programming language designed for digital color management, enabling precise definition of color transformations. It provides the core processing engine for the Academy Color Encoding System (ACES), allowing for high-fidelity color operations in visual effects and motion picture workflows.

Key Features:

Domain-specific language for color transformation
Reference implementation for ACES workflows
Supports complex, high-dynamic-range (HDR) color processing
Integrates with OpenEXR and TIFF for high-fidelity image I/O

Use Cases:

Implementing ACES color transforms in VFX pipelines
Building custom color management tools for film post-production
Processing high-dynamic-range (HDR) imagery

Alternatives:

OpenColorIO – OpenColorIO is a broader color management framework, whereas CTL provides the specific language and engine for defining the transforms that OCIO can execute.
ocioconfig – OCIO configs define color pipelines, but CTL is often used to author the underlying transforms that these configs reference.

License: AMPAS

Dependencies: aces_container, imath, libtiff, openexr

Bottles available for: arm64_tahoe, arm64_sequoia, arm64_sonoma, arm64_ventura, sonoma, ventura, arm64_linux, x86_64_linux

Version History

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