Full Handbook Index Decision Tree V1

FX6 Full Handbook Index and Decision Tree V1

Extraction from FX6 Cine EI Muted-Color Shooting System - Working Baseline

Control Note: Derived extraction document. Source project: FX6 Final Audio Settings + Cine EI Muted-Color Shooting System. Source document chain: Canonized Master TOC and Handbook V1.0 plus current Working Baseline used as extraction source. Canon source untouched. Operational audio setup is deferred to the external FX6 Audio Field Setup Guide. Pages 381-384 of the working source are ignored for extraction work.

Control Item	Status / Use
Purpose	A fast routing document that tells the operator where to go in the full Handbook when a problem or task appears.
Scope	Camera, monitoring, muted-color, lighting, shoot-day, post/media, and audio authority routing.
Primary refs	Summary Guide Section 14 and Working Baseline field-map/navigation layer.

Master Field Rule: Expose cleanly. Light selectively. Monitor accurately. Record clean S-Log3. Grade carefully. Do not underexpose S-Log3 to create mood.

Manual Table of Contents

Section	Title
1	Start here decision tree
2	Camera setup routing
3	Exposure / EI / ND / WB routing
4	LUT / monitor / settings-card routing
5	Muted-color visual routing
6	Scenario routing
7	Post/media routing
8	Emergency troubleshooting routing
9	Source map

1. Start Here Decision Tree

I need to...	Go to...
Set up one RØDE lav	External FX6 Audio Field Setup Guide for current operational audio. Historical Handbook background: one-transmitter baseline and Appendix A.
Set up two RØDE lavs as split tracks	External FX6 Audio Field Setup Guide. Historical background: split-track chapters and Appendix B.
Add a boom mic	External FX6 Audio Field Setup Guide. Historical background: boom setup and Appendix C.
Set Cine EI indoor shooting	White balance, ND, shutter/aperture, focus, exposure monitoring, Base ISO/EI, Indoor card / Appendix D.
Set Cine EI outdoor shooting	Outdoor ND workflow, exposure tools, outdoor Base ISO choices, Outdoor card / Appendix E.
Verify LUT / monitor	LUT/MLUT monitoring setup and external monitoring chapters.
Save/load FX6 settings	ALL/User/Scene files and settings-card checklist.
Shoot muted cinematic look	Muted-color rule set plus actor reel/feature/documentary lighting chapters.
Run pre-shoot / shoot-day checklist	Pre-shoot checklist and master shoot-day workflow.
Offload media safely	Full-card offload integrity and Appendix J.
Import into Resolve/Premiere	Resolve/Premiere workflow and Appendix K.

2. Camera Setup Routing

Question	Handbook route
What should the camera record?	Cine EI camera baseline; S-Gamut3.Cine/S-Log3; recording format chapters.
What frame rate / shutter should I use?	Recording format and shutter/aperture chapters; normal 23.98/24p = 1/48 or 180 degrees.
Which aperture is safe?	Shutter/aperture chapter and indoor/outdoor quick references.
How do I avoid focus failure?	Focus chapter, focus magnifier, peaking, Face/Eye AF, Push AF, and near-eye rules.
Which Base ISO?	Cine EI, Base ISO, and EI workflow chapter.
Do physical switches matter?	Start-of-shoot checklist; physical switches are not fully replaced by files/settings.

3. Exposure / EI / ND / WB Routing

Problem	First route
Indoor too dark	Indoor Cine EI card; Base ISO choices; add/control light before starving S-Log3.
Outdoor too bright	Outdoor Cine EI card; Variable ND; do not raise shutter casually.
Skin too dark or muddy	Exposure monitoring; muted-color warnings; do not underexpose for mood.
White balance changing	White balance external controls; avoid ATW for controlled work; lock A/B/Preset.
Mixed room light looks ugly	White balance philosophy and lighting chapters; fix light before pretending WB can solve everything.
EI confusing	Cine EI versus normal ISO; EI as exposure-rating / monitoring decision.

4. LUT / Monitor / Settings-Card Routing

Problem	First route
Image looks flat	Check LUT/MLUT monitoring setup. Confirm whether the display is receiving a LUT.
Image looks baked	Check double-LUT warning and Internal Rec MLUT status.
External monitor looks wrong	External monitoring chapter; decide whether FX6 or monitor applies LUT, not both.
Need to save camera settings	ALL/User/Scene files and settings card chapters.
Need to preserve LUTs	LUT acquisition/import and settings-card discipline.
Camera state uncertain after load	Start-of-shoot checklist; files do not save every physical/external state.

5. Muted-Color Visual Routing

Question	Go to...
What is the muted look?	Project definition and muted-color visual method.
What is the look not?	Warnings against underexposure, dead skin, random LUTs, and over-grading.
How do I light an actor reel?	Actor reel lighting chapter and Appendix F.
How do I light feature dialogue?	Feature scene lighting chapter and Appendix G.
How do I light documentary interviews?	Documentary lighting chapter and Appendix H.
How do lens/movement/design affect the look?	Lens, movement, and production design chapters.

Visual routing rule: If the solution is only "make the image darker," you are in the wrong section. Go back to exposure, lighting, and production design.

6. Scenario Routing

Scenario	Route
One-person actor reel, indoor	Indoor Cine EI card; muted-color rules; actor-reel lighting; focus near eye; record/review test.
Two-person dialogue/interview	Indoor or outdoor card; two-person aperture/depth; matching coverage; documentary or feature lighting depending style.
Exterior muted-cinematic dialogue	Outdoor card; Base ISO 800; Variable ND; face/highlight balance; exterior lighting strategy.
Documentary sit-down	Clean face; quick background control; truthful lighting; pre-shoot and 10-second test; field logging.
Documentary run-and-gun	Practical quick card; Auto ND only when necessary; protect face; verify WB/exposure/focus repeatedly.
Offload / import / proxy / archive	Full-card copy; no flat MXF dump; verify before format; use proxies if needed; preserve originals.

7. Post / Media Routing

Need	Route
Name reels/cards/clips	File naming and logging chapters; Appendix I.
Copy cards safely	Offload and backup chapter; Appendix J.
Handle large cards	Large Card / 400GB Footage Management chapter.
Import into Resolve or Premiere	Resolve/Premiere import and audio-channel workflow chapter; Appendix K.
Create proxies	Proxy, storage, and archive planning chapter.
Build final archive	Archive planning and deliverables/templates chapter.
Use logs/templates	Created deliverables and templates chapter.

8. Emergency Troubleshooting Routing

Problem	First move	Then go to...
Audio problem	Stop and use external FX6 Audio Field Setup Guide.	Historical audio background only if needed.
Flat monitor	Check LUT/MLUT state.	LUT/monitor chapters.
Baked look	Check double-LUT and Internal Rec MLUT.	LUT/monitor/settings-card chapters.
Dark/muddy image	Check waveform, Base ISO, ND, aperture, and lighting.	Exposure/EI and muted-color chapters.
Eyes/skin disappear	Expose and light face cleanly.	Actor/doc lighting and muted-color chapters.
Outdoor brightness problem	Use ND, not casual shutter change.	Outdoor Cine EI card.
WB shifts	Lock WB under actual key light.	White balance chapter.
Media confusion	Stop flattening; identify reel/card/project.	File naming/offload/import chapters.

9. Source Map

Topic	Handbook source area
Project purpose / doctrine	Chapters 1-2, pp. 2-18.
Audio background only	Chapters 3-9 and Appendices A-C; operational use deferred to external Audio Field Setup Guide.
Camera controls	Chapters 10-18, pp. 68-141.
LUT / monitor / settings card	Chapters 19-22, pp. 142-170.
Muted-color visual method	Chapter 23, pp. 171-188.
Actor reel lighting	Chapter 24 and Appendix F.
Feature scene lighting	Chapter 25 and Appendix G.
Documentary lighting	Chapter 26 and Appendix H.
Lens/movement/production design	Chapters 27-28, pp. 224-240.
Pre-shoot / shoot-day workflow	Chapters 29-30, pp. 241-258.
File/post workflow	Chapters 31-40, pp. 259-339 and Appendices I-K.
Ignored pages	Pages 381-384 excluded by project instruction.