ASC CDL file formats: .cc vs .ccc vs .cdl, with compact examples.

asc-cdl-file-formats.md

ASC CDL: .cc vs .ccc vs .cdl

All three formats store the same ASC CDL parameters:

• Slope
• Offset
• Power
• Saturation

For each RGB channel:

$$ y = (x \times \mathrm{Slope} + \mathrm{Offset})^{\mathrm{Power}} $$

Saturation is applied separately using the <SatNode> value.

Format	XML root	Example data	Multiple corrections	Typical use
.cc	<ColorCorrection>	SHOT_010	No	One correction per file
.ccc	<ColorCorrectionCollection>	SHOT_010, SHOT_020	Yes	Named correction collection
.cdl	<ColorDecisionList>	EVENT_001, EVENT_002	Yes	List of color decisions

.cc — one correction

<ColorCorrection id="SHOT_010" xmlns="urn:ASC:CDL:v1.2">
    <SOPNode>
        <Slope>1.05 1.00 0.95</Slope>
        <Offset>0.01 0.00 -0.01</Offset>
        <Power>1.00 1.00 1.00</Power>
    </SOPNode>
    <SatNode>
        <Saturation>1.10</Saturation>
    </SatNode>
</ColorCorrection>

SHOT_010.cc → one correction

.ccc — correction collection

<ColorCorrectionCollection xmlns="urn:ASC:CDL:v1.2">
    <ColorCorrection id="SHOT_010">
        <SOPNode>
            <Slope>1.05 1.00 0.95</Slope>
            <Offset>0.01 0.00 -0.01</Offset>
            <Power>1.00 1.00 1.00</Power>
        </SOPNode>
        <SatNode>
            <Saturation>1.10</Saturation>
        </SatNode>
    </ColorCorrection>

    <ColorCorrection id="SHOT_020">
        <SOPNode>
            <Slope>0.95 1.00 1.05</Slope>
            <Offset>-0.01 0.00 0.01</Offset>
            <Power>1.02 1.00 0.98</Power>
        </SOPNode>
        <SatNode>
            <Saturation>0.90</Saturation>
        </SatNode>
    </ColorCorrection>
</ColorCorrectionCollection>

SHOT_010 → correction A
SHOT_020 → correction B

.cdl — color decision list

<ColorDecisionList xmlns="urn:ASC:CDL:v1.2">
    <ColorDecision>
        <ColorCorrection id="EVENT_001">
            <SOPNode>
                <Description>SHOT_010 normal appearance</Description>
                <Slope>1.05 1.00 0.95</Slope>
                <Offset>0.01 0.00 -0.01</Offset>
                <Power>1.00 1.00 1.00</Power>
            </SOPNode>
            <SatNode>
                <Saturation>1.10</Saturation>
            </SatNode>
        </ColorCorrection>
    </ColorDecision>

    <ColorDecision>
        <ColorCorrection id="EVENT_002">
            <SOPNode>
                <Description>SHOT_020 flashback</Description>
                <Slope>0.90 0.95 1.05</Slope>
                <Offset>-0.02 -0.01 0.01</Offset>
                <Power>1.10 1.05 0.95</Power>
            </SOPNode>
            <SatNode>
                <Saturation>0.70</Saturation>
            </SatNode>
        </ColorCorrection>
    </ColorDecision>
</ColorDecisionList>

EVENT_001 → correction for SHOT_010
EVENT_002 → correction for SHOT_020

Summary

.cc  → one ColorCorrection
.ccc → multiple named ColorCorrections
.cdl → multiple ColorDecisions, each containing a ColorCorrection

Both .ccc and .cdl can contain grades for multiple shots.

Neither format alone stores full editorial information such as source timecode, record timecode, reel, track, or transitions.