This guide explains the color space differences between local rendering and Helio cloud rendering, specifically addressing why your renders may appear brighter when rendered on our farm, and how to maintain consistent colors between your workstation and our servers.
Why Renders Results Appear Brighter on Helio
The Core Issue
Local Workstation (3ds Max 2025/2026):
Defaults to ACES (Academy Color Encoding System) workflowNew industry-standard color space
Provides wider gamut and better color consistency
Helio Render:
Uses traditional Gamma workflow (2.2)Legacy standard used in most production pipelines
Matches behavior of older 3ds Max versions
This mismatch causes renders to appear brighter and less saturated when processed on Helio versus your local workstation.
How to Fix Color Consistency
Switch 3ds Max to Gamma Workflow (Recommended)
Open 3ds Max Preferences (Customize → Preferences)
Navigate to the Color Management tab
Set Mode: to Gamma Workflow
Set Display Gamma: to 2.2
Click OK and restart 3ds Max
This ensures your local renders match Helio's output exactly.
Best Practices
Before Starting Projects:
Check 3Ds Max's colour management (Gamma workflow) upfront
Communicate with your team about color pipeline
When Submitting to Helio:
Ensure Gamma Workflow is set in 3Ds Max color management
Test render single frame to verify colors
For Final Delivery:
Apply consistent color transforms in post-production
Use color-managed viewers (Nuke, Photoshop in color-managed mode)
Expanded Solution: EXR Workflow for Color Accuracy
While switching to Gamma workflow solves immediate brightness issues, professionals requiring ACES color benefits should consider this advanced approach:
The EXR Solution for ACES Workflows
For users who must maintain ACES but want consistent results from Helio:
Render to EXR Format:
Set output to 32-bit EXR in Render Setup
Disable all in-render color corrections
Preserve raw linear data without gamma adjustment
Post-Render Color Transformation:
Download EXRs from Helio
Apply ACES transform in:
Nuke/Flame: Use OCIO nodes
Photoshop: With ACES plugin
After Effects: Using ACES configs
Final Output Conversion:
Only convert to JPG/PNG after ACES transformation
Maintain master EXR files for future adjustments
Why This Works
EXR preserves full color data without baked-in gamma
Lets you apply color transforms non-destructively
Maintains ACES benefits while accommodating Helio's Gamma pipeline
Future-proofs your assets for different output requirements
Workflow Comparison
Method | Color Accuracy | Flexibility | Complexity | Best For |
Gamma Workflow | Good | Low | Simple | Quick projects |
EXR+Post-Process | Excellent | High | Moderate | Critical color work |
JPG/PNG Direct | Problematic | None | Simple | Avoid for ACES |
Troubleshooting
❗ My colors still don't match:
Verify all scene textures use consistent color space
Check render elements use same workflow as beauty pass
Disable any LUTs during test comparisons
Why We Use Gamma by Default
Compatibility with majority of client pipelines
Matches behavior of older 3ds Max versions
Reduces confusion for most architectural/viz workflows
Provides predictable results for standard delivery formats
Technical Notes
Helio fully supports multi-channel EXR outputs
EXR files will be slightly larger but preserve all color data
Consider using EXR with ZIP compression for smaller files
This enhanced workflow gives you the best of both worlds - Helio's rendering power with proper ACES color management in post. For help configuring this pipeline, contact our technical support team.
By aligning your color workflow between local and cloud rendering, you'll achieve perfect color consistency. For further assistance, contact our technical support team through the Helio Client interface.
Happy (color-accurate) rendering! 🎨