Custom preset for vivid colors and low light perfo

Allan Black · November 23rd, 2009, 03:03 AM

White balance is white balance, it's the cameras, your NLEs and your basic reference. It has nothing to do with color presets.

The hardest white balancing is with mixed lighting, and you've got to get that reference or, if you have limited experience, you're likely to spend days in post.

The best tool I have for instant WB is the Expodisc, fast and accurate. Cheers.

Mark Shea · November 23rd, 2009, 04:45 AM

I tried color correcting a previous video in which I used the 'factory' preset
Here is the original video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0X5So1nzY2g

and here is the color corrected version ( boosted whites a little, mids a little more, lowered blacks and raised saturation)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Y0XBbksNHs

Mark Shea · November 23rd, 2009, 04:56 AM

"The hardest white balancing is with mixed lighting, and you've got to get that reference or, if you have limited experience, you're likely to spend days in post."

Inside I whitebalanced in front of talent which gave nice skin tones under fluoro. But infortunately light coming through windows came out with a green tinge. May be an idea to remove pink filter over fluoro. Any suggestions how to get good whitebalance in mixed light ie fluro and natural light

Mark Shea · November 23rd, 2009, 05:07 AM

hi brian
liking trucolor outside with auto wb, richer colors than factory preset. doesnt seem to be a problem with consistency

Alex DeJesus · November 23rd, 2009, 02:04 PM

Nic MacDonald referenced an article by pciccone on the merits of using the "TrueColor" preset. I would like to get a neutral look from the camera while not sacrificing color info in post. But, do you really use TrueColor for everything - indoors and out?

Of the thirty or so presets I found on this forum, I would like to narrow down to 2 or 3 for most of my jobs. I do weddings, music/dance performances, interviews, etc. indoors and out. I don't like the flat look of the video presets out of the box and I don't like to do much in post either.

Nic MacDonald · November 26th, 2009, 06:13 AM

You want to "get a neutral look from the camera while not sacrificing color info in post" but you "don't like to do much in post"? If you don't want to do much in post then what are you saving the info for? Just use whatever presets you think are most aesthetically appropriate for your purposes and bake the look in. You can still tweak it later.

Mark Walley · December 21st, 2009, 01:45 PM

Here are some more examples of the PRIMEEIGHT preset which I use as a "go-to" for almost all the projects I have been working on recently. It works well as a neutral preset and has a very filmic quality.

If anyone is interested in using it...

PRIMEEIGHT

GAM 2
KNE L
BLK M
PED -9
SET -9
SHP 4
HDF M
CMX 2
CGN -4
RGN 8
GGN 11
BGN 12

everything else is set to 0.

Enjoy! Hope it's useful.

Dave Nuttall · December 28th, 2009, 03:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Allan Black

White balance is white balance, it's the cameras, your NLEs and your basic reference. It has nothing to do with color presets.

The hardest white balancing is with mixed lighting, and you've got to get that reference or, if you have limited experience, you're likely to spend days in post.

The best tool I have for instant WB is the Expodisc, fast and accurate.

I can attest to Allan's endorsement of Expodisc. Best $100 I've spent in a LONG time.

Matthew Nothelfer · January 5th, 2010, 02:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mark Shea

*Giovanni Speranza of Vision preset fame. vivid filmlike images

That footage looks like it's shot with a 35mm acromat adapter given the short depth of field. Also, it's exceptionally well lit stuff. You can't tweak the settings of the camera to magically make pretty pictures. It will only help if you know how to lens stuff properly to begin with.

My 2 cents.

Everyone seems to go on and on about the paintbrush (the tool such as a XH A1), but never considers that knowing how to paint (skill + talent) is the real reason great images happen.

Methinks Giovanni could shoot with a Flip video camcorder and make superior images than many of us.

November 23rd, 2009, 03:03 AM	#16
Allan Black Inner Circle Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Sydney. Posts: 2,887	White balance is white balance, it's the cameras, your NLEs and your basic reference. It has nothing to do with color presets. The hardest white balancing is with mixed lighting, and you've got to get that reference or, if you have limited experience, you're likely to spend days in post. The best tool I have for instant WB is the Expodisc, fast and accurate. Cheers. __________________ Drink more tap water. On admission at Sydney hospitals more than 5% of day patients are de-hydrated.

November 23rd, 2009, 04:45 AM	#17
Mark Shea Regular Crew Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: no fixed address Posts: 119	I tried color correcting a previous video in which I used the 'factory' preset Here is the original video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0X5So1nzY2g and here is the color corrected version ( boosted whites a little, mids a little more, lowered blacks and raised saturation) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Y0XBbksNHs Last edited by Mark Shea; November 23rd, 2009 at 04:49 AM. Reason: mistake

November 23rd, 2009, 02:04 PM	#20
Alex DeJesus Regular Crew Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Henderson, NV Posts: 177	"TrueColor" for Everything? Nic MacDonald referenced an article by pciccone on the merits of using the "TrueColor" preset. I would like to get a neutral look from the camera while not sacrificing color info in post. But, do you really use TrueColor for everything - indoors and out? Of the thirty or so presets I found on this forum, I would like to narrow down to 2 or 3 for most of my jobs. I do weddings, music/dance performances, interviews, etc. indoors and out. I don't like the flat look of the video presets out of the box and I don't like to do much in post either.

December 21st, 2009, 01:45 PM	#22
Mark Walley Tourist Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: San Antonio, TX Posts: 1	PRIMEEIGHT preset Here are some more examples of the PRIMEEIGHT preset which I use as a "go-to" for almost all the projects I have been working on recently. It works well as a neutral preset and has a very filmic quality. Jerry Heggleman: The Enigmatic Eye on Vimeo Gary Sweeney: Maybe If Your Metaphors Weren't So Obvious on Vimeo If anyone is interested in using it... PRIMEEIGHT GAM 2 KNE L BLK M PED -9 SET -9 SHP 4 HDF M CMX 2 CGN -4 RGN 8 GGN 11 BGN 12 everything else is set to 0. Enjoy! Hope it's useful.

November 23rd, 2009, 04:56 AM	#18
Mark Shea Regular Crew Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: no fixed address Posts: 119	"The hardest white balancing is with mixed lighting, and you've got to get that reference or, if you have limited experience, you're likely to spend days in post." Inside I whitebalanced in front of talent which gave nice skin tones under fluoro. But infortunately light coming through windows came out with a green tinge. May be an idea to remove pink filter over fluoro. Any suggestions how to get good whitebalance in mixed light ie fluro and natural light

November 23rd, 2009, 05:07 AM	#19
Mark Shea Regular Crew Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: no fixed address Posts: 119	hi brian liking trucolor outside with auto wb, richer colors than factory preset. doesnt seem to be a problem with consistency

November 26th, 2009, 06:13 AM	#21
Nic MacDonald New Boot Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Essex, England Posts: 22	You want to "get a neutral look from the camera while not sacrificing color info in post" but you "don't like to do much in post"? If you don't want to do much in post then what are you saving the info for? Just use whatever presets you think are most aesthetically appropriate for your purposes and bake the look in. You can still tweak it later.