Color Grade Before or After? at DVinfo.net

Benjamin Richardson · December 8th, 2009, 08:24 AM

We have some shots that we want pretty heavily color graded. We are compositing in some lighting and storm clouds in the background, and I was wonndering if we should color grade before or after the effects are composited into the shots?

Any and all thoughts welcome,

-Ben

Jim Snow · December 8th, 2009, 11:40 AM

What video format are you editing? Are you using an intermediate codec such as Cineform? An intermediate codec makes multi pass encoding possible without "hurting" the video. If you are editing in HDV (mpeg) you are more limited because mpeg doesn't hold up well if you want to multi pass encode.

Benjamin Richardson · December 8th, 2009, 12:19 PM

Hey Jim,

Thank you for responding. We are editing in DVCPRO HD 720P 24. We are currently using Final Cut 5 - so we do not have ProRes. We are very close to purchasing Final Cut Studio 3 though - mostly for ProRes. I've suggested working in uncompressed for the time being. This is only a 30 Second piece so going uncompressed won't be too much of a hassle.

So should we color grade before applying the effects or after, or doesn't it matter?

My current opinion is to apply the color grading after.

-Ben

Jim Snow · December 8th, 2009, 12:43 PM

ProRes is definitely a worthwhile investment. It gives you so many more work flow options when you edit without concern about "hurting" your video with multi pass editing. For a short clip, uncompressed shouldn't be too unwieldy.

Personally, I like to do all of the "fixes" and other FX's to the video first and then color grade. I like the feeling of starting from a know starting point when I color grade. Otherwise, correcting and grading become a little ambiguous.

Andy Tejral · December 8th, 2009, 12:58 PM

I know next to nothing about compositing but from a technical standpoint I would suggest creating your key signal from an untouched source and then doing whatever processing later.

Benjamin Richardson · December 8th, 2009, 01:06 PM

Excellent, thank you for your advice!

-Ben

Mike Calla · December 10th, 2009, 02:59 AM

Colour correcting is definitely a last step. It's what brings a uniformity/consistency to the project...especially to a comp!

Gregory Gesch · December 10th, 2009, 05:34 PM

Hi, certainly colour grading is a final step, though if I am compositing I do a colour correction of the elements I'm compositing to make sure they conform to the general tone of the background/plate.

December 8th, 2009, 08:24 AM	#1
Benjamin Richardson Regular Crew Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Syracuse, NY Posts: 143	Color Grade Before or After? We have some shots that we want pretty heavily color graded. We are compositing in some lighting and storm clouds in the background, and I was wonndering if we should color grade before or after the effects are composited into the shots? Any and all thoughts welcome, -Ben

December 8th, 2009, 12:58 PM	#5
Andy Tejral Major Player Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: New York City Posts: 523	I know next to nothing about compositing but from a technical standpoint I would suggest creating your key signal from an untouched source and then doing whatever processing later. __________________ Andy Tejral Railroad Videographer

December 10th, 2009, 02:59 AM	#7
Mike Calla Major Player Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Shanghai Posts: 344	Colour correcting is definitely a last step. It's what brings a uniformity/consistency to the project...especially to a comp! __________________ boxoutsidemedia.com

December 8th, 2009, 11:40 AM	#2
Jim Snow Trustee Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Santa Clara, CA Posts: 1,104	What video format are you editing? Are you using an intermediate codec such as Cineform? An intermediate codec makes multi pass encoding possible without "hurting" the video. If you are editing in HDV (mpeg) you are more limited because mpeg doesn't hold up well if you want to multi pass encode.

December 8th, 2009, 12:19 PM	#3
Benjamin Richardson Regular Crew Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Syracuse, NY Posts: 143	Hey Jim, Thank you for responding. We are editing in DVCPRO HD 720P 24. We are currently using Final Cut 5 - so we do not have ProRes. We are very close to purchasing Final Cut Studio 3 though - mostly for ProRes. I've suggested working in uncompressed for the time being. This is only a 30 Second piece so going uncompressed won't be too much of a hassle. So should we color grade before applying the effects or after, or doesn't it matter? My current opinion is to apply the color grading after. -Ben

December 8th, 2009, 12:43 PM	#4
Jim Snow Trustee Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Santa Clara, CA Posts: 1,104	ProRes is definitely a worthwhile investment. It gives you so many more work flow options when you edit without concern about "hurting" your video with multi pass editing. For a short clip, uncompressed shouldn't be too unwieldy. Personally, I like to do all of the "fixes" and other FX's to the video first and then color grade. I like the feeling of starting from a know starting point when I color grade. Otherwise, correcting and grading become a little ambiguous.

December 8th, 2009, 01:06 PM	#6
Benjamin Richardson Regular Crew Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Syracuse, NY Posts: 143	Excellent, thank you for your advice! -Ben

December 10th, 2009, 05:34 PM	#8
Gregory Gesch Regular Crew Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Brisbane Australia Posts: 114	Hi, certainly colour grading is a final step, though if I am compositing I do a colour correction of the elements I'm compositing to make sure they conform to the general tone of the background/plate.