Color correcting a multiclip at DVinfo.net

Dale Baglo · June 6th, 2006, 02:28 PM

Hi. I've done a three camera shoot and want to tweak the color on two of the angles to make them match the third camera better. What's the best workflow method for doing this?

Emre Safak · June 6th, 2006, 03:37 PM

Usually it is enough to get the Levels to match, so what I do is to open up a reference clip, and fiddle with the three-way color corrector (or whatever it is called in your editing application) until the highlights, midtones, and shadows match. If you are fussy you could then target individual colors for correction with the secondary color corrector. I assume the exposures are matched so you do not have to compensate for differences in brightness.

Dale Baglo · June 6th, 2006, 03:47 PM

Yes, but I'm wondering what to do first. Do I make a multiclip, edit the whole thing, then go back and search for the angles I need to fix... or do I fix the angle prior to making it into a multiclip. It's the workflow that I'm not sure about.

Mike Phan · June 6th, 2006, 04:06 PM

Dale what are you using in post? FCP, Avid, Premiere? Well i cut in FCP and there's a nice feature where you can just copy the color profile from one clip to another. If it doesn't match perfectly it would at least give you a starting point and then tweak it from there. Good luck!

Dale Baglo · June 6th, 2006, 04:10 PM

I'm in Final Cut Pro 5. Just got it a couple of weeks ago. I could crack open the 1800 pages of manual, but I thought you guys could maybe point me in the right direction faster. Or tell me what pages to read!

Mike Hanlon · June 6th, 2006, 04:16 PM

You might want to go read the article posted yesterday on Ken Stone's website about FCP's multicam editing. There is a tip about color correcting that suggests doing the correction on the clip(s) while they are still in the bin (before editing).

I didn't know about that feature, but plan on using it on my next project.

Mike.

June 6th, 2006, 02:28 PM	#1
Dale Baglo Regular Crew Join Date: May 2006 Location: Victoria, BC Posts: 64	Color correcting a multiclip Hi. I've done a three camera shoot and want to tweak the color on two of the angles to make them match the third camera better. What's the best workflow method for doing this?

June 6th, 2006, 04:06 PM	#4
Mike Phan Regular Crew Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Elk Grove, CA Posts: 93	Dale what are you using in post? FCP, Avid, Premiere? Well i cut in FCP and there's a nice feature where you can just copy the color profile from one clip to another. If it doesn't match perfectly it would at least give you a starting point and then tweak it from there. Good luck! __________________ PowerMac G5 Dual 2.5 2.5GB RAM/500GB/9800 256 Radeon/DeckLink Pro FCP HD/AE 6.5/DVD Studio Pro/Motion Canon XL2/Glidecam 4000/SteadyStick Sony PVM-1350 Monitor

June 6th, 2006, 04:16 PM	#6
Mike Hanlon Regular Crew Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: San Jose, CA Posts: 180	You might want to go read the article posted yesterday on Ken Stone's website about FCP's multicam editing. There is a tip about color correcting that suggests doing the correction on the clip(s) while they are still in the bin (before editing). I didn't know about that feature, but plan on using it on my next project. Mike. __________________ VM Productions

June 6th, 2006, 03:37 PM	#2
Emre Safak Trustee Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Brookline, MA Posts: 1,447	Usually it is enough to get the Levels to match, so what I do is to open up a reference clip, and fiddle with the three-way color corrector (or whatever it is called in your editing application) until the highlights, midtones, and shadows match. If you are fussy you could then target individual colors for correction with the secondary color corrector. I assume the exposures are matched so you do not have to compensate for differences in brightness.

June 6th, 2006, 03:47 PM	#3
Dale Baglo Regular Crew Join Date: May 2006 Location: Victoria, BC Posts: 64	Yes, but I'm wondering what to do first. Do I make a multiclip, edit the whole thing, then go back and search for the angles I need to fix... or do I fix the angle prior to making it into a multiclip. It's the workflow that I'm not sure about.

June 6th, 2006, 04:10 PM	#5
Dale Baglo Regular Crew Join Date: May 2006 Location: Victoria, BC Posts: 64	I'm in Final Cut Pro 5. Just got it a couple of weeks ago. I could crack open the 1800 pages of manual, but I thought you guys could maybe point me in the right direction faster. Or tell me what pages to read!