Creating a hue: during shooting or in post? at DVinfo.net
DV Info Net

Go Back   DV Info Net > The Tools of DV and HD Production > Photon Management
Register FAQ Today's Posts Buyer's Guides

Photon Management
Shine an ever-loving light on you.

Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Old March 8th, 2009, 01:10 PM   #1
Major Player
 
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Montreal, Canada
Posts: 442
Creating a hue: during shooting or in post?

I'm planning a short film where the lighting starts out with a warm orange hue and saturated colours, and gradually progresses to a blueish hue with washed out colours. Should I just light the scene well and do the colour adjustments in post, or should I light the scene directly during the shoot?

I've done plenty of colour correction to know what can be achieved in post, but I've never done specialized lighting to that level before, so I'm unsure of the pros and cons.


J.
Jacques E. Bouchard is offline   Reply With Quote
Old March 8th, 2009, 07:32 PM   #2
Major Player
 
Join Date: Jul 2005
Posts: 580
In some ways it depends on whether you want it as a uniform look across the entire picture, or as an element.

If every object in the frame is to become washed out, fix it in post from a standard color balance.

If you want the characters to exist distinctly, but inside the changing look, use your background lighting to create the proper mood.
Bill Ward is offline   Reply With Quote
Old March 9th, 2009, 10:38 AM   #3
Major Player
 
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Montreal, Canada
Posts: 442
Thanks Bill, makes sense. I'll have to discuss this with both my lighting technician and the make-up girl, depending on which option I go with. I'll do tests during rehearsal.


J.
Jacques E. Bouchard is offline   Reply With Quote
Old March 9th, 2009, 05:06 PM   #4
Major Player
 
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Mystic Ct.
Posts: 477
My view is that you shoot a clean plate and adjust in post.
If you tint your scene and do not like the result you have less options than if you start with a clean image. YMMV

Bill
__________________
Cinematographers Bring Shadow To Light
Bill Hamell is offline   Reply With Quote
Old March 10th, 2009, 08:10 PM   #5
Major Player
 
Join Date: Jul 2005
Posts: 580
To be honest, the other Bill advises the way I normally shoot. As the head honcho from Sony HDCam told us in the orientation seminar, you can do a lot in the menu to change the look of the camera. However, many of those changes are nearly irreversible in post, if you end up not liking the look.

At the same time, he opined, there is hardly a look in the camera that you can't do as well or better in the controlled environment of the edit room. So his advice: find a nice, good looking middle of the road picture setting, use it, and play in post when necessary.

Hard to argue with that...although I do like playing with the lighting, I must admit.
Bill Ward is offline   Reply
Reply

DV Info Net refers all where-to-buy and where-to-rent questions exclusively to these trusted full line dealers and rental houses...

B&H Photo Video
(866) 521-7381
New York, NY USA

Scan Computers Int. Ltd.
+44 0871-472-4747
Bolton, Lancashire UK


DV Info Net also encourages you to support local businesses and buy from an authorized dealer in your neighborhood.
  You are here: DV Info Net > The Tools of DV and HD Production > Photon Management


 



All times are GMT -6. The time now is 10:35 AM.


DV Info Net -- Real Names, Real People, Real Info!
1998-2024 The Digital Video Information Network