Color grading help... at DVinfo.net

Stephen J. Williams · April 21st, 2009, 03:38 PM

So many of you pull it off so well. The colors I see from most of the videos on here are amazing. What's the secret? Or at least the direction? I've played around with the color corrector and RGB balance with FC Express, but haven't came anywhere close... Anyone have any suggestions to help me out with the program I have????

Steve

Dylan Tobias · April 21st, 2009, 05:32 PM

Video in general has a much more narrow range then film.

If you learn to light or take away light from all your video shots on location
through use of various lights (to add) or diffusions (to take away), then you will
be able to keep the whole range of all your video shots within a tighter area
with not much contrast from darkest to lightest area. This is the best output
to work with in a nle editor for what you are wanting to achieve.

This flat output as most call it is what you will want to have if
you wish to be able to tweak and saturate colors a lot without banding in a color correction tool in post.

If your original footage is not all shot within a small mid range then you wont
be able to do as much with it in a color correction tool as you would like,
and you will end up blowing out spots or having too dark spots.

Also some programs allow you to color correct in 32 bit vrs 8 bit, there is
a noticable difference, but also in rendering time.

A lot of people on here also use 35mm adaptors which if used with certain types of
short DOF lenses will turn the background into a more easy thing to colorize to look like a watercolor painting while keeping the subject in focus.

In the end it is not a simple thing to do especially outdoors in the sun or in a dark room. If you would post some links I may be able to advise you more specifically relating to a certain video you may be wondering about.

Best wishes.

Matt Barwick · April 21st, 2009, 05:52 PM

Hey Stephen,

Here's a link to a discussion from a loooong time ago (well, relatively) - might be good reading for you.

http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/wedding-e...olor-work.html

Matt.

Tripp Woelfel · April 21st, 2009, 07:50 PM

Dylan has it right. Good colors start with getting it right through the lens. After that, it arguably becomes even more of an art form.

When I hit the wall with color correction, I bought a book and read it. It was worth both the money and time spent. It helped me understand not only how to do it, but why. I'd recommend that as an approach.

Stephen J. Williams · April 22nd, 2009, 05:11 PM

Thanks guys for the tips...

Dylan, wow another thing to learn about. It just goes on and on...But I'm ready for a lesson, whatever makes me better... Thanks for the intro explanation.

Matt, Thanks for the link... I've bookmarked it since they made so many great suggestions and points.

Tripp, what was the name of the book, and where did you find it? Online I assume.

Steve

Tripp Woelfel · April 23rd, 2009, 07:24 AM

I knew you were going to ask that! My bad. "Color Correction for Digital Video" by Hullfish and Fowler. I got it from Amazon.

Stephen J. Williams · April 23rd, 2009, 01:29 PM

Thanks... just bought it and looking forward to reading it.

Tripp Woelfel · April 23rd, 2009, 09:31 PM

It's actually an interesting read as there are anecdotes from major players in the biz mixed it. Not quite a page turner, but it's both informative and a bit entertaining.

April 21st, 2009, 03:38 PM	#1
Stephen J. Williams Major Player Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Mays Landing, NJ Posts: 768	Color grading help... So many of you pull it off so well. The colors I see from most of the videos on here are amazing. What's the secret? Or at least the direction? I've played around with the color corrector and RGB balance with FC Express, but haven't came anywhere close... Anyone have any suggestions to help me out with the program I have???? Steve

April 21st, 2009, 05:52 PM	#3
Matt Barwick Regular Crew Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Kingscliff, Australia Posts: 196	Hey Stephen, Here's a link to a discussion from a loooong time ago (well, relatively) - might be good reading for you. http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/wedding-e...olor-work.html Matt. __________________ www.mattbarwickfilms.com / wedding videos gold coast / my stuff on Vimeo

April 21st, 2009, 05:32 PM	#2
Dylan Tobias Regular Crew Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Toronto Canada Posts: 71	Video in general has a much more narrow range then film. If you learn to light or take away light from all your video shots on location through use of various lights (to add) or diffusions (to take away), then you will be able to keep the whole range of all your video shots within a tighter area with not much contrast from darkest to lightest area. This is the best output to work with in a nle editor for what you are wanting to achieve. This flat output as most call it is what you will want to have if you wish to be able to tweak and saturate colors a lot without banding in a color correction tool in post. If your original footage is not all shot within a small mid range then you wont be able to do as much with it in a color correction tool as you would like, and you will end up blowing out spots or having too dark spots. Also some programs allow you to color correct in 32 bit vrs 8 bit, there is a noticable difference, but also in rendering time. A lot of people on here also use 35mm adaptors which if used with certain types of short DOF lenses will turn the background into a more easy thing to colorize to look like a watercolor painting while keeping the subject in focus. In the end it is not a simple thing to do especially outdoors in the sun or in a dark room. If you would post some links I may be able to advise you more specifically relating to a certain video you may be wondering about. Best wishes.

April 21st, 2009, 07:50 PM	#4
Tripp Woelfel Trustee Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: North Conway, NH Posts: 1,745	Dylan has it right. Good colors start with getting it right through the lens. After that, it arguably becomes even more of an art form. When I hit the wall with color correction, I bought a book and read it. It was worth both the money and time spent. It helped me understand not only how to do it, but why. I'd recommend that as an approach.

April 22nd, 2009, 05:11 PM	#5
Stephen J. Williams Major Player Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Mays Landing, NJ Posts: 768	Thanks guys for the tips... Dylan, wow another thing to learn about. It just goes on and on...But I'm ready for a lesson, whatever makes me better... Thanks for the intro explanation. Matt, Thanks for the link... I've bookmarked it since they made so many great suggestions and points. Tripp, what was the name of the book, and where did you find it? Online I assume. Steve

April 23rd, 2009, 07:24 AM	#6
Tripp Woelfel Trustee Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: North Conway, NH Posts: 1,745	I knew you were going to ask that! My bad. "Color Correction for Digital Video" by Hullfish and Fowler. I got it from Amazon.

April 23rd, 2009, 01:29 PM	#7
Stephen J. Williams Major Player Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Mays Landing, NJ Posts: 768	Thanks... just bought it and looking forward to reading it.

April 23rd, 2009, 09:31 PM	#8
Tripp Woelfel Trustee Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: North Conway, NH Posts: 1,745	It's actually an interesting read as there are anecdotes from major players in the biz mixed it. Not quite a page turner, but it's both informative and a bit entertaining.