nofilmschool » colorgrading

Knowing Your Scopes: When to Trust Your Eye and the Most Useful Scopes of All

Dave Kendricken — Sat, 11 May 2013 22:48:40 +0000

Depending on the acquisition system, waveform monitors and vectorscopes can guide quality control of your imagery from shooting all the way down the pipeline to grading, mastering, and compression for delivery. Scopes can seem a little intimidating and esoteric to the new user, but getting the basics down can really help in owning your image. Recently, Alexis Van Hurkman over at ProVideo Coalition has answered some key questions about scopes: find out which ones he considers the most indispensable below, plus when it may be a good idea to trust your own pair of eyes in making adjustments — even when your scopes are reading ‘A-Okay.’ (more…)

Building Color Models and Exploring Color Spaces in Three Dimensions with Blender

Dave Kendricken — Sat, 30 Mar 2013 00:13:22 +0000

Color spaces and color models can be difficult to wrap your head around completely. There are additive and subtractive spaces, like RGB vs. CMYK, and different format/display technologies, like analog’s YUV vs. digital’s YCbCr — all of which you may have to traverse to achieve the final ‘look’ you want for your imagery. Not to mention that many color spaces are not absolute, meaning they don’t profile device-specific color representation. This can certainly induce a bit of a headache for newcomers to the color science realm. A great post by photographer Mark Meyer, featured recently on PetaPixel, explains how you can quite literally better-orient yourself to color spaces and models by, well, modeling them — in 3D open suite Blender, no less. (more…)

Grab Some 4K Canon 1D C DSLR Sample Footage, and Check Out a Possible FCPX Workflow

Dave Kendricken — Mon, 21 Jan 2013 07:22:44 +0000

Canon’s 4K video capable DSLR, the EOS-1D C, has marked an upset for the DSLR industry — and in more ways than one. Many feel that the addition of Motion-JPEG alone is not worth the camera’s $12K price point. This is particularly the case when weighing in controversial speculation that internally it’s mostly identical to its $7K 1080p sibling, the 1D X — and the fact that Canon is likely anticipating with gritted teeth the possibility of firmware hacks 4K-ifying the 1D X. That said, it could be a near-perfect blend of features depending on your application. If this is the case for you, but you want the chance to check out or grade some full-res video footage before pulling the trigger, you’re in luck — planet5D has just posted some downloadable 1D C 4K footage for your viewing consideration (assuming of course your machine can handle it). (more…)

Blackmagic Adds Retina Macbook Pro Support in DaVinci Resolve 9.1 Update

Joe Marine — Sun, 20 Jan 2013 05:09:08 +0000

Blackmagic’s DaVinci Resolve 9 has seen a number of updates since its release over the summer, and even though many have been waiting for the full version that comes with their Blackmagic Cinema Camera, the free version, DaVinci Resolve Lite, is almost exactly the same , with just a few limitations in terms of nodes and resolutions. We’ve featured a few tutorials on the software so far, so if you’re unfamiliar with it, be sure to check them out. Click through for all of the additions in the new Resolve version 9.1. (more…)

Want an Interactive Master Class with Legendary Spielberg Color Timer? There's an App for That

Dave Kendricken — Thu, 17 Jan 2013 11:41:14 +0000

Is it possible we’re losing something through the non-destructive way in which we decide the final look of our shots? The answer, quaintly enough, is absolutely yes — but what, exactly? Simplicity. True finesse in color timing is something Dale Grahn (Saving Private Ryan, Gladiator, Munich, Apocalypse Now: Redux) knows a lot about, and in a true chemical timing sense — which says a lot about the power of bold and minimal control over imagery. Lucky for any of us looking to learn from the experience, Mr. Grahn is asking you to match his own color grades by way of a new iPad app — and in the process interact with the very essentials of color grading. (more…)

Getting Started with Color Correction: Using Waveforms and Scopes with Colorist Steve Hullfish

Dave Kendricken — Sun, 23 Dec 2012 18:02:21 +0000

The colorist’s job has gotten a whole lot easier since chemical baths stepped out of the picture in many cases. Non-destructive color timing is the future in which we now live — that said, the principles at work in creating properly balanced imagery is as important as ever. Each camera we may be shooting on has its own unique implications in chromatic reproduction, and the ability to delicately correct a given color mixture (regardless of its source) is key. Ironically, or not, tools such as waveform monitors and vectorscopes — staples of the bygone analog video world — are as relevant today as ever in filmmaking, if not more so. A recent presentation by noted color correction author Steve Hullfish demonstrates precisely this point, as well as the basics in using your scopes to full advantage. (more…)

Beginner's Guide to DaVinci Resolve 9 and Blackmagic Cinema Camera RAW CinemaDNGs

Joe Marine — Mon, 01 Oct 2012 23:26:23 +0000

With the Blackmagic Cinema Camera just on the horizon (sooner rather than later, hopefully), one of the big hurdles for many people is trying to understand the new RAW workflow with Cinema DNG files. Since the camera includes Blackmagic’s color grading suite, DaVinci Resolve 9, the RAW files can be brought into that program and then converted into something with a more manageable bitrate and color space for editing purposes. Colorist Dan Moran over at Philip Bloom’s blog takes a look at DaVinci, and gives a nice and simple tutorial to get you started working with and color grading RAW files. (more…)

A Color Grading Case Study of the New Music Video from Hip-Hop Artist Killer Mike

Tristan Kneschke — Mon, 10 Sep 2012 13:30:40 +0000

Even with the growing prominence of cheaper color correction systems, the craft of color grading is still mysterious to many, including those who work in post-production. I’m often asked how I approach specific projects or how I achieve particular looks so I thought it would be helpful to illustrate some of my methodologies with a music video for the rap artist Killer Mike. Beyond nerding out on Resolve, I hope the reader will start to see that there is a lot that happens outside of the software. (more…)

A Complete Guide to Setting Up a Home Color Grading Suite

Guest Author — Wed, 05 Sep 2012 16:08:40 +0000

This is a guest post by Cinematographer Ryan E. Walters.

As Moore’s Law continues to make technology more accessible to the masses, it is time to start exploring what it takes to build your own grading suite at home or in your office. Before reading the rest of this post, I recommend that you check out How To Get The Most Out Of CS6, DaVinci, & Your Mac Pro, as this article continues to build on what I’ve outlined. So let’s get started shall we? (more…)

Blackmagic DaVinci Resolve 9 Beta Now Available to Download (For Free)

Joe Marine — Wed, 01 Aug 2012 22:56:14 +0000

While the Blackmagic Cinema Camera is a great value for the hardware contained within, there is another huge benefit to buying the camera: it comes free with Blackmagic’s powerful color correction/grading program DaVinci Resolve. While the newest version, DaVinci Resolve 9, was set to be released in July, it has been slightly delayed (along with the camera). Blackmagic has, however, released a beta version of the program which is free to download from their site. Alexis Van Hurkman, a writer/director/colorist who we’ve covered here in the past with his post-NAB Resolve 9 demo, takes a look at some of his favorite features that are new to version 9. (more…)

Everything You Need to Know to Get Started in Color Correction and DaVinci Resolve 9

Joe Marine — Thu, 12 Jul 2012 14:52:21 +0000

If you’ve been reading this site for the past few months, you know we’ve talked a tremendous amount about a little company called Blackmagic Design who happens to make a little camera called the Cinema Camera. There’s no question the specs are interesting, (and preorders are flying out the door) because there has never been a camera at the $3,000 price point that could give ProRes, DNxHD, and RAW all in one camera body. Not only that, but it happens to come free (that’s right, free) with a color correction/color grading program that used to cost about what you’d pay for a new car until Blackmagic took over the development. That program is called DaVinci Resolve 9, and if you’re curious about what the big deal is, and you’d like to get started with it before you get your Blackmagic Cinema Camera, check out the videos below. (more…)

20-minute Color Grading Tutorial for Premiere Pro CS 5.5 with Lots of Useful Tips

Justin Minich — Sun, 22 Apr 2012 16:03:39 +0000

While Adobe CS6 is coming down the pike, maybe you’re like me and are still getting to know CS 5.5, or maybe you’ve been using CS 5.5 for awhile and want to brush up on your editing workflow. In either case, you should check out this Premiere Pro CS 5.5 tutorial by Jarle Leirpoll. He goes over all sorts of useful primary and secondary color correction techniques, including methods for fixing moire, blown-out highlights, iris adjustments, and more. Check out the tutorial video below:

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DaVinci Resolve Now Available on Windows Thanks to Free Public Beta

Ryan Koo — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 14:14:22 +0000

Just because the popular color correction software DaVinci Resolve uses a Mac monitor for its press image (at left) doesn’t mean it’s Mac only — any more. Resolve, which has a free version known fittingly as Resolve Lite, now comes in a Windows version for the first time thanks a newly-released Public Beta. If you have already purchased Resolve for Mac, the Windows version comes included, so you now have a Windows license too. (more…)

New Version of DaVinci Resolve Lite Removes Key Restrictions, Plus Here's Some Free Training

Ryan Koo — Sun, 20 Nov 2011 19:46:17 +0000

In July DaVinci released a free version of their $1k color correction software, Resolve (also available with a $30k control panel). Now they’ve upgraded Resolve Lite, as the free version is known, to version 8.1, also removing the two node restriction and allowing for unlimited color correction nodes (nodes are similar to layers in After Effects, though they’re generally more flexible). There are a number of other updates as well (see the press release below), but to go along with the new release, there’s also a 15-minute video tutorial from Dan Kanes, who also did a recent free REDCINE-X Pro tutorial: (more…)

How to Use RED's Free Color Grading Application, REDCINE-X Pro

Ryan Koo — Mon, 14 Nov 2011 16:31:05 +0000

RED has been cranking out new beta versions of their ingest/grading software REDCINE-X PRO seemingly every week or so, and you can bet it will find a lot of new users thanks to the impending release of their SCARLET-X camera (which is supposed to start shipping this Thursday). REDCINE-X PRO is free — though you need a very expensive piece of hardware to use it — so here is a great tutorial from Dan Kanes, which demonstrates the flexibility of the RAW workflow: (more…)

The Foundry Axes Storm Post-production Software Because of REDCINE-X PRO

Ryan Koo — Thu, 08 Sep 2011 15:02:19 +0000

In a hypothetical future wherein I start shooting on a RED camera, one of the first things I was planning on doing was getting The Foundry’s Storm post-production (and on-set) software. The RED folks really seemed to love it, as they were quoted on the Storm product page, and at this year’s NAB I was impressed by The Foundry’s numerous demos (some of which took place in RED’s tent). But then RED released REDCINE-X PRO this week — their own version of Storm, in a lot of ways — and now The Foundry has officially killed Storm, at a nascent version 1.04. While Storm was priced very affordably, putting it well within the range of indie filmmakers — $375 — REDCINE-X is free, and you can’t beat that. Via fxguide, here’s the official word: (more…)

Curious About High-End DaVinci Resolve Color Correction? Free Live Webinar September 8th

Ryan Koo — Mon, 05 Sep 2011 13:57:04 +0000

Ever since DaVinci released a free version of their $29,995 high-end Resolve color grading suite — and, more importantly, premiered a $995 software-only version — the color grading application has seen a drastic increase in accessibility. If you’re interested in learning how to use the program, which conveniently comes at a time when Apple has discontinued Color (which was itself the $25k program FinalTouch before Apple bought and then axed it), there’s a free 90-minute live webinar this Thursday September 8, 2011 at 10AM PDT (1PM EDT). Here’s a preview: (more…)

DaVinci Resolve Lite is the Free Version of a $29,995 Color Grading Suite

Ryan Koo — Tue, 26 Jul 2011 14:53:20 +0000

Blackmagic Design’s DaVinci Resolve is a high-end color correction suite replete with an elaborate control surface designed for professional colorists. It costs $30,000. There’s also a $1,000 software-only version that runs on Mac and Linux. And now there’s a free Mac version that retains many of the key features of its paid brethren. Here’s a demo of the color correction and impressive tracking features of Resolve in action: (more…)

Free 15-part Training on Color Grading in Final Cut Pro X

Ryan Koo — Mon, 25 Jul 2011 19:00:47 +0000

Denver Riddle from Color Grading Central has released a free 15-part tutorial on color correction in Final Cut Pro X. Apple’s controversial NLE reboot introduces a number of new features and interface elements, chief of which is the Color Board, seen in the following tutorial. Hit the full link below for all 15 parts, which in addition to streaming for free are available as downloads for $49. (more…)