Matching scene files in post (Vegas)

[GageFX]

There is a thread:

http://www.dvxuser.com/V6/showthread.php?t=41088

about various scene file settings. I like a few of the looks and would like to try them, but to be honest, at this stage in production (20% shot of a feature) I cant say how I will be finally feeling artistically. I have in my head what I want, but I want flexibility. I also feel that is the best way to approach it at this stage.

So I have shot everything mostly flat. That way, as I see it, I will have the most flexibility in post to give it the look I want. Is this a workable method or am I F-ing up?

My day job is a still photographer. Still digital shooters will shoot flatand with minimum settings because we would rather adjust levels and sharpnes in a much more powerful application (Photoshop) than let a cameras tiny processor and firmware do these important tweakings. Am I correct in also approaching video this way?

Those questions aside, can anyone explain how to get some of those looks from the thread? Of them, I specifically like Diet, Drama, and On Fire.

Thanks in advance for all your help.

-GageFX

[MovieSwede]

Well shot flat and you have best tweaking in post.

But its hard just to explain how to get these in post. But post some examples f your work and it will be more easy to give an ansver.

Normaly you could experiment with levels, color corector, curves, sharpnes and color balance.

[GageFX]

I'm mostly looking for info on where to go in Vegas, and what to mess with to get the different Detail, cine, chroma, master ped type tweaks.

ie.

"For Master Ped equiv. of -10, do.... blah,blah,blah.... in curves".

Not possible?

-GageFX

[glenn chan]

Pedestal can be done via Levels or Curves. The Curves method is more complicated.

Chroma = saturation in the 3-way CC.

Matrix settings would be PITA to do in Vegas. The Channel Blend filter could be use to emulate matrix settings.

Color curves is like the gamma curves. However, the gamma curves (and master ped. and gain) determine how much information you capture. -15 master pedestal might crush away shadow detail.

2- Doing things in camera can sometimes be a good idea.
No compression artifacts baked into the image.
Matrix operations may be done before gamma correction (well they should be before gamma correction; haven't tested this).
Sharpness settings are not quite available in Vegas, or are otherwise slow.

[AdvanTech]

Shooting flat is probably the best advice here!

[GageFX]

Fantastic advice. Thanks guys. Now I just need to learn Vegas. Anyone have 5 more hours in the day I can borrow?

-GageFX