Calling all colorists: Very specific look

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digifruitella

Active member
I'm going to post four videos that showcase almost exact color grade that I want to achieve.

I've tried emulating this, but I'm doing something wrong. I need a bit of help on what to push/tweak.

1. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qSer1dfWe40

2. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_bvKEVPW_UI

3. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tWDAtMPoBHA

4. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0LsDPRfDROk

If you notice, every single video, the skin tone is blue just like the rest.

Specifically, what is being processed here? I'd guess everything, highlights, midtones, and shadows. But how do you get that look as in the videos above
 
push your shadows towards blue, midtones towards green and highlights towards yellow, its kinda hard to explain, you just have to play with the sliders until you see the "look" you might also need to use secondaries, what cc program are you using?
 
also did you try shooting with white balance set on tungsten/halogen (if you're using dslr with such settings) especially if you're outdoors and/or using sunlight
 
I mean in conjunction with the above ...color grading etc. But I get pretty close to that look just by setting cam on "halogen" white balance in my GH1
 
It's actually a really simple effect to achieve. If you have after effects use hue/saturation and click colorize, then play with the settings. Otherwise have a play in premiere or final cut or whatever you are using and see if there is an option called colorize, perhaps as an option in one of the color corrector effects there. It basically makes everything one colour e.g blue.
 
I use Premiere, but I grade in Magic Bullet Looks. However, I've never used After Effects for grading.

using the tungsten white balance, is actually logical - and then just tweaking it in post. Or maybe playing with white balance in post and then grading.

aalleexx, thanks for specific technique. I'm going to try playing around with the sliders til I see that.

I'll try all the methods and post my results here.
 
It seems that desaturating would be a key element. You'd be surprised how little color there actually is in those examples. Shift toward blue, and you're def in the ball park.

Without seeing your footage, being more specific with my response would be futile.
 
I'm on campus at school now, but when I get back later today I'll post up a few screengrabs from one of my videos. A few different ones, in different lighting environments. Sound good?
 
This is a really simple look to achieve if you shoot for it in the right lighting conditions. Put up a grab and then people can have a go. Here's a couple of shots I graded that have a similar look to the videos you posted, not exactly the same but similar.
knight%20teaser%201%20small.jpg

knight%20teaser%202%20small.jpg

I did this in after effects with curves and hue + saturation. Anyway, put up a grab and we can have a go and help you come up with a method.

Max
 
Interesting that I couldnt open the CR2's as I use a 5D PS said RAW format was incompatible. Anyway I just used one of the jpg's.

So heres what I did.

Using the stills, I set them up in FCP as a few frames each. I then added a still from two of the movies you linked as a reference. As a point of note here, whilst these grades in the clips you used as examples seem similar - they are in fact very different. As I think these stills will show.

Then over to colour.


First images followed by what i did.

Original Reference Image
1283938512.jpg


JPG
1283935179.jpg


I started with a slight overall desaturation then enhanced that by individually using the highlight saturation and shadow saturation. The reference image I chose lacks contrast so I made minor adjustments here.

Then to secondaries where I simultaneously adjusted ( I use an MC Color) highlights and midtones levels and colors to match the scopes of the reference image, paying attention to Color ire's and color levels.

Second

Was very a little trickier as a lot of what makes the image of the movie I chose is heavily set in location, makeup and wardrobe and lighting. As opposed to the first ref. where the particular still I grabbed was a little more open (not saying it didnt have all the same elements, just the still I chose lent itself to it a bit more)

Reference
1283938548.jpg


One
1283935908.jpg


In primary I needed to individually adjust - saturation / highlight saturation / shadow saturation as well as reducing the master gain and gamma.

In secondary I used the same process as for one.

Whilst applying an overall saturation reduction on say FCP 3 way CC, will give a similar look the accuracy to get closer just isnt there. I could have taken this even further by applying the saturation adjustments to individual colors I just dont have the time for perfection right now.

This process is far from perfect insofar as I have matched everything based on stills to stills that have none of the intended production design for the final images in place. And you may say the skys dont match (go back to my point on selected colours for enhancement). These cant be exact as I have only scratched the surface in a short time frame. But the overall feel is similar. Just wish the guy in the jpg had white makeup on and a soft key to even his face.

Grade undertaken on Mac Pro using Colour with DTV CRT Monitor via HD SDI and to Panasonic Pro Plasma PF12 also using HD SDI.
 
swintimo said:
This is a really simple look to achieve if you shoot for it in the right lighting conditions. Put up a grab and then people can have a go. Here's a couple of shots I graded that have a similar look to the videos you posted, not exactly the same but similar.
knight%20teaser%201%20small.jpg

knight%20teaser%202%20small.jpg

I did this in after effects with curves and hue + saturation. Anyway, put up a grab and we can have a go and help you come up with a method.

Max
Click to expand...


I really like this grading of the knight and the overall feel of the image.
are you max swinton of Mr Fox?...that is such an amazing piece!

I know this is slightly off topic and i apologise Noel.
 
These videos are definitely toward the blue and desaturated. Try going that way-if your original
footage was shot balanced for the light you were using.
 
pveal said:
I really like this grading of the knight and the overall feel of the image.
are you max swinton of Mr Fox?...that is such an amazing piece!

I know this is slightly off topic and i apologise Noel.
Click to expand...

Thanks pveal, yes I did mr fox, glad you like it.

Max
 
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