Color Grading - Flat image?

[David Evans]

Hi!

Mine is a simple question. When we do some color correction such as teal and Orange, is it ok to use footage that we shot under some kind of preset in the camera? I'm talking about "normal" presets that don't mess with the colors, just enhance them (like Panavision). Or is it better to use factory settings? Or is it the same?

Thanks

 

[PerroneFord]

It is important that the camera record as much luma and chroma information as possible. This means no clipping of highlights, no crushing of blacks, and no clipping of any color channel. Beyond that, it doesn't really matter.

 

[David Evans]

Thanks Perrone. What you say makes perfect sense. The purpose is to get as much information in the picture as possible, so that the digital CC is efective. Cause there's not much to CC on black and white pixels. I'm using a Canon XH A1 on Panavision preset. Do you know this preset? I don't think it crushes blacks in any way, but if it does what is the parameter I should be looking for? How do you know if a color channel is clipping?

Thanks!

 

[PerroneFord]

I do not know the preset. I have never used an XH-A1. Looking at a histogram (with color breakoout) or an RGB parade should tell you all you need to know. You just need to be sure that nothing is hitting the top or the bottom!