how to Colour grade

[jambredz]

Hey guys...i''ve been trying to colour grade for a little while using PPcs3 only (yeh i know not the best thing to use but its what i have). I;ve seen some masterful grading using just NLE's and using simple tools that any NLE has and i cant seem to get it. I know everyone probably has there own methods but what are staple/standard stuff u do to help me get started to good grading? what tools in NLE do u use and how?

Also when grading...do u have to grade every clip individually? I've been doing that...and that seems pretty non progressive and time consuming...is there a better more effecient way?

 

[badhairdude]

if the shot is at the same place you can just copy and paste the effects to every shot...but besides that you should CC each shot.

basic CC pointers for ppcs3 is luma curves/brightness and contrast. you'll want to boost the contrast to your liking. usually it makes the picture look better. in luma curves you can switch the color channel to r or g or b. then you can boost or take away colors.

then levels. i say just mess around with it. theres hue and saturation as well.

 

[Casalen]

that seems pretty non progressive and time consuming...is there a better more effecient way?

Welcome to filmmaking. That's why editors get paid decently (sometimes).

One thing that might help, if you find yourself doing the same changes for each clip, is to use an adjustment layer if your NLE supports it. Still tedious and time consuming, but saves you a lot of clicks for that situation. It also allows you to change things easier later on.

 

[Derrick_SA]

well, everyone works in their own way, and each project will have it's own unique "challenges", but

first of if the guys shot properly (ie exposure, white balance, etc...), you should have pretty consistent scene footage to work with, then

you could make a timeline for each scene, then color correct first, after the color correction the scene on the scene imeline will be consistent, then, you can make a new "main movie" timeline, and apply color grading to each scene as a whole on the main movie timeline, that way you get a global look for the scene, and if there is a specific shot in a scene that needs something slightly diferent, you can add that to the shot in the scene timeline.

again, find the way that works for you,

- Derrick

 

[jambredz]

thanks fellas...i've been fooling around with those things u;ve suggested some what. I'm not an "editor" persay so i wanted to see if the editors have more effiecient ways. But i really thank you i'll take the new points i've gleaned from ur answers and put them into effect.

Darren