Question regarding color processing

[digifruitella]

Is there generally a basic, but "quality" rule to follow in terms of making an image pop with HDSLRs? Color correction is probably my weakest 'link' in that I tend to leave the first thing I like as the final product instead of experimenting. I simply like too much, so I just go with the first color correction I do.

To elaborate at what I'm getting at, I'm looking for a workflow that I can use as default before I do anything stylistic.

I have Magic Bullet Looks for grading, and it's tempting to click on a lot of the default "looks" but most of them have to be tweaked anyway. I want to have a workflow of my own. Usually I use Curves to make the image "pop" a bit.

Can anybody recommend a workflow I can try and apply? I don't really have one, kind of disorganized when it comes down to that.

 

[PerroneFord]

Some basic rules...

1. Before you touch the color, get the exposure right.

2. See step 1.

3. In regards to step 1, get your blacks in order. That means nothing crushed, but sitting right on zero IRE.

4. Get your highlights wrangled in. You want the maximum amount of contrast in the image you can get.

5. Apply a basic curve to increase contrast at the bottom end, and roll off the white nicely with a little shoulder.

6. Adjust your gamma. Dropping the gamma once you have the lows and highs squared away will make your colors come to life. It won't take much.

7. Once you have what modifying the exposure alone can give you, then you're ready for some color work. If I shot without a strong color contrast in mind, I always color correct the work first. Get the whites "white" and the blacks "black".

8. If any re-lighting is necessary, I do that next.

9. Once the image is tonally balanced, lit properly, and color corrected, I then start on the looks.

I find working this way gets me very consistent looks throughout the work and makes life easier as I go forward. It's hard to come to a consistent look if your exposure and base images are all over the place.

That's just how I do it. I came to this after reading a number of online articles and reading a TERRIFIC book on the subject by Steve Hullfish. The first few chapters of that book cleared up so much for me, and I still use it as a reference.

 

[digifruitella]

PerroneFord. thanks a lot for the breakdown - there's a couple questions I'll ask you tomorrow as I am about to hit the sack.

But for now, can you tell me how much and what exactly is wrong with this video. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MpAJSp9gNCM

I graded it quickly by using Blockbuster preset from Magic Bullet Looks, and tweaking it, disabling the diffusion and other tweaks. I'm aware some of the shots "flicker" that's because I had my ISO on auto at the time, plus the reason I left them in there is because this is just a test video for myself. I intend to re-cut some of it. I'm still having troubles exposing in low light, some of the shots are underexposed, and some are overexposed - If I expose for the sky, the rest is underxposed...etc.