Talking Heads- Color Issues

G

groveChuck

U-matic Member
EDIT: I had to take the video down.

I've been working on a project I started on the HPX170, then I recently did some 2 camera interviews with the HPX (WS) and AF100 (CU).

I tried to match the cameras best I could, but the AF came out dark, super saturated and red.

I used the WFM and had both cams going into my Marshall monitor.

The AF settings were:
ISO 200
Cine-V (I actually thought I was in Cine-D, I guess the setting didn't get saved).
Cine-Like Matrix
Detail -7
Chroma Level -2
Master Ped -7
Coring +2

This is a very quick grade, mostly killing some sat and red and raising the gain.

The video starts with an ungraded HPX wide shot, then one grade each of a couple of AF CUs, then two grades each of a man and the woman after him. Obviously the first of these 2 grades are way too green (I should have just cut them out, but I wanted to see how they looked on Vimeo), but I'm wondering what others see. One of the women (the 1st) had red skin. And the walls were very red- there's no way the camera would have picked that up, is there?

I don't have a reference monitor (and see something different on every monitor I look at), and I'm not the best at grading, but this was just a first stab, and if anybody has advice, I'd love to hear it and also what you see.
Thanks.

 
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I curious how much light you had in that room? It must have been bright for you to use ISO 200, plus a master Ped of -7!!!!
 
500w Rifa softbox key, 250w Rifa fill, 500w on background plus their spots (I had to compensate for the spots).

How do the colors look to you Bob? I probably should have used a ped of -4...
 
I really don't like going more than -2 on the Pedestal. I'd rather control the contrast in post. It's a bit to red for me but at least the camera is locked off and the talent is not moving, you can use a mask to remove the magenta from their faces. The second last woman is your toughest challenge but the last woman is looking pretty good. I would also suggest using some diffusion filters to soften the closeups.
 
I haven't watched it yet but I find ped -2 to be plenty with Cine V and Cine-like. Also, Cine V does look more crushed and saturated in general so that could explain your issues. I'm liking HDNorm for taking heads more and more. Cine V I'll keep for either sunset/sunrise beauty shots or any exteriors that need a little more punch during mid day or overcast.
 
Yes good points about Cine V. I generally rarely use Cine V and in these interviews the environments appears pretty contrasty to begin with. I'm curious how you did your white balancing, and whether the other spot lights above were matching tungsten?


EidolonFilms said:
I haven't watched it yet but I find ped -2 to be plenty with Cine V and Cine-like. Also, Cine V does look more crushed and saturated in general so that could explain your issues. I'm liking HDNorm for taking heads more and more. Cine V I'll keep for either sunset/sunrise beauty shots or any exteriors that need a little more punch during mid day or overcast.
Click to expand...
 
Is this (at least partly) the dreaded "magenta problem?"

I definitely won't use such an extreme ped again, but that doesn't explain the color.

Thanks for the tips on Cine V. Like I said, I thought I was on Cine D, not sure if that would have looked significantly better than Cine V.

I did a manual WB under the softbox. The spots were probably closer to 2.8 K, and I considered dimming my lights to get them closer to 2.8, but the 500w wash over the background should have brought it up closer to 3.2.
Thanks for your thoughts.
 
Did you shoot any chart at the head of each shot to help you sort out any color correction issues in post?

All the Best!

Dave
 
No chart at start... (I won't even start on the 10am arrival/setup for 11am shoot turning into sitting for an hour waiting, then hurriedly starting set up at 11 for 11 shoot!!!) :^(

But if it's catching red spill, wouldn't a WB take care of that?

Thanks for the thoughts, guys!
 
IMHO, the extra 10 seconds it would have taken to shoot a chart for each scene change would have been worth it.
Now you are on a forum guessing, when the chart would have told you everything you need to know in post.

Good Luck!

Dave
 
I'm not saying I didn't have time for a chart- just that it was a rushed setup, that's all.

I don't have a chart, though next time I will. Which do you recommend?
Thanks.
 
Make sure you do a manual white balance. It looks like you are getting a red cast from the red walls.
Try taking out some red with the color corrector.
 
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