Very Basic Questions

Really just starting to learn this topic but I want to second something that someone else mentioned, which is that Im pretty sure the main tool for color correcting video is the waveform monitor (does Photoshop have one?)? The histogram is not a worthy replacement, I don't think.

I'm also finding that "look"-based LUTs are usually not anything you can't do yourself (most are just variations on the warm highlights/cool shadows idea), except for perhaps the fancy ones that are calibrated to emulate film stocks.

I think the three big processes are:

- make sure your shot is white balanced (RGB parade maybe?). its often not, even after white balancing in camera
- levels or curves, using the waveform monitor, for tonal quality (highlights shadows and gamma for best contrast and tonal range -although your chosen look and other factors may influence where you put stuff on the IRE scale)
- tint highlights and perhaps shadows for your look

correct me if Im wrong anyone
 
rayortiz313 said:
correct me if Im wrong anyone
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You're not wrong, that pretty much sums it up. I would only add that you may need secondary nodes using power windows to isolate and adjust different areas of the picture. For example, maybe I want to soften the detail on someone's face, or darken a sky that might be too bright, or adjust the hue of a client's logo or someone's clothing, or darken a window in the background, or add a subtle vignette someplace in the frame to bring the viewer's eye to the subject. Those examples are just the tip of the iceberg of what could be done in post.

 
Can you explain how rgb parade can help with white balance? For instance let's say you had a shot with no white/black/grey in it (green field/blue sky for example) how can you tell it's properly balanced?
 
Josh Bass said:
Can you explain how rgb parade can help with white balance? For instance let's say you had a shot with no white/black/grey in it (green field/blue sky for example) how can you tell it's properly balanced?
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In the shot you have described, parade might not help at all because it was outdoors and the last thing I want is for the RGB levels to all be the same. But sometimes it is a big help, especially when the shot was done under man-made artificial lighting. The luminance waveform monitor is the only scope that helps on every single shot -- the other scopes may or may not be needed depending on the particular shot and the look that is desired. Also, the importance of grading with a genuine HDTV monitor (not a computer monitor) via HDSDI or HDMI output from the computer cannot be overstated. The scopes will get you close and ensure your levels are correct, but ultimately you must be able to decide what looks good to YOU on a real monitor.
 
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For those wanting to learn about color grading I too recommend DaVinci Resolve. DaVinci Resolve is an industry standard and I think anyone working in this field should have some knowledge and understanding of color grading and how to use it to improve your work. The standard version of Resolve is free and with a few exceptions will do pretty much everything the paid studio version does. There are other color grading systems, Mistika, Scratch, Baselight, Lustre, etc. The thing with Resolve is since there is a free version available you can find tutorials all over the web that are free to learn from on YouTube, Vimeo, and so forth. Alexis Van Hurkman was referenced earlier and his tutorials and books have a lot to offer and will help to get you pointed in the right direction. Here is a link to his website:

http://vanhurkman.com/wordpress/

Also here are a few primer lessons on youtube that are platform independent to help get you thinking:

How To Get Perfect Exposures Using a Waveform Monitor
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x-8o_TvyNjc

How Cinematographers Read Vector Scopes
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=28epRF6Cy4A

How to Maximize Your Camera's Dynamic Range
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rcux-27mvkY

Understanding & Maximizing Raw & Log
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_76rjWuH5yI
 
A lot I think depends on what you're shooting with, whether in standard format, log, or raw. If you get WB and exposure correct in camera, then there's no need to worry or adjust it much in post.

And if you are shooting in log or HDR, then you definitely need a waveform monitor or at least zebras to assess for proper exposure and highlights blowing out.

I'm of the school of thought that you should try to get as much right as you can in camera, then "grading" or "color correcting" is really just stylizing the film to the look you want.

If you shoot in log, then you will definitely need a LUT to remap your footage in Resolve or whatever program you're using.

Half of color correction or grading in my mind is getting skin tones right, and for that, you usually use a vector scope. Da Vinci Resolve has all the scopes you need.

The waveform for luma, adjusting shadows, mids, and highs, and matching shots. RGB parade for white balance. Vectorscope for skin tones. And histogram for nothing really.

I do like to make a distinction between primary and secondary grading.

Primary grading is anything you do that affects the whole image, and as such, usually includes adjustments to exposure, levels, and wb. Applying LUTS or looks also fall into this category.

Secondary grading refers to anything that affects just a part of the image. And that would be something you'd typically do in Resolve with the power windows.

Matching shots is also something that comes up a lot, and 70% of that is matching levels, then adjusting WB.

And again, if you can get the skin tones right, then that's easily half of it right there.
 
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