which scene settings if professional color grading afterwards?

[jbdumont]

Hi,

I've the chance to start a nice new project of documentary.

Usually, I like giving a fictionnal look to my image, and the DVX is of course wonderful for that.

But this time, I've quite a good budget, and I will get a good color grading in a good professional studio.

My question is: is it useful to work with specific color/detail/matrix/gamma settings in order to keep the biggest technical freedom during the colorgrading?

Thanks a lot!
Jean-Baptiste from Belgium

 

[phorus]

I use CINE-D. Master ped +3 or 0 to get maximum detail in blacks, and to make desired contrast in post. Chroma level -2 or -4 to avoid color blocks in original footage.. Color matrix FLUO gives nice mild colors also..
If I use auto iris, I use -1 or -2 auto iris, so I can crank contrast more without burn outs..

I use mostly these settings to get flattest look for post.. It might be too mild look for you, it depends how much you are willing to manipulate it after and what kind of look you are after..But you can get hundreds of different looks by making original to look flat..Its quite important (atleast to me) to have nice flat image and lots of details to start from when doing some post work..

Here are few quick example shots using those settings and CC'd after.. First image whitebalance is a bit off, purpleish..

 

[William_Robinette]

You are going to have to strike a balance between your DP and your colorist. Don't sort the DP on his job to have the most control in post. They have to work together, so get them on the same page.