What are the best practices for matching color across different shots in Fusion?

1 Understand the color space

Before you start color matching, you need to understand the color space of your footage and your project. Color space is a way of defining how colors are represented and interpreted by different devices and software. For example, sRGB is a common color space for web and mobile devices, while Rec. 709 is a standard for HD video. Fusion supports various color spaces, such as ACES, which is designed for high dynamic range (HDR) and wide color gamut (WCG) workflows. You can set the color space of your project and your footage in the Project Settings and the Loader nodes, respectively. You can also use the Gamut node to convert between different color spaces.

2 Use scopes and reference images

One of the most useful tools for color matching is the scopes, which are graphical representations of the color and luminance information of your image. Fusion has four types of scopes: waveform, vectorscope, histogram, and parade. You can use them to analyze and compare the color balance, saturation, contrast, and exposure of your shots. For example, you can use the waveform to see the distribution of brightness across the image, or the vectorscope to see the hue and chroma of the colors. You can also use reference images, such as still frames from your footage or other sources, to guide your color matching process. You can use the Saver node to export reference images from Fusion, or import them using the Loader node.

3 Use the Color Corrector node

The Color Corrector node is one of the most versatile and powerful nodes for color matching in Fusion. It allows you to adjust the hue, saturation, brightness, contrast, gamma, gain, and offset of your image using sliders, curves, wheels, or color pickers. You can also use masks, blend modes, and keyframes to control the effect of the node. The Color Corrector node has three tabs: Primary, Secondary, and Log. The Primary tab affects the entire image, while the Secondary tab allows you to isolate and modify specific colors or regions using qualifiers and masks. The Log tab allows you to work in a logarithmic color space, which is useful for HDR and WCG workflows.

4 Use the Color Matcher node

The Color Matcher node is a handy node for matching the color of one image to another. It works by analyzing the source and target images and applying a color transformation to make them look similar. You can use the Color Matcher node to match the color of different shots from the same scene, or to match the color of a CG element to a live action plate. You can also use the Color Matcher node to create stylized effects, such as mimicking the look of a film stock or a camera filter. The Color Matcher node has two inputs: Background and Foreground. The Background input is the source image that you want to match, while the Foreground input is the target image that you want to modify. You can also use masks and blend modes to fine-tune the result.

5 Use the Color Space node

The Color Space node is another useful node for color matching in Fusion. It allows you to convert your image from one color space to another using a 3D LUT (look-up table). A 3D LUT is a file that contains a set of color transformations that can change the appearance of your image. You can use the Color Space node to apply a 3D LUT to your image, or to create your own 3D LUT using the LUT Editor. You can also use the Color Space node to load and save 3D LUTs in various formats, such as .cube, .3dl, or .lut. You can use the Color Space node to match the color of different shots from different cameras or sources, or to apply a creative look or grade to your image.

6 Use the Color Curves node

The Color Curves node is another powerful node for color matching in Fusion. It allows you to adjust the tonal range and contrast of your image using curves, which are graphical representations of the input and output values of each color channel. You can use the Color Curves node to fine-tune the highlights, midtones, and shadows of your image, or to create custom color effects, such as cross-processing or bleach bypass. The Color Curves node has four curves: Master, Red, Green, and Blue. The Master curve affects all the color channels, while the Red, Green, and Blue curves affect each color channel individually. You can also use masks and blend modes to control the effect of the node.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?