Color grading is the process of enhancing and adjusting the colors, contrast, and mood of your video footage. It can make a huge difference in the quality and impact of your final product. But how can you achieve a professional and polished look with your color grading? Here are some tips and tricks to help you out.
The first step is to choose a color grading software that suits your needs and preferences. There are many options available, from built-in tools in your editing software to dedicated applications like DaVinci Resolve or Adobe SpeedGrade. Some factors to consider are the features, interface, compatibility, and cost of the software. You want a software that gives you enough control and flexibility to achieve your creative vision, but also one that is easy to use and works well with your workflow.
Davinci Resolve has long been the gold standard for color grading and color correction. Adobe has a nice built-in tool Lumetri Color that does a decent job of color grading. There are also a variety of 3rd party plug-in options that you can purchase like Maxon and its Colorista effect.
In todays world most of the editing softwares will give you a built in plugin or menu for color grading. Davinci resolve is know for is color grading offering, Adobe has Lumetri color, FCPX has color and effects and there is Vegas pro that offers that has good options. It really depends on the user what he is comfortable with, he or she can use the built it options available in the editing platform or choose another software for grading. A lot depends on budgets, the OS and the hardware you already have. One has to do research on what will suit you best in terms of user interface and budget.
In this modern era, specialization is the key for creators. If you are a professional in your field, focus on the work you are known for, and suggest to the production that they hire someone specialized in grading (or any other post-production tasks), unless you are a master in both fields. If the production is enthusiastic about the project, you will never be asked to work outside of your creative boundaries. I won't delve into software specifics for this question; what matters more is the skill set, whether it is within your expertise or not.
The next step is to use scopes and monitors to help you analyze and adjust your colors. Scopes are graphical tools that show you the color, brightness, and contrast levels of your footage. They can help you spot problems like color casts, exposure issues, or clipping. Monitors are external screens that display your footage in high quality and accuracy. They can help you see the colors as they will appear on different devices and platforms. You want to use scopes and monitors that are calibrated and consistent to ensure that your color grading is accurate and balanced.
Investing in a good monitor is a must for color grading. Get the monitor color calibrated so that the grade is consistent and accurate across monitors and devices. Scopes provide verification and accuracy. It helps to ensure the color balance is correct, there is no color bleeding and other technical errors with color grade.
The third step is to follow the color grading workflow, which is a sequence of steps that guide you through the process of improving your footage. Depending on the software and style, this workflow may vary, but a common one involves correcting any technical issues with the footage, such as white balance or contrast. Then, you should apply a creative look to the footage, like a color scheme or mood. After that, ensure that the footage matches across different shots, scenes, and sources to create a consistent and coherent look. Finally, add any finishing touches to your footage, such as sharpening or vignetting.
Following a workflow is very essential for color grading. It helps to avoid technical errors in the long run. I have worked with editors and colorist who have created their own workflow to suite their style of working. Some of the common workflow activity I have come across are actions like correcting any technical issues with the footage, color balance and matching color grade across shots to create a consistent look. Than comes the creative part like putting masks, vignettes or playing with specific colours to give a distinct look for the video.
The fourth step is to use LUTs and presets to speed up and simplify your color grading. LUTs are files that map one set of colors to another, creating a specific look or effect. Presets are pre-made settings that apply a certain adjustment or filter to your footage. You can use LUTs and presets to quickly change the look of your footage, or to emulate a certain film or genre. You can also create your own LUTs and presets to save time and maintain consistency. However, you should always tweak and customize them to suit your footage and vision, rather than relying on them blindly.
LUTs and presents help to speedup the colour grading process. Customising and tweaking comes with experience. Once the technical parts are in place you can play around with LUTs and presets to achieve the desired result.
The fifth step is to experiment and learn from your color grading. Color grading is an art and a skill that requires practice and experience. You should try different techniques, tools, and styles to see what works best for your footage and your goals. You should also watch and analyze other videos that have great color grading, and learn from their choices and methods. You should also seek feedback and critique from other professionals and viewers, and use it to improve your color grading.
The sixth and final step is to keep your color grading subtle and natural, unless you are going for a specific or extreme look. Color grading is meant to enhance and complement your footage, not to overpower or distract from it. You should avoid overdoing or underdoing your color grading, and aim for a balance that looks realistic and pleasing. You should also avoid making your color grading too obvious or inconsistent, and aim for a smooth and seamless transition between shots and scenes.