Color Grading Ideas?

[Roy Heisler]

Anyone have suggestions on how to grade this shot?

https://www.dropbox.com/s/9k43zwgr7f5u5ls/A005_C001_101661.0000591_S000F.R3D?dl=0

 

[Marc Wielage]

Here's a try:

Started with RedLogFilm, RedColor3, made a basic grade in Resolve, powercurve around the kid to lighten him alone, garbage matte on his head to avoid clipping the hair highlights, and a key on the sky to make it a little more blue. 4 nodes, tops. I think the actor could have used a little more key light in general, but it's within workable range. Tracking this in a moving scene would be challenging but not impossible.

The flippant answer to your question would be "hire a colorist," but in truth there's probably 10 different ways to do the scene, all depending on emotion, story, and time of day.

 

[John Schick]

Like Marc said, there's a lot of ways you can take this. Here's a warmer / brighter look:

 

[Marc Wielage]

Warmer/brighter is good! My thinking was the girl was upset and hiding, so I was going for a dramatic, bleak look. Many different possibilities.

 

[Alvaro Brasil]

:blink:

 

[Roy Heisler]

Like Marc said, there's a lot of ways you can take this. Here's a warmer / brighter look:

Oh I like this!! Thank you

 

[Roy Heisler]

Warmer/brighter is good! My thinking was the girl was upset and hiding, so I was going for a dramatic, bleak look. Many different possibilities.

Well she is crawling away from a killer. I'm actually using a movi here as she is coming towards me, she is very upset in this scene running for her life.

 

[Marc Wielage]

Here's a brighter version but another window to retain the sky. Again, I think the actress could use more key light, but that's me.

 

[Marc Wielage]

And here's one that's more grim and horrific:

 

[Les Hillis]

I thought the subject-matter called for a gritty, messed-up look as well. I didn't care about saving the beautiful blue sky or showing off the lovely colours in the plants.

These aren't meant to be pretty -

















I probably wouldn't actually go this far blowing out the highlights, but wanted to see how far up I could bring her face without using power windows (did all this in Redcine-X) -









It's actually fun messing up and degrading Dragon imagery like this. That sensor can give you 'The Wizard of Oz' and 'Texas Chainsaw Massacre' all in one frame, depending what you want to do with it.

 

[Marc Wielage]

Doh, I have a link problem. My apologies.

The trick with degrading the image is whether to let it affect skintones and details like the sky. My preference is to try to leave those alone, but I concede it's one of those things dicated by story and the director's preference.

 

[Derek Morrison]

Simple RedCine-X grade. May add a Resolve grade later.

Resolve V1

Resolve V2: A bit less contrast and brighter.

 

[Matt Ryan]

Darker version which would be my first choice and a slightly boosted midtones on version 2.

 

[Michael Romano]

This thing can go in any direction - It is a totally personal choice for your piece.

 

[Roy Heisler]

You guys are awesome, thank you!

 

[Eric Santiago]

Always love Matts grades but for this piece Michael Romano yours speaks to me

 

[Matt Ryan]

Always love Matts grades but for this piece Michael Romano yours speaks to me

Hahaha now I feel like I need to do a Resolve grade

 

[Andrey B]

Resolve V2: A bit less contrast and brighter.

Yes. This is the winner I think for this time!