Learning Color Correction/Which Software?

[JT Thurlow]

Hi there,

I'm interested in learning color correction (at least the basics) and am wondering which software to use.

I'm mostly looking to experiment on my own work, perhaps with an eye to being able to grade some of my projects in the future (at the very least on some commercial/corporate jobs and ideally on my own films; I worked with a colorist on my first feature and wasn't 100% satisfied).

My budget is limited so control surfaces etc. are out of the question. Freeware like Resolve Lite would be ideal if it can get great results, but I'm presuming it's very limited?

If freeware is waste of time I can budget for something <$1k at the moment, though I'm interested to gauge if the endeavour (i.e. trying to grade anything to a high standard without a hugely expensive work surface, and not taking years and years of concentrated learning to get there) is actually worth considering.

Any thoughts are greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

 

[paulherrin]

i'd start out with davinci, primarily because it's free. that version is not very limited, it just precludes stereoscopic stuff and noise reduction and motion blur (i'd recommend neat video and reelsmart, you can get it as a plugin for resolve)

(also there's no prores output for windows users)

https://www.blackmagicdesign.com/products/davinciresolve/compare

http://www.colorgradingcentral.com/
^^not a bad place to start, there's an online workshop about to happen on the 26th @ 2pm EST, you should probably sign up

this is some good stuff, too... https://lowepost.com/
http://liftgammagain.com/forum/index.php

 

[Marcus Friedlander]

Definitely sign up for the Tao of Color newsletter and MixingLight as well. A month's worth of reading those and you'll have enough knowledge to get off the ground.

As far as software goes, the free version of Resolve is pretty remarakable these days. As long as you don't work with 3D material, you don't work with a networked infrastructure or clientele, and you are ok delivering a max 3840X2160 frame, then you are good.

And even if you do need those above features, it's worth spending a month or two working on the free version to get used to it before plopping down the 1k for the full software.

The other question everyone else will ask is, do you have a calibrated monitor and a proper color pipeline? If not, be prepared to potentially have frustratingly inconsistent results and/or a long QC process.

 

[Elsie N]

A full subscription to Adobe CC would be overkill, but consider just doing a Premiere one for starters.

With IPP2 integration coming soon (assuming you will be working with RED cameras) and with Lumetri incorporation, I think Premiere is a starting point that can easily end up your full time working choice considering future ability to expand into other parts of the cloud as you get more comfortable with the process.

 

[paulherrin]

i dunno about using premiere pro alone, but the colorista plugin is good

we colored this entire doc using colorista/premiere and redcine-x
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VVjMP2DPDBo

 

[Peter Lyons Collister ASC]

Paul, I threw your doc up on my 65 inch TV and my kids and wife watched it. Really great. I have a certain love for whale sharks (dive with them all the time in the Atlanta aquarium) and they are special "gentle giants". Great work.

 

[paulherrin]

awesome, glad you enjoyed it! not my doc, i just colored. too bad the 4k version isn't out in the wild

 

[Dermot Shane]

Resolve is a bit of a pig-like experience without a panel, still better than anything else at that price point.... if your hardware supports it

i'd start there, buy a month of Lyndia and watch the entire lot of Resolve tut's there, and then watch them over again

Baselight Editions running inside a MC host is designed to be used with a mouse or wacom tablet, possiable to really dial in fine points that a mouse/pen on Resolve just cannot control with enough granluairity, maybe look at that option after you have the general theory sorted inResolve, it's good to know at least two tools well, three is better.. most working colorists can be instantly productive in at least two of the following; Nucoda, Baselight, Resolve, Luster, Scratch, Mystika, Pablo.... learning more than one toolset brings a diffrent view to each....

Lumettri, Colorista, FCX, Symp are not on my list of workable tools for good raasons, but if the compromises forced upon you by the limits of a software choice line up with the creative intent and end game? Then yea... go crazy, be happy... too many limitations for my client base to accept tho

 

[Marc Wielage]

What Dermot says.