New Color Grading Tool Coming to FCPX

[Chris McKechnie]

I've been working with a good buddy of mine, Denver Riddle (from Color Grading Central), on a new color grading tool for FCPX. I've been playing/testing this product on all of my footage, and I'm pretty blown away by it's capabilities.

When budget permits, I hire a proper colorist. Unfortunately, budgets sometimes aren't quite adequate enough so I'm forced to do the grading myself. I HATE the back and forth between Resolve and other grading platforms (and that's frankly because of my in-experience within the program). Speed changes, effects, etc., just don't always come across, so I'll just stick to the tools directly within FCPX, which are sometimes limiting on what you can accomplish.

Now with the recent release of LUT Utility (from VisionColor and Color Grading Central), you can do some pretty cool things directly within FCPX, and that's how I've been grading all of my content.

This power is about to change...again...for the better...with a new tool!

I just wrapped editing the new product launch promo (which I hope to pre-release to you guys soon)! I think you FCPX editors are really going to like this new tool! Here's a screen grab from the edit.

 

[Terry VerHaar]

Hey Chris, this looks very cool. I admit being in your same boat. On one hand, I want to get familiar with Resolve but sometimes it just seems like too much of a hassle for a "part time" colorist. Looking forward to seeing more about this.

 

[Tristan Houghton]

I love Resolve and the power it gives me and the back and forth is super simple so i'm not actively searching for a new colour tool bbbbuuuuttttttt change is always a good thing so i'm looking forward to see what it offers!

Keep us informed!

 

[Thomas Pohl]

Would be great for Premiere too...

 

[David Battistella]

This looks interesting.

Thanks for posting Chris.


battistella

 

[Dominik Muench]

NICE !!!!! more please very curious.

 

[Antony Newman]

I wonder why Apple ship FCPX with such a primitive colour grading tool?

Is writing effective colour grading software that complex?

Does anyone think Apple will revisit this ... or hope that Plugins (or round-tripping) will keep the majority happy?

AJ

 

[Bob Gundu]

I wonder why Apple ship FCPX with such a primitive colour grading tool?

Is writing effective colour grading software that complex?

Does anyone think Apple will revisit this ... or hope that Plugins (or round-tripping) will keep the majority happy?

AJ

At first glance it's looks primitive, but it's no better or worse than what was in fcp7.

 

[Ryan Hamblin]

The thing that drives me the craziest is how crunchy the black adjustments are in fcpx it's an all or nothing kinda thing. No subtlety

 

[Marc Berger]

I like Denver´s Lut apply plugin for FCPX. He´s a great guy, developed already some real cool stuff, and I´m looking forward to this one!
Thank you for posting Chris,
cheers
Marc

 

[Adam Rook]

I'm in the same boat as some of you. Ideally I would prefer to do everything in one app but for now it just isn't that way. I too am not familiar enough with the Resolve workflow to do the roundtrip dance efficiently. I need to edit and deliver as quickly as I can (you know, as if no one else here does too ) and I find I use Resolve for those problem clips I just can't seem to fix in FCPX. I am anxious to check this out. I hate the color adjustments in FCPX also and I barely touch them unless I absolutely have to.

When will you have more info on this, Chris?

 

[Willy Faes]

Will there be secondaries?

 

[Chris McKechnie]

Hey Chris, this looks very cool. I admit being in your same boat. On one hand, I want to get familiar with Resolve but sometimes it just seems like too much of a hassle for a "part time" colorist. Looking forward to seeing more about this.

Yea, you're going to love this Terry!

I love Resolve and the power it gives me and the back and forth is super simple so i'm not actively searching for a new colour tool bbbbuuuuttttttt change is always a good thing so i'm looking forward to see what it offers!

Keep us informed!

This just gives you another set of tools to add to your editing arsenal Tristan.

Would be great for Premiere too...

I'll let them know.

At first glance it's looks primitive, but it's no better or worse than what was in fcp7.

There's more to it Bob...trust me hehe

The thing that drives me the craziest is how crunchy the black adjustments are in fcpx it's an all or nothing kinda thing. No subtlety

You will love this then.

I like Denver´s Lut apply plugin for FCPX. He´s a great guy, developed already some real cool stuff, and I´m looking forward to this one!
Thank you for posting Chris,
cheers
Marc

Yea, he's a great guy. Loved collaborating on this project with him. The software engineer is an industry expert on color transforms and an engineer on a notable "big iron" system.

I'm in the same boat as some of you. Ideally I would prefer to do everything in one app but for now it just isn't that way. I too am not familiar enough with the Resolve workflow to do the roundtrip dance efficiently. I need to edit and deliver as quickly as I can (you know, as if no one else here does too ) and I find I use Resolve for those problem clips I just can't seem to fix in FCPX. I am anxious to check this out. I hate the color adjustments in FCPX also and I barely touch them unless I absolutely have to.

When will you have more info on this, Chris?

Soon. I'll give as much info as I can, when I can.

 

[Stuart Hooper]

I'd love to know more about this!

 

[Bob Gundu]

Ha ha. Chris, my comment wasn't about your upcoming tool. Looking forward to your announcement.

 

[Chris McKechnie]

Ha ha. Chris, my comment wasn't about your upcoming tool. Looking forward to your announcement.

Haha! Wish it was my tool. Only thing I did was test it, then edit the reel together using my footie �� Denver and has engineer have done a good job implementing things that FCPX lacks in the color arena

 

[jake blackstone]

In my opinion, trying to learn myriad new pieces of software is a dead end. On the other hand, you may decide to spend some time and to try to master a couple of standard industry tools. Resolve is one of them and please, anyone , who says round-tripping between Resolve and NLE is difficult is either being a bit disingenuous or plain ignorant. Despite some of BM faults, they did an incredible job, when it comes to roundtrip. Frankly, if used correctly it is just a push of a couple of buttons for the roundtrip. Easy peasy...
Said that, if you really against doing the roundtrip, the upcoming plugin Baselight Editions from FilmLight for Premiere and FCPX will make all these various experimental tools unneeded. For anyone not familiar with BLE plugin head to FilmLight site and request 30 days demo license for FCP7, AVID (both OS X and Win) or Nuke. Personally, I feel I'd rather spend time learning Resolve and making the roundtrip working with various NLEs using EDL, XML or AAF, than to waste time learning tools, that are limited, incomplete, not widely accepted etc. Frankly, trying to introduce a software, that relies solely on LUTs is, lets say, is strange. ACES is out of beta and all software manufacturers furiously cramming ACES workflow tools into their offerings. Using industrywide open transforms and not some mysterious LUTs is the way to go forward. Just take a look at who is selling those "magic" LUTs (hint, hint) and see why they are so interested in continuing developing software based on usage of those very same "magic" LUTs...

 

[Chris McKechnie]

In my opinion, trying to learn myriad new pieces of software is a dead end. On the other hand, you may decide to spend some time and to try to master a couple of standard industry tools. Resolve is one of them and please, anyone , who says round-tripping between Resolve and NLE is difficult is either being a bit disingenuous or plain ignorant. Despite some of BM faults, they did an incredible job, when it comes to roundtrip. Frankly, if used correctly it is just a push of a couple of buttons for the roundtrip. Easy peasy...
Said that, if you really against doing the roundtrip, the upcoming plugin Baselight Editions from FilmLight for Premiere and FCPX will make all these various experimental tools unneeded. For anyone not familiar with BLE plugin head to FilmLight site and request 30 days demo license for FCP7, AVID (both OS X and Win) or Nuke. Personally, I feel I'd rather spend time learning Resolve and making the roundtrip working with various NLEs using EDL, XML or AAF, than to waste time learning tools, that are limited, incomplete, not widely accepted etc. Frankly, trying to introduce a software, that relies solely on LUTs is, lets say, is strange. ACES is out of beta and all software manufacturers furiously cramming ACES workflow tools into their offerings. Using industrywide open transforms and not some mysterious LUTs is the way to go forward. Just take a look at who is selling those "magic" LUTs (hint, hint) and see why they are so interested in continuing developing software based on usage of those very same "magic" LUTs...

Jake, you are an amazing colorist and a master of Resolve. This is not by any means a new piece of software, it's a simple plugin designed to aide editors with the limited color correction tools FCPX initially gave us. This is not to replace a colorist, nor is it the end all be all, just another tool-set. It will take less than 5 mins to learn, so it's not something one has to spend any time trying to master it.

Plus, Resolve and Baselight are very powerful programs that take time to understand well, as that goes with any application. I think this new tool is meant for those editors who already work within FCPX, and are in need to extra color enhancement features!

 

[Marc Wielage]

Personally, I feel I'd rather spend time learning Resolve and making the roundtrip working with various NLEs using EDL, XML or AAF, than to waste time learning tools, that are limited, incomplete, not widely accepted etc. Frankly, trying to introduce a software, that relies solely on LUTs is, lets say, is strange. ACES is out of beta and all software manufacturers furiously cramming ACES workflow tools into their offerings. Using industrywide open transforms and not some mysterious LUTs is the way to go forward. Just take a look at who is selling those "magic" LUTs (hint, hint) and see why they are so interested in continuing developing software based on usage of those very same "magic" LUTs...

I think Mr. Blackstone is very wise.

Jake, you are an amazing colorist and a master of Resolve. This is not by any means a new piece of software, it's a simple plugin designed to aide editors with the limited color correction tools FCPX initially gave us. This is not to replace a colorist, nor is it the end all be all, just another tool-set.

I don't see a lot of colorists using the editing tools within Resolve to try to replace editors. The reality is this kind of work does push colorists aside, and worse, it gives producers the (incorrect) idea that colorists are not necessary for their projects. I personally think it's foolish, limited, and cheap to proceed on that philosophy.

There's an awful lot of messages on this discussion group that kind of boil down to, "I don't have the budget to do this project the right way. How can I do all the work myself and not have to spend any money?" I have no problem with students and freebie projects being done this way, because everybody has to start somewhere. But I do have a problem with real commercials, documentaries, TV shows, and feature films being put together this way. There are ways to get it done the right way if you try harder and find a compromise that works for everybody. Trying to mix sound or color correct pictures in any picture editing program is like wheeling a patient into an operating room and then using an axe on them. Having a skilled surgeon use a scalpel is much, much more precise.

 

[Kalechi Noel]

I think Mr. Blackstone is very wise.


I don't see a lot of colorists using the editing tools within Resolve to try to replace editors. The reality is this kind of work does push colorists aside, and worse, it gives producers the (incorrect) idea that colorists are not necessary for their projects. I personally think it's foolish, limited, and cheap to proceed on that philosophy.

There's an awful lot of messages on this discussion group that kind of boil down to, "I don't have the budget to do this project the right way. How can I do all the work myself and not have to spend any money?" I have no problem with students and freebie projects being done this way, because everybody has to start somewhere. But I do have a problem with real commercials, documentaries, TV shows, and feature films being put together this way. There are ways to get it done the right way if you try harder and find a compromise that works for everybody. Trying to mix sound or color correct pictures in any picture editing program is like wheeling a patient into an operating room and then using an axe on them. Having a skilled surgeon use a scalpel is much, much more precise.

@Marc and those who agree with him.... I am very disappointed in your thinking and thought process! That had to be one of the most backward thinking philosophies I've ever heard. In 2015, there's this ever evolving concept called "technology!!!!" . Designed at its core to make our lives easier , and more efficient. Fcpx's biggest advantages is its ease of use , and it's developer community . Getting editing done fast, quicker , and more efficiently . If a plug in or tool can make or editing jobs easier , and provide the same quality of work (and arguably better), for far less money, and less time (no round tripping ) .... Why NOT!!!?? If the quality CAN be just as good, why on earth not!!!?

unfortuntely for many, the train is moving and it's not waiting for anyone . all those who fail to keep up will unfortuntely get left behind . It's called technology. Embrace it. And embrace the fact that new technologies will inevitably bring to mainstream and consumers what used to be reserved for "the professionals "....