Color Correction Handbook: Professional Techniques for Video and Cinema (Digital Video & Audio Editing Courses) 2nd Edition

669 Pages·2014·54.34 MB·English

by  Alexis Van Hurkman

Color Correction Handbook
Professional Techniques for Video and Cinema, 2nd Edition
Alexis Van Hurkman
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Color Correction Handbook
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COLOR CORRECTION HANDBOOK:
Professional Techniques for Video and Cinema, Second Edition
Alexis Van Hurkman
Peachpit Press
www.peachpit.com
To report errors, please send a note to [email protected]
Peachpit Press is a division of Pearson Education
Copyright © 2014 by Alexis Van Hurkman
Senior Editor: Karyn Johnson
Development Editor: Stephen Nathans-Kelly
Production Editor: David Van Ness
Copyeditor: Kim Wimpsett
Compositor: WolfsonDesign
Proofreader: Liz Welch
Indexer: Valerie Haynes Perry
Interior Design: Kathleen Cunningham
Cover Design: Aren Howell Straiger
Cover photo: Kaylynn Raschke
Cover models: Gal Friday
Notice of Rights
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form by any means,
electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the
publisher. For information on getting permission for reprints and excerpts, contact
[email protected].
Notice of Liability
The information in this book is distributed on an “As Is” basis without warranty. While every precaution has
been taken in the preparation of the book, neither the author nor Peachpit shall have any liability to any person
or entity with respect to any loss or damage caused or alleged to be caused directly or indirectly by the
instructions contained in this book or by the computer software and hardware products described in it.
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identified throughout this book are used in editorial fashion only and for the benefit of such companies with
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convey endorsement or other affiliation with this book.
ISBN-13: 978-0-321-92966-2
ISBN-10: 0-321-92966-7
9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
Printed and bound in the United States of America
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Dedication
To my wife and companion, Kaylynn.
I merely create the appearance of beauty.
You make the world beautiful wherever you go...
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Table of Contents
FOREWORD
INTRODUCTION
1 COLOR CORRECTION WORKFLOWS
Are You Grading for Cinema, Broadcast, or the Web?
Where Colorists Fit In
Before the Shoot: Choosing a Recording Format
Digital Dailies: The Start of Postproduction
Round-Trip Workflows
2 SETTING UP A COLOR CORRECTION ENVIRONMENT
Understanding Display-Referred Color Management
Choosing a Display
Display Calibration
Setting Up a Color Correction Suite
Configuring a Grading Theater
Other Hardware for Color Correction
3 PRIMARY CONTRAST ADJUSTMENTS
How We See Color
Luminance and Luma
Evaluating Contrast Using Video Scopes
Controls to Adjust Contrast
Expanding Contrast
Compressing Contrast
Y’C C Luma Adjustments vs. RGB Luma Adjustments
B R
Redistributing Midtone Contrast
Adjusting Log-Encoded Contrast
Setting Appropriate Highlights and Shadows
Working with High Dynamic Range (HDR) Media
Contrast and Perception
Contrast During Exhibition
Dealing with Underexposure
Dealing with Overexposure
4 PRIMARY COLOR ADJUSTMENTS
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Color Temperature
What Is Chroma?
Analyzing Color Balance
Using Color Balance Controls
Using Log Color Controls
Color Temperature Controls
Using Color Curves
Saturation Adjustments
Understanding and Controlling Color Contrast
5 HSL QUALIFICATION AND HUE CURVES
HSL Qualification in Theory
Individual Qualifier Controls
A Basic HSL Qualification Workflow
Tips for Using and Optimizing HSL Qualifications
Different Ways of Using HSL Qualifiers
Hue Curve Adjustments
Other Types of HSL Adjustments
Advanced Keyers
6 SHAPES
Shape UI and Controls
Highlighting Subjects
Creating Depth
Shapes + HSL Qualifiers
Aggressive Digital Relighting
Shapes and Motion
7 ANIMATING GRADES
Grade Animation Controls Compared
Correcting Changes in Exposure
Correcting Hue Shifts
Grade Transitions Using Through Edits and Dissolves
Artificial Lighting Changes
Creative Grade Animation
8 MEMORY COLORS: SKIN TONE, SKIES, AND FOLIAGE
What Are Memory Colors?
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Ideals for Skin Tone
Techniques for Adjusting Complexion Using Secondaries
Ideals for Skies
Techniques for Adjusting Skies
Ideals for Foliage
9 SHOT MATCHING AND SCENE BALANCING
Color Timing
Strategies for Working with Clients
How to Begin Balancing a Scene
How to Match One Shot to Another
Recycling Grades
Scene Matching in Action
10 QUALITY CONTROL AND BROADCAST SAFE
Grading for Film Output
Video Signal Standards and Limits
Quality Control Issues That Affect Colorists
Six Structured Steps to Legalizing Your Picture
Monitoring and Legalizing Saturation in Detail
RGB Color Space Legality and the RGB Parade Scope
Soft Clipping for Luma and RGB
Other Video Scope Options for Broadcast Gamut Monitoring
Creating Graphics and Animation with Legal Values
Broadcast-Safe Settings in Grading Applications
Broadcast-Safe Settings in Editing Applications
Avid Media Composer and Symphony Broadcast-Safe Settings
Adobe Premiere Pro Broadcast-Safe Settings
Final Cut Pro X Broadcast-Safe Settings
Final Cut Pro 7 Broadcast-Safe Settings
PREVIEW: COLOR CORRECTION LOOK BOOK
Tints and Color Washes
Undertones
Vibrance and Targeted Saturation
INDEX
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