4 Easy Exposure Tips to Perfect Dark Skin Tones with S-Log 3

In this video, we're going to show you 4 easy tips to perfect dark skin tone exposure with S-Log 3. These tips will help you get the perfect exposure for your dark skin tones, no matter what camera you're using!
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[@anthonyamedia9784]

This was a great video. I dont see enough content creators talking about this AND I dont see enough DPs that actually know how to light/expose POC talent

[@KofiYeboah]

Ahah it’s a struggle when I expose at 70 and wonder why I look like a plastic doll 🤣🤣 but after some research it worked out !

[@KarlGutowski]

It amazes me that I have over 100 hours of footage of deeply melanated faces, often shot in low light environments or with funky RGB lighting, and that I guessed exposure for 3 years using only a dinky histogram tool in my camera. Only now, while color grading my 3rd major project have I realized how much I needed to watch this tutorial years ago, especially from someone of said complexion, speaking from first hand experience.

[@KofiYeboah]

Glad it helped !

[@Hindsight101]

Thank you for discussing dark skin tones because usually its just generalized

[@KofiYeboah]

No problem! Most of the time I’m working with black people , and the rules are slightly different !

[@takoflame4948]

The only youtuber thats giving out free useful game

[@KofiYeboah]

Anytime 🙏🏾 respects !!

[@TyroneLT]

Thanks for this video. Lighting dark skin tones is not talked about nearly as much as it should be. I literally used that 1st tip with a big light source and adding even more diffusion to a window in a shoot last week! I've also seen some people use circular polarizers to further smooth out darker skin tones. About the SLOG3 IRE skin tone range, does that also include caucasian skin tones as well? I find myself in certain situations still going up to around 70 IRE for that.

[@KofiYeboah]

It does for Caucasian skin as well! I typically can get away at slightly over 52ire, and up to 60 before I realize I’ve gone wrong hah but with the DR in s log 3 especially in highlights, I’d assume it’s easier to bring lighter tones back

[@therealmoonstone]

not a lot of love for this video but I think it really shows how utube can bring highly talented individuals to bring in their identity and traits into videos to create a unique perspective and in this case a lesson about a exposure. Thank you Kofi

[@GemmaHentsch]

Really useful, I've only been doing photography/videography as a hobby, but its becoming more of a side gig for events, and while I have photographed/videod BIPOC people, I know that most of my experience focuses on lighter skinned people... So trying to learn more, and I appreciate the expertise/advice/experience being shared.

[@KofiYeboah]

That’s excellent, glad I can help

[@masonjamal1]

Awesome. I needed this tutorial. Thanks!

[@KofiYeboah]

Happy it helped !

[@RyanBartonGrimley]

Super helpful, thanks man. Great video as always.

[@KofiYeboah]

Thank you 🙏🏾 appreciate the support 😁

[@brianhenderson456]

Thank you! This was very helpful!

[@KofiYeboah]

Glad I helped !

[@prefix808]

THIS WAS THE BEST video on proper exposure with the Ninja V and Sony FX system. Exactly what I needed, thank you for being concise, thorough and engaging!

[@KofiYeboah]

Thank you !!

[@ShotByCurt]

Great and informative video! Keep killin it!

[@KofiYeboah]

Trying to do Gods work 🙏🏾

[@sokratisfrantzis5763]

Great video, great explanation. Thanks!

[@KofiYeboah]

No problem!!

[@lauritee]

Great breakdown! Thank you!

[@KofiYeboah]

Glad it was helpful!

[@mochamamas]

Definitely needed this, thank you Kofi ❤

[@KofiYeboah]

You’re welcome!

[@stevechang2135]

Dark skin tones in your videos are really pretty. Thanks for sharing.

[@KofiYeboah]

Thank you!! I appreciate it !

[@kaputputput]

Getting caught up on all your content, Kofi. Another banger!

[@KofiYeboah]

Ayy thanks bro!

[@armandofuca]

I found you a few days ago because I bought the Sony FX30 and I kept looking at other very interesting videos that you have in your channel. An amazing job, congratulations! Greetings from the Canary Islands, Spain.

[@KofiYeboah]

Oh thanks so much ! I got a ton on the way for new content 😁

[@SJSquarePhotos]

Thanks I enjoy this video!

[@KofiYeboah]

Thanks! I hope it was helpful !

[@JusttJC]

Man like Kofi! Great video bro, been following you on the gram for a minute but just found the channel! Keep killing it my guy🤟🏾

[@KofiYeboah]

Likewise ! You’re killing it ! Seen some familiar faces and places on your IG😃

[@jonathanl7883]

Spot on. I spend so much time thinking about tonality, and the way to expose both the world and people with all the ranges of tone. White snow should look white and be bright while not being overexposed, and a black cat should look dark but still show details. Same principle applies to people, your skin tone lives within a range of detail and to best expose for a variety of ranges you have to understand how to let your tones land on a waveform. Always a compromise somewhere between dynamic range and noise depending on the scene, but too many people are afraid to go under that 800 EI, where as your video is a perfect example of how much better it can be depending on the scenario!

[@KofiYeboah]

It’s all about context on how to use these tools for your advantage 🙏🏾🙏🏾

[@DeeBeeScribe]

Thank you, subscribed!

[@KofiYeboah]

Thanks !

[@carlamejia-gm6dz]

This video was very informative, i learn visally! I am shooting a doc tomorrow with talents that have more melanin. thank you!

[@KofiYeboah]

You’re most welcome !

[@ezekielbrown919]

Exactly what I needed

[@KofiYeboah]

Glad it helped !

[@thearabicdp]

Thanks for the tips. I especially liked how you said that you are the one to suggest clothing colours. It really does change the video a lot.

[@KofiYeboah]

Ahah if you catch me in a bright red f shirt, just know I’m down bad 😭

[@thearabicdp]

@@KofiYeboah yep washing day is a drag 🤣

[@dregzartmedia4062]

Appreciate your information just got my fx6 and I’m dump to using it right now

[@KofiYeboah]

Give it a try !!!

[@davidleach9381]

bro you're a legend 👑

[@KofiYeboah]

Thanks !!

[@robertomighty4562]

Terrific tutorial!

[@KofiYeboah]

Thanks !

[@thekkaolli]

Thank you for making this, I gave up on understanding this for a year now, before I came back to searching and I finally found somebody that actually explains how IRE levels should be regarding darker skin toned people, most of the videos currently online talks with white caucasian skin in mind, I have asian skin and my wife has darker asian skin, and I was always second guessing and confused, this cleared up some of my questions. My hats off to you sir.

[@KofiYeboah]

Love that man ! Thank you !

[@graemetowner7257]

great advice

[@themediagoats3341]

SOLID VIDEO BRO!

[@KofiYeboah]

Appreciate it!!!!🙏🏾

[@BryanKeithPhoto]

I've been saying it for years now. We are not 70IRE 😂. Spot on video!

[@KofiYeboah]

haha nobody believes us !

[@DreamsToRealityLLC]

Thank you

[@KofiYeboah]

No worries!

[@ahashparthipan5555]

🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥

[@ancinematic_]

Bro, this is a great guide! It's a pity that I didn't see this video a year ago, I have so much pain on this topic 😅

[@KofiYeboah]

😂😂 dang man

[@tylerjames3620]

Dope vide Kofi there’s not enough videos explaining filmmaking tips for melanated skin tones and Lol Magnificently Melanated always!

[@KofiYeboah]

Ikr? There’s maybe 2-3 but it’s crazy useful!

[@CatherinCooper]

I have an entry level Sony ZV E10. Got it to start my KZbin channel. Can you make a video on how to do the actual settings for shooting in log on a Sony camera and dark skin tones. That’s been my biggest concern. Thanks and really love your videos.

[@KofiYeboah]

It’s kinda the same thing just find what the exposure levels are for the picture profile you’re using 👍🏾

[@ifeoluwaadekunle3559]

Best video on this topic on the whole internet

[@KofiYeboah]

I appreciate that 🙏🏾🙏🏾

[@mcgreevs24]

Another classic! Such a great explainer for exposure. Also that’s the best explainer I’ve seen on using false color with the Ninja. The false color on the ninja always felt counter-intuitive to me. So much so I picked up the small HD indie 5 and it’s EL (Ed Lachman) zone system for exposing based on stop values has changed everything. I hope the Ninja integrates it some day. It’s a shame a Ninja is necessary for RAW recording since small HD’s OS is truly next level!

[@KofiYeboah]

I LOVE smallhd monitors, I hope that Sonya have a raw internal one day so we don’t have to use it

[@426Studios]

Nice tutorial! Though there is a little bit clarification. From my observation, the reason why there is a misconception about 70 IRE for skin tones is its because most tutorials based it on people with lighter skin tones. Basing on the Zone system chart made by Ansel Adams, light skin tones should be at 61 to 70 IRE for cameras at 50% middle grey. Now, Slog3 has 41% middle grey so even for people with light skin tones its actually still overexposed for Slog3 because the middle grey for Slog 3 is at 41 IRE so instead of 61 to 70, for Slog3 it should be at 51 to 60. If you used Davinci Resolve, you can actually check the recommended exposure for light skin tones using Blackmagic Camera, which it has 38% middle grey so they recommended at around 48 IRE which is at around 1 stop higher than middle grey. So how about dark skin tones? For Slog3, it should be at around middle grey which is at 41 IRE. So its actually 41 IRE the effective exposure for dark skin tones. You could over expose it at 51 IRE so the image would be cleaner once bringing the exposure down at post, but its actually not needed for 10 bit Slog3 clips because the noise floor is actually lower. Even when checking this current video, your skin tone is actually at around 41 IRE using the included false color plugin from Davinci Resolve and also the false color tool of the Dehancer plugin. There is actually a better tool than using the false color but unfortunately the only monitor that I know uses this is the mid-end to high end Small HD monitors. Its still false color, but instead of using the Zone System of Ansel Adams, it now use EL Zone by Ed Lachman. Instead of IRE values, it now uses stop values based on the middle grey of your camera. So for middle grey at 0 stop, then +.5 or -.5 stops over middle, +1 or -1 stop over middle, so on and so forth. Its better because it will now base the values of the chart using the middle grey of your camera so lighting consistency will now be achieved easier.

[@426Studios]

Upon watching the video again, for the most part your skin tone actually sits at around 25-43 IRE even when referring to the Small HD chart. There's a little bit of 48 to 54 IRE on your cheek, but most part is actually at 25-43 IRE which actually is the ideal exposure of dark skin tones. This actually means that the light source is still a little bit "sourcey". A bigger diffuser would solve this. This is the reason why bigger production sets use big diffuser from 4x4', and I even watched some behind the scenes that used 12x12 I actually DOPed a recent project and yes, we exposed the skin tone of our subject (Filipino) at 41 IRE for Slog 3. The Director, and especially the colorist was very happy because he doesn't need to correct the image anymore and he goes straight to grading immediately

[@maxobery4117]

great video g, are you still working with will tenyson?

[@KofiYeboah]

Thanks homie ! Haven’t been on the channel for about 6 months, sorry

[@matildaxiaozhen]

Thanks so much for this excellent video, Kofi! Just a question on EI rating and LUTs... is 400EI consistently the best number you're finding works for you in a well-lit setting? Also do you use Sony's in-camera monitoring LUT or do you import a LUT?

[@KofiYeboah]

I import luts off my pack ! I like 400 for darker skin it’s a happy medium for me ☺️

[@AnthonyValli]

Super helpful, and your footage using these techniques looks incredible! I’m a beginner to zebras and I’ve seen people expose until lines cover the entire face, or just the highlights. I’m curious to know which you prefer. If using the highlight method in SLOG3, would best practice be to set the IRE slightly higher than the optimal level (e.g. around 50% for darker tones instead of around 48%)?

[@KofiYeboah]

Honestly you can totally get away with that !

[@AnthonyValli]

@@KofiYeboah thanks very much!! Looking forward to more tutorials.

[@one901]

I usually set my zebras for standard range 52 +- 3 for darker skin on my a7iv and a7siii. When I use my shinobi, I flash color to that same range.

[@KofiYeboah]

That works to !

[@Chandler_Goodrich]

I prefer exposing with light meters, and was wondering if you run into the same exposure troubles for dark skintones when using a light meter.

[@KofiYeboah]

They’re super useful, but I don’t use them very often, especially in the context of using s-log 3, most cameras have false colour, and the ire for skin tones is pretty straight forward so I do that instead

[@FieldStudioFilm]

This is so very helpful - thank you! All of your videos are crystal clear; this continues that excellent trend, while also pushing into a question too little explored. I'm putting this into my workflow right away. One question: from what I understand about the FX6's Cine EI mode, any EI setting other than one of the base ISOs will be saved in a clip's metadata. But I have heard that this part of the metadata isn't readable by DaVinci Resolve. (At least, that was apparently the case in March 2021, when another KZbinr, Doug Jensen, posted a 26-part training course on the camera.) So I'm wondering, if I use a 200 EI or 400 EI value, will that difference be discernible in post?

[@KofiYeboah]

It will be , if you shoot at a lower ei, you’ll have a more exposed image , I just use my offet and pull the image down and that’s solved most of my problems

[@FieldStudioFilm]

@@KofiYeboah Brilliant, thank you - I'll give it a try!

[@juwancaesar]

Thanks for the tips! When using the ninja V, do you set the monitor display to rec 709 or do you keep it in native while exposing the image?

[@KofiYeboah]

I use native when I have my internal luts 🙏🏾

[@jakenotfromstatefarm]

Thanks for another great informative video! Well done!

[@KofiYeboah]

You’re most welcome !

[@creativcluster]

Hi thanks for the videp I did have a question what custom zebra levels do you set with the fx3 for dark skin tone. Also do you set two custom zebra for white peole and one for black people. My current style is more travel run and gun I do like to interact with locals but wanted to know how I could improve on this. Any help greatly appreciated!

[@KofiYeboah]

You totally could actually ! But it’s close enough in ire to just make adjustments as you feel

[@creativcluster]

@@KofiYeboah thanks for coming back to me. For me as I’m run and gun it’s difficult to be in the moment and also have to dial in the ire values. As you mentioned the Zebra values for skin tone are 48 to 52 but I guess I could set the value at 48 and allow for + / - 4 I will give this a try thanks 👊🏾

[@IOSWebNetwork]

On the FX6 when shooting darker skin in S-Log3 is it better to shoot at 400EI and increase the lighting (if need be) vs shooting at 800EI with a lower light level?

[@KofiYeboah]

Check my Cine EI video, but logically yeah

[@TheKasiO]

Any tips for camera settings? I use a canon

[@KofiYeboah]

I don’t have one, sorry !

[@jamesreed7278]

Are you using an MLut on your monitor while using Slog3 with false color?

[@KofiYeboah]

Yeah👍🏾

[@carlclippedit]

Can I recommend that you aim for -14 lufs for your vocal master. You're about 4db too low. Big fan of your content by the way.

[@KofiYeboah]

👊🏾thanks

[@howtosetuptech]

45 to 55 IRE for people of Afro descent and 60 IRE for Olive, Middle Eastern, Hispanic descent

[@seancloutier2577]

Ok great...so I figure if I intend on using the Phantom luts...I should keep my exposure on the lower side to pick up the darker skin tones. I should be safe, sitting at 0 to +3 stops...at around 58 IRE when shooting a mixed group black, brown, white...I had an interview project which has suddenly turned into my first real project. It is for free, just a hobby, but I have a mixed crowd, it is kind of spiritual promotional work for my church. wish me luck people...I think I am going to need it.

[@KofiYeboah]

Good luck ! You’ll do great!

[@RICHTERDESTI]

et si vous avez deux personnes de teint de peau différent comment tu fais ?

[@KofiYeboah]

I’ll have to make a video! But it’s a little tough

[@MichaelKefeder]

@@KofiYeboah Indeed interesting question, my naive approach would be EI400 and expose for a whitecard to sit at 77% (61% without LUT), this should give enough room for both skin types to be grade-able in davinci resolve. Looking forward to see your approach, thanks for this video btw, very insightful!

[@davidoseas8128]

El zone system my friend

[@KofiYeboah]

Not every monitor has one/ this video was 8 months ago 😂

[@davidoseas8128]

@@KofiYeboah ups my bad bro

[@scottievee7467]

So much to know. I try to trust a good monitor? Looks good... gonna look good. That's my complicated math.

[@KofiYeboah]

Ahah that’s how it starts !

[@scottievee7467]

@@KofiYeboah I've spent so much on monitors and they STILL have their own little personalities. This is good info though. Thanks. One might think darker skin punch up the ISO a tad but that's not the case. Sounds like you do a lot of tweaking in post. What happens if you shot like you do and hand off the footage? It won't look too dark?

[@MichaelKefeder]

@@scottievee7467 Cine EI 400 will actually look too bright when delivered without metadata. You bring it down a stop in post before applying the slog3 to rec709 transform and all is fine. If you want to emulate Cine EI on a normal mirrorless camera you can go one stop down from your Base ISO, i.e. 800 -> 400, expose correctly, then bump the ISO back to base = 800 and film like that. Problem is that the camera will not store the EI in the metadata and you have to track that info yourself somehow (to not forget the right treatment in post). Advantage is you get to use the full dynamic range of your sensor like this, and in this example get more details in the shadows and dark skin-tones.

[@IOSWebNetwork]

So in essence - Caucasians 70%, Indians/Latinas/Mixed 55%, Brothas 48%

[@KofiYeboah]

I'd watch the video again.