darktable ep 098 - Color Balance RGB

#darktable #tutorial #colorbalance
In this episode, we look at the new-in-darktable-3.6 Color Balance RGB module. This is a great module for color corrections and color grading.
Aurélien's video on the CBRGB module:
• [EN] Secrets of the co...
The help page:
darktable.org/u...
The Color Dimensions page from the manual:
darktable.org/u...
As always, thanks to my tier 1 Patreon supporters:
Peter Barker
Leona Devon
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Harald Ulver
Pavel Ivanov
Michael Rasmussen
Andy McGarty
Carlos Quel
Hellas Hellas
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If you'd like to support my work, get access to these videos before everyone else, AND get access to additional content, please head over to patreon.com/understandingdarktable and pick a tier that is comfortable for you.

[@austinjohnson3009]

This is hands down the best video on using this module. Thank you for your efforts. If you ever put together a masterclass/Udemy course, let us all know.

[@audio2u]

Thank you for the kind words. No plans to do the masterclass thing at this point.

[@emmypuss4533]

Just gone back to learn some more about this module from your video. Very helpful - thanks

[@audio2u]

Glad it was helpful!

[@s7habo]

Hi Bruce. On the one hand, I'm sorry that you lost your job and the safe ground under your feet, but on the other hand, I'm glad that you're thinking of earning your money through darktable trainings. This is a risky but excellent idea! I mean that because I am absolutely convinced that you are an excellent teacher. Your videos are didactically and content-wise on a very high level. If not the best available on youtube for darktable. Content is well researched, prepared and presented in an easy to understand way. And especially considering the complexity of some modules and darktable itself, that is an outstanding achievement! I have learned a lot from your videos. And please don't worry about "enriching" yourself with free software. You are supporting it by making sure that software is taken seriously and thus expanding the circle of both users and potential developers. This is the best publicity free software can have. In any case, I wish you success with your project!

[@audio2u]

Thanks for the kind words, Boris!

[@stevenyoung6841]

I love seeing other youtube content creators supporting each other!

[@barryhodgetts5918]

Looking back may be 20 years redundancy was difficult after 35 years but a great adventure and best thing that happened. Hope it’s the same journey for you.

[@audio2u]

I hope so too!

[@jorgglande8290]

If you doing the masterclass Bruce I'll buy it instantly! Together with Boris you are my DT Hero here!

[@audio2u]

Thanks for that!

[@myokfile]

Thanks a lot Bruce !!

[@audio2u]

No worries!

[@raziel7997]

go for it Bruce! I learn Darktable only from your videos. English is not my first language, however the way you explain all those things related to Darktable is absolutely perfect. Crossing fingers and I hope things will be better soon.

[@audio2u]

Thanks for the kind words!

[@kenhalal375]

Sorry to hear about the job situation. I'm sure by now things are a lot more clear for you. I went through something similar this year at age 61. I decided to retire early from software engineering and focus more on my photography. I don't miss being a corporate slob for one moment.

[@audio2u]

Thanks Ken. I am driving a truck, delivering people's groceries... And loving it!

[@charleshacker765]

Excellent video as always. Learned a few more points that I didn't pick up watching Aurélien. I wish you well in your endeavor with making a living at this. Your credentials in the darktable world speak for themselves. Open source is not denying the possibility of making money. Free as in freedom means you can do with it what you want. The focus is no longer on possessing the software, but what you do with it. And having one of the foremost demonstrators of darktable assist someone on either their own work, or teaching them to do more is indeed most valuable.

[@audio2u]

Thanks for the support, Charles! 😃

[@mktouthang]

Hi Bruce, I've been putting off playing with this module waiting for your video (plus I've been busy with Blackmagic's Davinci Resolve17 training lessons), and it's given me some starting point going forward, so thank you very much. I'm really sorry about the changes in your circumstances; but yes, we are all here to support you in all that you do. Go right ahead, make this channel and any other ventures you have in mind your full time occupation. Do what you love and in the process make a living off it, there's nothing wrong at all with that. The pandemic has taught us the virtual world is the only real and dependable world; perhaps we're all inside the Matrix!!!

[@audio2u]

Haha...take the red pill! Thanks for the support. And yes, I too spend a bit of time watching video tutorials on davinci resolve.

[@shineon4]

Thanks for this and all your other videos. Funny thing is that the other day I was actually thinking that it would be simply fair to become a patron since I enjoy your videos a lot. The moment has come :) good luck with your path ahead!

[@audio2u]

Thanks so much for the support!

[@sylvainricher4926]

Bruce you are very good, you are the place to go to find informations for DT. Big thks

[@audio2u]

Thank you so much.

[@dario-digiovanni]

Hey Bruce, finally I think I've understand a bit how to use this module, thanks a lot!

[@audio2u]

Great to hear!

[@danielspenner3683]

Hello Bruce, great intro to this much exspected module. By the way, the global color hue slider might come in handy when combined with a mask it is used to change the color of an object.

[@audio2u]

Yeah, I thought that exact thing as I was editing the video! 😃

[@feilong6223]

Thanks for consistently providing great content and I for one have learnt the majority of my darktable skills from your videos and am grateful for your efforts a shinning light that has guided me through the murky complexity of the program, when i used LR in the past there were many tutorials that were very helpful to get to know the software. Darktable had very few tutorials, most that i could find required prior knowledge not for the newbies. With this in mind i have no doubt you have the skills to do well as a masterclass wish you all the best.

[@audio2u]

Thanks for the support!

[@nicolasmareau4008]

Hi Bruce, Sorry to hear about the unexpected event for your job... :-( I would like to say that I love your style, you are pedagog and pragmatic. Your are probably one of the best solution for me to understand darktable and progress with it. Also, as a french guy I very well understand your "accent", so the english is not a problem to understand the content of yours videos. The big question is: is it possible to live with its passion ? Need to test to know the answer.... ;-) Perhaphs you can do a 50/50 at start: found some freelance audio enginneer contracts to earn money at the beggining while puting in place your idea... Thanks and good luck for the next !

[@audio2u]

Thanks Nicolas! Life can always be counted upon to throw you a curve ball! 😃

[@PauliJuppi]

Go for it Bruce! I love your videos on Darktable! Brave speech ♥️ You got a new patreon ;)

[@audio2u]

Thanks Pauli, much appreciated!

[@antoinecabon7527]

Hi Bruce, I think it can work ! Your way to present all these video is very very educational, so I am sure you can success with a master class. Good luck for your professional transition

[@audio2u]

Thanks Antoine!

[@acriadoperez]

I encourage you to continue with Understanding Darktable and really home you manage to make a living out of it! Awesome! If you did what you did as a side job, imagine all you can do if its your full time job!

[@audio2u]

Thank Alejandro!

[@hurshasnarayan]

Sorry to hear about your change of circumstances mate. I've been following you for quite sometime now and you are exceptionally brilliant in how you impart knowledge and convey information. I personally think you should go for it and get benefit out of investing your time. Think of it like this, you got run out in the first innings and you come back and score a century in your second innings. Good luck.

[@audio2u]

Haha! Love it. Thanks for the support!

[@stephenward5133]

Thanks as ever for this and sorry to hear about your job.

[@audio2u]

Much appreciated

[@marcinbaranowski5308]

Great video!

[@audio2u]

Cheers!

[@realrobbyrob]

Just wanna say good luck for the future!

[@audio2u]

Thanks!

[@haaklx]

Hi Bruce, I myself am currently on the decision to move away from Capture One for a couple of reasons. I stumbled upon Darktable as an alternative, which intimidated me at first. But just based on some of your but also other good teachers on YT, I see great potential for me in the software. Some other reasons regarding open source and community projects are certainly also charming. But it is just challenging modules like this one, which you outlined brilliantly, could make me grow in my understanding of the magic of color science. It takes good teachers like you to do that. I've subscribed to your channel for now, and when I embark on my journey into the depths of Darktable, I could well imagine you as a guide. It might be helpful, when you're ready, to explain what exactly you're up to do.

[@audio2u]

Yeah, darktable does require a bit of a commitment! But it's worth the effort!

[@enumal1]

Sorry to hear about the loss of your job. I don't think that paying for open source software classes should ruffle any feathers. There's no difference between paying for paid software classes or open source software classes or even photography classes. I would pay for some good darktable master classes, and following you for quite some time, I know, yours will be good. Keep us informed here and at fb. Good luck to you!

[@audio2u]

Thanks EnumalPhotography!

[@happystar1000]

Great informative tutorial as always Bruce! I am sorry to hear about your retrenchment. There is an old saying, do not place all your eggs in one basket, in this case I'm referring to Darktable. Certainly weigh your options for expansion etc as you mentioned. However I would encourage you to consider doing other tutorials. You mentioned your passion for, and experience as a sound engineer. I think it would be wonderful and helpful to many, if you would share that passion and knowledge in teaching others. Many people who are interested in that field would appreciate learning from your wealth of knowledge. Best wishes in all your future endeavors

[@audio2u]

Thanks Vin! I mentioned to someone else that that has been in my mind also (doing an audio-related channel). I'm just nervous of spreading myself too thin.

[@happystar1000]

@@audio2uGlad to hear that. There is a trend on youtube right now, for short videos. Perhaps just start it up as a shorts video channel. You can film an entire video, but split it up for posting, and so spread out the video uploads instead of yourself. Or repost your already created Darktable videos, into "shorts" format. Darktable shorts, for quick tips. That way capitalizing on work you have already done. Appealing to a new audience, who may not have the patience or time to view a long style video.

[@wido123123]

Hi Bruce! sorry to hear what happened at your job. As someone who's been with opensource for the past 15 years (all my professional career), let me tell you that that's exactly how the "open source model" works. You don't charge for the software, you charge for the knowledge, service, and whatever else is there (RedHat and Canonical can be a prior examples, they don't sell Linux, they sell services and knowledge around Linux). Also, your channel says "photography", so you may as well broaden your audience (and look for some _useful_ sponsors), and that can also be involved in your "understanding darktable" workflow. Hope the best for you =)

[@audio2u]

Thank for the support, Wido!

[@christianschroll6124]

I've thought that darktable could benefit from masterclasses to bundle more information into one bunch to be easier for new users to find and would definitely consider purchasing it depending on where I'm at with potential job changes/moves for myself.

[@audio2u]

Thanks for the support, Christian!

Thanks!

[@audio2u]

Thank you so much!

[@wulfreusch4525]

Thank you very much for this video! I hopre you will find/ make a good decision which will works for you!!

[@audio2u]

Thanks Wulf!

[@rafilewin4644]

Sorry to hear about your new status. But as they say- every end is also a new beginning... Wish you tons of luck!

[@audio2u]

Thanks Rafi! Yep, I have long been a believer in "one door closes, another door opens".

[@juhalintula1164]

One idea for you to think, if it is something you'd like to do: not all professional photographers are professional retouchers; what about partnering with some photographers and do the post processing for them. Today, when all images are digital, the physical distance is not a problem.

[@audio2u]

True. Another avenue to explore.

[@andrewfindlayphoto]

As a fellow 50 something, you should go for it. At the current time I don't use Darktable. I tried it on some of my Canon 5D Mark II raw files. Low contrast ones worked well but the ones with exposures that needed highlight recovery didn't. Your the only place I've found so far that covers what is going on in the software that makes sense. Also we need Darktable as an option from not getting locked into subscription software model from Adobe.

[@audio2u]

Andrew, with the new default scene-referred workflow, I think you would find darktable more than adequate for dealing with HDR images.

[@manuelmatias3772]

4:30 In substitution of what can sometimes be also achieved with the color zone module, I've used hue shift in combination with parametric+drawn masks to select picture elements of a certain color and alter their hue in a way that makes them harmonise better with other colors in the photo. For example, at least once I've found that a purplish sky looked a lot better after shifting it subtly towards cyan, or a fuchsia/magenta sweater was less distracting after coloring it dark red (not so subtle this time, indeed not). This has to be done carefully because some colors may simply look out of place and also, if the mask is not uniform or precise enough, some weird artifacts will appear and chroma noise will be exacerbated. Tips: - keep Ctrl pressed (in Windows) for fine control of the hue slider. - use the rename module feature to give each instance the name of the object or color it's dealing with. - use the color picker module, with multiple colors selected, to see the changes in the vectorscope more clearly

[@audio2u]

Cheers. Yep, I always rename modules when they are targeting a specific hue range or tonal range.

3:05 : ouch. Not at all :-) What I said is hue and chroma are defined by reference to white point. But the white point (wrong or right) will always be on the center of the vectorscope **by design**. So the repartition of colors in the vectorscope is not an indication of how right or wrong your white balance is, it really depends on the color content of the image. However, when you push a chroma slider (meant to increase colorfulness at same hue) and the white balance is wrong, then the result may not have the same hue because the push is done in a wrong direction, and that direction is defined by reference to white point. So, the accuracy of the white balance is only a mean to ensure that the "chroma" slider acts as constant hue and "hue" slider acts at constant chroma. Otherwise it's random. Good luck for your project to go professional. I, for one, can vouch for the amount of research you put into your content. I'm sure there is a market for quality classes, and, well, since you do it in English, it will be worldwide.

[@audio2u]

Aurélien, thanks for the correction! Sorry I messed that up.😠 (cranky at myself, not at you!) And thank you for your support, too. That means a lot to me.

[@luisarevalo6112]

@@audio2u I'm now retired but in 1989 and in 2008 I experienced a lost of my job, and both times were financially devastating. I applaud you, at this point in time your feet are still on the ground and you are ready to venture forward into your next chapter of your life and you've started the chapter with a great opening sentence, Kudos! I enjoy and learn from you darktable videos and wish I could help out more.

[@audio2u]

Thanks Luis!

[@stevenyoung6841]

Coming from Aurelien himself!

[@BennyTwinny]

at 11:26, I had difficulties understanding power in 4 ways tab, documentation says "This is equivalent to the ASC CDL power". which might be understandable to some people. ChatGPT says power refers to "Gain". but looing at 11:26 it seems to me that it affects mid tones.

[@audio2u]

Yes, midtones is the best analogy. Just why it sits BELOW highlights is a mystery for the ages. To any normal person, you would arrange them highlights, power, and then shadows.

[@lzmorais]

Great explanation on the new module. Sorry to hear you're on the same wagon I'm at, also, but teaching Open Source is as valid as teaching paid software, you can charge for the time and effort you put in helping others. Hope things get brighter quickly.

[@audio2u]

Thanks for the continued support, Luiz!

[@stulora3172]

No shame in making a job out of what you love, and change direction at whatever age. And yes, we live in a society in which a job needs to generate money, which will then pay rent and food etc. Godspeed to you!

[@audio2u]

Thanks for the support!

[@JeanRobertBos]

Teaching software is not selling it. This is as true for free as for other licenses. I would like to make the connection between my camera settings and the impacts on the workflow in darktable. Shooting in jpg + raw, I would like a basic workflow for jpg.

[@audio2u]

Thanks for the support. If you choose too shoot jpeg, then you can process your images in darktable just fine. But you won't have the ability to make massive changes to your images, due to the reduced quantity of data. I believe Aurélien has just introduced a jpeg module group preset, but I haven't explored that yet.

[@bongeclips]

thanks sir, iam from indonesia ✌️

[@audio2u]

No problem! 😊

[@RandallKayfes]

Great overview of this module thank you for your time! In regard to dt master classes: first I wish the best for you in what ever direction you go. Second I agree with Aston no feathers ruffled as you already make something with the Patreon so I don't see that as anything different from your own website/online classes. I believe Patron is no longer fair to you anyway they get too much of your earnings (I give Rico coffee because of my distaste of Patreon). Last I would love to have some input into what I (potential customers) would need from you to make it all worth while for me (us) to join... In other words a preliminary site for potential customer input (which is your style anyway)... I wish you assurance and all success moving forward.

[@audio2u]

Thanks for the support, Randall! What exactly do you mean by "a preliminary site for input"?

[@RandallKayfes]

@@audio2u Kind of like a private forum for discussions of what is most needed by your customers...

[@audio2u]

Right! Thanks.

[@danielspenner3683]

Would be great to have an opportunity to dive deeper into post processing skills with darktable! I would gladly pay for it, after having searched the web for something like that without any success in the past.

[@audio2u]

Thanks for the support!

[@slowfinger2]

I'm late to the party. Still learning DT 3.0 Hi Bruce. I would pay for in depth training from you, if I had a job to afford it. :) You and Rico have both been my most excellent go-to's, so far. Haven't watched you in a while. Just took what I learned and ran with it for the last couple of years. Is it worth it for a casual shooter (former 1980's studio pro) to upgrade to 3.6?

[@audio2u]

Definitely! The changes between 3.0 and 3.6 have been huge! You've got some catching up to do! 😃

[@oscarbettoni3652]

👍

[@audio2u]

Cheers.

[@CarloPiana]

I hope your troubles with finding a new money stream got resolved. Meanwhile l, let me get this straight: there is *nothing* wrong with making money out of Open Source, as long as you don't turn it into a proprietary thing. By the way, I am Chair of the Open Source Initiative (OSI, as in OSI approved) and I am making a living out of Open Source consulting, which allows me to donate my time to helping projects, sometimes pro bono.

[@audio2u]

Thanks for the support! Much appreciated!

[@GlubbDrubb]

You should post a link to your patreon in the description. Make it easy :-)

[@crisbal]

Seconded, googling " Bruce Williams Patreon" shows up an unrelated Patreon of someone also named "Bruce Williams" doing things related to watches

[@audio2u]

I thought I had the Patreon link at the bottom of the episode description... But it might require clicking on "show more".

[@crisbal]

@@audio2u I see it now, but since it is lacking the "" in front of it, it is not displaying as a clickable link (blue color with underline), so it does not jump to the eye as the other links

[@audio2u]

OK, I've just updated my template to include the https. We'll see what happens next video! :)

[@mickehog76]

In my opinion you should create a home page and create longer in depth tutorials you have to pay for. I mean you don't force anyone to pay. And you don't pay for the software Darktable. You pay for the job you are doing to create amazing(I know it will be) tutorials. And in return you learn how to use Darktable and post processing in general.

[@audio2u]

Thanks for the support! 😃

[@christianfandel6963]

... off topic: in 95 I was looking for a new job. In these times people having reached 38 or were older than that were not regarded suitable for digital based jobs; so the job centre. Unregarded - I had mastered PERL, Excel VBA, Unix, ... unregard my age going to reach over this limit

[@adamarmfield1069]

obvious thing seems to be to start a sound engineering channel as well, might have wider appeal (you might have one already, i haven't looked)

[@audio2u]

I haven't, as yet, and it has certainly been on my mind to do that. What I'm concerned about is spreading myself too thin, trying to do too many things and then not doing any of them well.

[@adamarmfield1069]

@@audio2u yes, I imagine it can be hard work putting these together, maybe a question of finding a quick way of working, adjusting subject matter and production style to suit the amount of time you can spare

[@vyal4297]

Hi Bruce so have you created a Darktable masterclass? I would love to buy it. Thanks

[@audio2u]

No, I didn't. It might still happen one day, but I've got more to learn.

[@vyal4297]

@@audio2u thanks for a quick reply, love your content!

[@dimejilagunju6771]

Hi Bruce, I’m interested in spotting darktable but it seems not to support cr3 raw files which is what my camera shoots. Is there a way around this?

[@audio2u]

Not yet. CR3 support is being hampered by Canon. While some software has the support, in the FOSS world, everything hinges on the lens fun library, and rumor has it that they are getting close. I'm not a Canon shooter, but that's all I know at this stage.

[@dimejilagunju6771]

Thank you. Really appreciated

[@alanmcpherson1122]

My original comment seems to have been removed by the KZbin guardians! It did include a link to another KZbin video by Mark Denney, an American Landscape photographer and KZbinr. In this he discusses how he makes a living (with actual income figures) as KZbinr/Photographer/Instructor. He does this each year. Quite interesting. Good Luck!

[@audio2u]

Thanks Alan. I'll hunt it down.

[@audio2u]

Found his channel, but I don't know which video you were hoping to point me to! Can you tell me the title? I can search it from there.

[@alanmcpherson1122]

@@audio2u Bruce, I've included the video code. 2021 (Jan) Finance Version vpGwmd6X-LE 2020 (Jun) Marks back story ... worked in Corporate Finance, got made redundant ... now making a new career using Photography and KZbin. MGxgby547B4 2019 (Jul) Finance Version UAAjAtmbJaA Hope they help. Alan

[@cosmo0080]

hi, i understand i am in the same situation as you not having photography work for over 1.5 years and also layed off from my other job 1.7 years all because of Coronavirus. at my age can i go back to working 13 hour days if i am recalled ? also who would hire me being about 10 years senior to you ? when i first started to watch your videos i did so to learn now i do just to be aware of the changes. i would encourage you to take that step and i pray that you do well ;)

[@audio2u]

Thanks for the kind words, Cosmo! All the best.

[@cosmo0080]

@@audio2u thank you it will work out

[@raphaelkrupinski7572]

10:35 split toning?

[@audio2u]

Yeah, I thought that when I was editing... totally valid replacement for split toning module as well.

[@93Logen]

I would buy your photo editing masterclass on Udemy.

[@audio2u]

Thanks for the support!

[@shashiekunthikumar7980]

Hi Bruce , I just came across this video now and I know this is an old video , not sure what your current work situation is but If you create a course on udemy which is the biggest tutorial platform about dark table you can make an income out of it , for all that u have contributed towards the photographic community I can help you do that if u interested.

[@audio2u]

Thanks for the offer, but I have picked up a full time job back in radio, and I am not in a position to do anything along those lines now. It's also why I have struggled to get new content out on a consistent basis lately!

[@knownas6217]

I have no idea of the level of use of darktable so hard to comment on whether there is sufficient demand out there and therefore demand for tutorials. For me I'm more a discovery learner, I'll play with a photo editing programme to see what it does, I'm probably in a small minority of users and not your target audience, most will want to know the solutions to the best result for them without experimentation. So given a sufficiently large enough user base and your excellent easy to understand tutorials and explanations there is a market for you. Perhaps, as you still enjoy sound engineering (and have a broad experience) it could be mixed with some sound engineering consultancy/freelancing. That's perhaps me being cautious and saying have two income streams (initially at least). Good luck with whatever you decide to do.

[@audio2u]

Thanks mate! Life and its curve balls, huh? Never a dull moment!

[@knownas6217]

@@audio2u So true