Davinci Resolve: Create Better Contrast, Part 3

In this final installment of the series, we're focusing on how we can create better spatial contrast using Power Windows inside Davinci Resolve.
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[@airbeoneairbeone2872]

this trilogy about constrast (part I to III) is perfect, and makes sens to me now - Tonality adjustements - Color adjustements - Spatial and power windows adjustements in the field of the scene rather than those of the subject. be simple as possible, avoid tracker, think CINEMATOGRAPHY / PHOTOGRAPHY and think before the grading wich manner will we used to achieve this contrast. You're dear Cullen the best ever teacher online about colorgrading on DVR

[@JimRobinson-colors]

I like that you didn't go overboard with the relighting. A colorist must respect the intention of the cinematography. You adjustment were subtle and that's good. But considering the actual topic of this video, maybe a hair light or rim on you would kind of give some contrast that you are telling others to consider. Dark hair on a dark background kind of needs something. But you are very articulate and are telling people why you are doing things. Makes for better teaching and in my experience, if you tell someone why they are doing something , they tend to remember better. Good job, Cullen.

[@willgavillan]

As I’m just starting to dip my toes in video, this one really speaks to me as a photographer. The concept of just because you can, doesn’t mean you should, really resonates. Lighting the scene, just as would be done on set, seems logical and more simple. Thanks for this

[@akifguler3546]

Mindblowing. As Da vinci said: Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication.

[@dazzdeadmeadow]

For the last few weeks I have been looking at a lot of tutorials for Resolve. I stumbled on this channel and it has been a complete epiphany. Your approach to grading is so organic and has completely changed how I was doing things. I actually graded a few shots from my XT4 and was pleased with the result, it looked more cinematic than anything I had shot before. If this channel does not get thousands of subs, it will be criminal!!

[@SatyamSamantray]

I can proudly say that everything I know about color (through a photographic perspective) has been thanks to Cullen. I stumbled upon a post of his on TAC, and ever since finding his KZbin, it's been nothing but an educational revolution for me as well as several others whom I recommended this course. Thanks, Cullen, and I hope you build something great based on these foundations that you are setting up! More power to you!

[@eydok5114]

It's those simple and subtle things that differentiate an amateur from a pro. Never in a million years would I have thought of "sculpting down" rather than beefing up the power windows. Thank you for this great content! On a binge spree right now, can't wait to see more!

[@andersistbesser]

I always did this intuitively. I set the exposure as bright it needs to be to make the picture well exposed and then i use the power windows to make not as important things a bit darker to give the face or the subject more importance.

[@FCGColouristUK]

@Cullen Kelly I have been using all your techniques for the last 2 weeks and my grades have improved 400% I am also working much faster and the results are cleaner. Between you and Dado Valentic there is a wealth of knowledge Thank you!

[@PhilippeOrlando]

Agreed

[@erthaldop]

light spaces not faces...man, your videos are amazing and really pumped me up to study more and think photographically for grading. hope I can catch the next live stream on time. keep it up! cheers

[@glen-draketoolworks7186]

Yes! Yes! and Yes! Love the straight forward (no background noise and no B.S.) approach to an instructional video. Much respect. I'm subscribing.

[@fotoeikenburg]

Coming from a photography background I really like your way of looking at the scenes and the process of grading. Thanks for this great tutorial.

[@tylou4479]

love this approach of photographic lighting based on the set.

[@outdoorsinontario3037]

Can u plz do a part 4 5 & 6 !!! This is such a good series but it would be great to get into the more intermediate aspects of contrast and grading. Btw, how much is ur course? Cause I’ve watched all ur videos and have practiced them for the most part. Probably need more, but ur channel is the best by a long shot dude! Keep it up!

[@BelinskiyDenisLKS]

As always. simple, detailed and interesting. Thank you very much for your work!

[@StevenWilliamsHome]

You are a great communicator. Thanks for sharing this!

[@adsmithtx]

Loved the 3 part series on contrast, not relating to contrast I would love to see an explanation of each of your nodes that we saw in this video. I understand what each does generally would like to see how you create all, the one I do not have an understanding of is "points' thank you for sharing your time and talent !!!

[@hoozn]

You gotta respect the light, maaaaan ✌😂 Great finish to a very helpful series. That photographic thinking approach really helps a lot. At first I wasnt quite sure what you meant by that, but after digging through your older clips, it grew on me. Maybe the single best advice that I came across in the last few years, right next to Ben Marriotts „we always name our layers“

[@Jonas-tv6tv]

Even I know how to work with these tools, I love your philosophy behind it. Big thanks. Please keep going 😊 I will 100% sign up to a masterclass ✌️

[@FritsJanSmit]

Good series. Will post it in the Davinci facebook group.

[@blainemarcano]

Amazing. This was such an insightful series and I’ve really learnt so much from these principles.

[@mattwolcott3266]

Excellent thoughts. I absolutely love an analytical approach like you have. Knowing you understand the underlying technology makes you authoritative. Thanks 🙏

[@mcculloughimagery4952]

@@CullenKelly so you know if there's a keybind for color picker for white balance?

[@jaredfilms]

Really great tips, Thank you!

[@Studio42Brooklyn]

really great approach . Love it!

[@TheMerrisi]

Great series. Thank you.

[@koushikbhattacharya832]

thank u so much sir for sharing these valuable knowledge♥️

[@ashishjatiani3356]

This is gold! Thanks

[@kaustubhpote]

This series, along with the others, is very insightful and has made me think about and change my approach to colour grading. As a cinematographer, it just makes it so much easier to understand having the same approach to colour grading as when you are lighting a scene. Thank you! Looking forward to the next Colour Management webinar

[@pietervanderwal]

Thank you so much for making this great content 💪👍

[@PhilippeOrlando]

Another great video, thanks!

[@denizahmet2299]

Love this approach - but what about if the camera is moving as well as the subject? Can we get a video on your thoughts on handling these? Is that the right time to use tracking?

[@victorneves2868]

so helpful, thanks a lot!

[@ST7GOLDTRIDENT]

Thank you. 👍

[@RichsBrainless]

okay ur stuff is great :O more pls!

[@stefanosantamato4456]

amazing, thank you!

[@Prism_of_hari]

great work the 😀

[@droliver4049]

Thanks for sharing such great and fundamental ideas in your videos. Wanted to ask about when you or one might decide while using the offset or gain to reduce exposure in power windows like you have here. To me it seems if you don't want to impact the bottom gain would be more fitting as it doesn't crunch the blacks in the same way an offset would. Would you elaborate other reasons and thought behind using one or the other?

[@ameensabah2261]

we are trying to be photographically yes? so why you proffered Gain, instead of offset or HDR global adjustment in fist example ? im very enjoying ur videos many thanks mr.kelly !

[@jkdrake1]

Excellence.

[@stephencaserta2969]

do you have a video or videos where you show how to set up a project in resolve?

[@LucianaContartese]

Hi, Cullen. I have a newbie question. Nowadays we watch so many videos in our phones: music videos, clips/shorts on Instagram, ads... So, for that kind of content, should we color grade for those screens that are so much more contrasted than monitors, for example? Or should we just rely on the Waveform? Sometimes I wish I knew what the cinematographer or the colorist really meant to do with lighting or color grading (specially contrast wise) because everything looks so different in each screen it makes me go a bit crazy😅

[@LucianaContartese]

​@@CullenKelly Thanks for replying, I will go watch those videos then!

[@_onceihaddreams6962]

who noticed the changes in the bookshelf over the course of this series? :p

[@Potash_label]

Топ

[@duszam]

Wow, that's good! thanks!