False Color for n00bs.

This is a video about how to use false color on your camera to nail your exposure. A lot of people I notice get a little hung up on exposure, but just remember, if you use your exposure tools and keep the scene within the dynamic range of your sensor, don’t clip the highlights, and make a generally good looking image on the monitor you should be good! False color is a great way to never clip highlights, retain information in the shadows, and keep exposure consistent over the course of a shoot when moving from scene to scene.
Lastly, keep in mind exposure tools work differently on different cameras. Here we saw how it works on an Arri Alexa, exposure tools works a little differently on a sony fx3 for example, but the theory stays the same, and you can tune it to your liking in camera or on a monitor. Same goes for zebras, waveforms, and EL zone. Run tests, set it up properly and you will have an easier time with your camera.
Discord: / discord
0:00 intro
1:25 log vs rec709 monitoring
2:10 exposure consistency
3:00 log monitoring false color
3:47 why is false color useful
4:56 zebras vs false color
6:11 over exposing
6:50 exposure compensation LUTs
7:45 SmallHD false color
8:22 tuning false color smallhd
9:36 adding LUTs to smallHD monitor
10:02 fixing smallHD false color
10:48 custom map false color smallhd
11:51 bye bye!

[@parkerdickey]

You're awesome man, thank you for bridging this gap between professional level cinematography and aspiring creators by not gatekeeping this valuable information that you've picked up along the years. Your videos are incredibly insightful, straight forward and powerfully in-depth. I just wanted to reach out and extend my appreciation to remind you how effective what you're doing is and how much people like me appreciate it. Keep it up Blaine!

[@BlaineWestropp1]

Yo thank you so much. That means a lot and inspires me to keep pumpin em out. More to come 😊

[@cammackey]

Another fantastic video brutha

[@BlaineWestropp1]

Thanks king 😊

[@elarrioguajardo208]

Awesome community!

[@FreshSqueezedLightning]

Man. Refreshing seeing a pro video on KZbin and not a bunch of regurgitated mid level info. Not trying to sound mean to others but finally a KZbin video that feels like I’m talking to someone on set. I’ve been a 1st AC for years and every once in a while I debate making videos dropping info like this for ACs. On this channel though I do stuff for fun, it’s just my comedy channel. But anyway, great video dude!

[@BlaineWestropp1]

hey thanks again so much, I appreciate that, and I totally feel you. make that video!

[@bastienchill]

I did the exact same false color mapping on my SmallHD monitor for my camera last year. It is very valuable to spend time on setting up those tools to be more efficient on set.

[@BlaineWestropp1]

Yep. Wise to set it up right so that you don’t waste any time and just know exactly what you are getting when filming.

[@hugomalpeyre]

All your content is so Amazing. Thank you so much.

[@BlaineWestropp1]

Thanks Hugo!

[@jc-px8ox]

awesome man. truly awesome.

[@BlaineWestropp1]

Thank you :)

[@jondoeslifestuff]

Well done big dog. Big takeaway was remembering to keep everything as best you can in the dynamic range of the camera (sounds obvious but looking at a LUT slapped on LOG it's harder than it looks...lol). I'm going to make a point to use FC legitimately this weekend. Good stuff dude.

[@BlaineWestropp1]

That is the big takeaway. It becomes trickier in high dynamic range scenes, but if stuff looks good on screen, and your false colors indicate that you are not messing up the shadows or highlights, you are good! Before you use the FC just do a test and make sure it’s accurate. As shown in this video there can be times when it’ll lie to ya!

[@noellaas3787]

great content, thanks mate

[@BlaineWestropp1]

Thank you :)

[@cleverghostchili]

Thanks, Hugo

[@BlaineWestropp1]

Hahah he really took over my day with this one

[@benlaiguille]

very informative 📚

[@BlaineWestropp1]

🫡😊

[@julienpierb]

At first I read "False Color is for n00b" 😅. Nice video, as always!

[@BlaineWestropp1]

Thank you! Haha false color is for pros

[@paulstevenson6661]

Legend

[@BlaineWestropp1]

☺️☺️

[@NoSuRReNDeR001]

Another great very useful real world on-set video! THANK YOU!! OK so could you maybe do one on EL ZOne? I love his work and im curious about how his version on FC works. It seems several Cams are implenting EL ZONE.

[@BlaineWestropp1]

Thank you!! I can definitely do one on EL zone, is there a specific camera you think would be best to show it?

[@jwhs]

@@BlaineWestropp1 the Sigma fp has EL zone & overall is a interesting camera. I’d def be interested in your take on it.

[@NoSuRReNDeR001]

@@BlaineWestropp1 SmallHD has EL zone now TOO I recall correctly so that could be good since its camera agnostic given its fed a log signal

[@BlaineWestropp1]

Cool thank you. been wanting to check out the FP. stay tuned!

[@BlaineWestropp1]

Thanks for info. Maybe I should update my monitor, but I may need to keep it as is. I do have another one I could consider updating. We will see. I’ll at a minimum get into the EL zone on the sigma fp!

[@mattfdevlin]

Hey Blaine! Can you do a video on the your process for creating luts for the Alexa! Including the exposure compensation luts.

[@BlaineWestropp1]

its definitely in the works :)

[@loganlambert]

I don't think I have ever turned on false color on my camera but now I think I can handle it.

[@BlaineWestropp1]

Someone like you doesn’t need FC. You have it within you.

[@vahvahfilms4014]

Love the clarity and direct nature of your videos. Also that there's no "Hey KZbin" at the beginning. Big plus. I'm a little confused thoughabout one point you spoke about - you said you view false color off log but then also state that it's more accurate to view it off rec. 709. And that if you view it off log, you need some stop reduction luts. So for example, before you hit record, are you satisfied once it's not blown out in rec709, log, or lut? Or is it a combination that I'm too dumb to understand yet?

[@BlaineWestropp1]

Thank you. Viewing on 709 protects you nicely. Viewing on log shows you what is actually happening with the sensor. Combo is good!

[@vahvahfilms4014]

Thank you so much for your reply! That helps a lot @@BlaineWestropp1

[@Marxives]

🔥🔥🔥

[@BlaineWestropp1]

👋👋

[@aaronfreemanshitsquad371]

So question.. is it always better to shoot at the native iso of a camera no matter what? Exp: 800 iso + ND or lower iso w/o ND?

[@BlaineWestropp1]

Native iso is the safe bet. It’s the sweet spot. In certain scenarios you can change it. I have a bunch of videos about this. Check this: kzbin.info/www/bejne/rIicoKyJadOknc0si=cYCF6WrOoTojcusB and this: kzbin.info/www/bejne/mavbm2muiKh3kNUsi=Cf_Di8NZgj9VXc9k

[@karlabmdz]

Would it be possible to see a video on how you make proper stop reduction luts ? :)

[@BlaineWestropp1]

I’ll consider it 😇

[@pandorabox277]

yes same

[@eike.zender]

Oh yes ❤

[@eike.zender]

@BlaineWestropp1 I recently checked with a few other KZbin channels that have had the topic of Cine EI lately to see if I might have a thinking error. Cine EI is all about keeping your base ISO, but having the opportunity to monitor properly, by imitating a stop reduction. So in this case, Cine EI is more like a different approach of reduction luts, right? If I'm not completely wrong, I wonder why more LUT creators don't include stop reduction LUTs in their sets - that would almost be a USP. I know the stop reduction LUTs so far only from official bundles, such as from Sony.

[@karlabmdz]

thanks! @@BlaineWestropp1

[@JanWilliamsBailey]

So with cameras like the Canon C70 and other cameras mirrorless/dslr camera such as the GH5, GH5s with the atomas monitors will I need to expose with Log with say Lights with false colour for say an Interview setup?

[@BlaineWestropp1]

I would say to not alter your current strategy if it’s working for you. I work on the c70 all the time and expose based on waveform. But.. you can dial in a monitor if you want. Helps for high dynamic range scenes. For example I recently shot fire with a c70 and used false color on a smallHD monitor.

[@pandorabox277]

that's amazing! where can I get those Stop reduction LUTs?

[@BlaineWestropp1]

Stay tuned.

[@BlaineWestropp1]

What camera are you looking to use them on?

[@pandorabox277]

@@BlaineWestropp1 For Sony FX3 but if you can drop a video how to make those LUTs then that will be amazing. Because I use Alexa mini for most of my commercial work.

[@pandorabox277]

@@BlaineWestropp1 🙌

[@DopestKush]

Hey Blaine, any idea where I could find some stop reduction LUTs for the atomos shinobi?

[@BlaineWestropp1]

Hey! For which camera?

[@DopestKush]

@@BlaineWestropp1 fx30. I’m mostly a flexible ISO user. Should I just adapt to cine EI?

[@BlaineWestropp1]

I think cine ei is a good move. cine ei is basically like stop reduction luts. but there is an advantage to a stop reduction lut, where you can put it on a monitor, send a log signal to the monitor, and use exposure tools on that monitor that are based on the log signal so you can be very in tune with your highlights and shadows. shoot me an email if you want them. email is on my YT profile.

[@Bobsmithabc]

What are the pink and green IRE values? Do you have a preferred false color profile or brand for the color values that you prefer? Like Flanders, SmallHD, etc?

[@BlaineWestropp1]

On the Alexa, green is 38-42%, middle gray. Pink is one stop over at 52-56%. I prefer shooting on the Alexa and using that exposure tool. On other cameras I just dial it in depending on what we are doing and what camera I’m using. On the c70 for example I pretty much only use the waveform. I’ll take whatever is the best exposure tool built into the camera.

[@Bobsmithabc]

@@BlaineWestropp1 thank you!

[@BlaineWestropp1]

Sure thing. Let me know if you have any questions. Any monitor can be dialed in as long as you know where clipping happens!

[@johnsmith-ti9yz]

The 356 shutter thooo

[@BlaineWestropp1]

Advanced maneuver

[@The_Daliban]

Hey Blaine, amazing video and topic! Regarding the log image. If you don’t have an Alexa or SmallHD Monitor, how can you build a false color Lut that takes the log footage as reference? If i just create a lut with colored ire values in resolve, the ranges will be all wrong. If i put a cst in front of it i‘m back to a rec709 image. Any ideas how to recreate a log based false color lut for any Monitor to import?

[@BlaineWestropp1]

Hey thank you. Hmm that’s a good question. I’m not sure actually. Let me do some research and get back to you. You may not be able to do that, but not totally sure. If your monitor does not have it, I would rely on zebras or a waveform or whatever exposure tool is built it to the camera.

[@The_Daliban]

@@BlaineWestropp1 that would be amazing actually. Gonna get a smallHD cine 5 anyway. Just amazing value. But this would be so helpful for many out there.

[@BlaineWestropp1]

The smallhd cine series is great. That’s what I was using here. Probably even more features in the new ones.

[@The_Daliban]

@@BlaineWestropp1 yeah i friend has one and is telling me it’s the best he has ever used. Since you habe to input your camera at the beginning there has to be a conversion of some sort happening in the monitor when applying false color to the log footage. What that conversion is, is the answer to the question. It can’t be a rec709 conversion, i guess. But i really don’t know.

[@BlaineWestropp1]

I will research! There may be a way. I know there’s a false color tool in resolve, and another in Dehancer. Could possible use that. Or use a qualifier to select only certain luminance values and shift it to a color with offset. Maybe that is the move. I will try.

[@AnthonyOrsino]

Question: why set the shutter to 356 instead of 180? Thanks

[@BlaineWestropp1]

only to let more light in for purposes of demonstration!

[@ZvilgantisKailis]

By "I will pullout red" what exactly do you to to the camera?

[@BlaineWestropp1]

Pulling the iris, stopping down :)

[@BlackHouse13]

What to do when trying to expose a monochromatic scene with highly saturated colors (Like full red light)?

[@BlaineWestropp1]

This is a great question. In my experience, based on messing up the first time I ever shot a scene that was in a bedroom that was supposed to be fully pink… use less saturation on the light than you think. Look at your waveform, make sure you are not clipping. Exposure is subjective, but giving the sensor enough light is wise so you have a clean image and flexibility in post.

[@BlackHouse13]

@@BlaineWestropp1 I was thinking about the same, but still unsure how much saturation should I use. Will experiment 😋

[@Asomers322]

Using the touch screen on the LF yet?

[@BlaineWestropp1]

Hahaha oh you know it!

[@nopro_films]

is it convenient to use the monitor vectorscope to white balance your frame?

[@BlaineWestropp1]

You could, I find it easier to use a waveform for that. I will just white balance to what I know the lights are though. If I’m outside I’m around 5600, if I’m inside with tungsten units I’m around 3200. If I’m in a supermarket, maybe I’ll white balance by looking at a waveform!

[@nopro_films]

@@BlaineWestropp1 Nice! can you make a video about that? wb ancd color separation are crucial for people who don't shoot raw like me, or have to work with 8 bit footage

[@BlaineWestropp1]

Yes. Consider it added to the list!

[@tylerjanik2132]

Any reason for having shutter angle at 356 degrees vs 180. Or were you just doing this for education purposes to get false color examples in a better place?

[@BlaineWestropp1]

Good question. This didn’t make the Final Cut, but I had to move the 360 degree shutter bc I wasn’t getting any clipping at 180 when I started recording!

[@tylerjanik2132]

@@BlaineWestropp1 okay got ya. El zone would be a good video.

[@the180degreerule3]

have you tried EL zone?

[@BlaineWestropp1]

I have not. But I am familiar with it and plan to make a video about it + sigma FP

[@mikafoxx2717]

​@@BlaineWestropp1please do. Seems more fitting than the complicated iso madness.

[@narutonaruto8502]

where can i find these luts?

[@BlaineWestropp1]

Here. On July 1!

[@VikTheGreat360]

As someone with corrosive sweat, I can’t use touch screen monitors to save my life. Instantly get them caked in finger oil and finger prints and it looks so bad when i’m shooting outside lmao If anyone else has this problem and wants an alternative to the smallHD, get an OSEE monitor. They have a lil Lenovo style thinkpad multifunction joystick

[@BlaineWestropp1]

smallhd has versions without the touch screen!

[@VikTheGreat360]

@@BlaineWestropp1 awesome!

[@paulconway1176]

I wonder why they just can’t have a pixel variation counter so the more pixels the same the less pixel count the bigger the number the better the exposure… simples!!!

[@BlaineWestropp1]

Hmmmm I don’t fully understand.

[@paulconway1176]

@@BlaineWestropp1 - Nah when I thought about it - it wouldn't work - (I thought I deleted this.. lol) I was thinking If there was a pixel varation counter it would give an indication of the dynamic range spectrum basically crushed blacks or an over-exposed clipping would mostly show whites within a certain range or blacks within a certain range, but an underexposed image would still show a good variation of pixels from light to dark but still would be underexposed and not recoverable without noise in image. So I'd just stick to Zebras and histogram, waveforms for clipping I thinks! oh yes and false colour being a great indicator of what's recorded - I subscibed 😀 - Oh do you think the new Atomos recorders with Arri FC and EL Zone are a good purchase?

[@nicklong7442]

Change it to a “B” I dare you.

[@BlaineWestropp1]

Took me a minute… will consider. 😂