How to Correct White Balance Using Scopes in FCPX

Color Grading with Color Finale 2 👉🏼 • Advanced Color Grading...
Get Better at Color Grading in 90 minutes 👉🏼 bit.ly/BW-Colo...
Check out my “Learn the Basics of FCPX” Course 👉🏼 skl.sh/3djPAqk
~~~~~ 🔴 FREE STUFF 🔴 ~~~~~
▶️ FREE Plugins & Transitions for FCP 👉🏼 bradwestmedia....
🔊 FREE Music for Creators 👉🏼 bit.ly/UppbeatBD
💥 My FREE ‘Whip Pan & Zoom Transitions’ Pack 👉🏼bit.ly/FREEWhi...
~~~~~ 🎬 DIGITAL TOOLS THAT I USE 🎬 ~~~~~
💥 Plugins & Effects for FCP 👉🏼 bradwestmedia.... (Check the link for discounts)
💥 My ‘Whip Pan & Zoom Transitions’ Pack 👉🏼 bit.ly/WhipPan...
~~~~~ 📸 THE GEAR I USE 📸 ~~~~~
🎛 Monogram Creative Console 👉🏼 bit.ly/Monogra... ($40 off with this link)
📹 My Travel & Studio Gear 👉🏼 bradwestmedia....
~~~~~ 🎵 MUSIC FOR CREATORS 🎵 ~~~~~
🔊 The Music I Use 👉🏼 bradwestmedia....
~~~~~📚 LEARN 📚 ~~~~~
🖥 Courses 👉🏼 bradwestmedia....
💡 Color Grading Masterclass 👉🏼 bit.ly/BW-Colo...
~~~~~ 🤝 LET’S CONNECT 🤝 ~~~~~
🌐 Website 👉🏼bradwestmedia.com
✉️ Monthly Newsletter 👉🏼 bradwestmedia....
📸 Instagram 👉🏼 bit.ly/BradWestIG
~~~~~ 🔴 CHAPTERS 🔴 ~~~~~
00:00 How to Correct White Balance Using Scopes in FCPX
If you have ever struggled to get an accurate white balance on footage that was shot in a tricky lighting situation or that has a color cast, then this video is for you. I’ll show you how to correct the white balance of your footage using the built-in scopes in Final Cut Pro.
It’s a pretty simple way of getting an accurate white balance, as long as you have a small section of you shot that is totally white.
On this channel you’ll find Final Cut Pro tutorials, filmmaking and photography tips and other things like travel vlogs when we Donna and I get the chance to travel, so if you enjoy that sort of thing then please subscribe to the channel.
#FCPX #ColorGrading #FCPXTutorial

[@Brad_West]

What aspect of Color Grading would you like to see a tutorial on? Let me know in the comments below 😊👇🏼

[@kikihappy]

So much Thanks from S.Korea :)

[@Brad_West]

You’re welcome! 😄

[@elmono3939]

Love the Prašná Brána and Charles Bridge !

[@Brad_West]

Agreed! Prague is easily one of our favorite cities in Europe 😊🙌🏼

[@gstevejordan]

One alternative to enlarging the frame which you may find to be a bit quicker, is to use the trim option and simply drag the frame edges in to create a small rectangle around the area to be balanced. Then only that area will show up in the scopes. That trick comes from KZbinr Serge M who, like you, offers up great FCPX tips - thanks for that.

[@Brad_West]

Thanks for sharing Steve! Funny enough I actually started doing it that way not longer after posting this video. It was either thanks to Serge M or Dylan John 😂👌🏼 Legends!

[@nickotv7714]

This is amazing tip. Never new that before. Thanks for sharing it.

[@Brad_West]

Glad you enjoyed it. Thanks for watching 😊🙏🏼

[@austinevplab7167]

Simply brilliant…as always!

[@Brad_West]

Thanks for watching 😊🙌🏼

[@joemiles6284]

I cropped into the specular highlights on the eyes of my subject and did this. Worked great!

[@Brad_West]

Excellent! Glad you found the tip helpful Joe 😄👊🏼

[@Rlyon777]

Never occurred to me to zoom in and fill the frame with white, great tip!

[@Brad_West]

Glad it was helpful! Thanks for watching 😄

[@Bryantfstephens]

Thank you thank you thank you. I never realized how not-white my whites were! So glad I found your channel!

[@Brad_West]

Awesome! I’m so glad it was helpful to you. 😄🙌🏼

[@theherbiebrown]

I would've never gotten that on my own. THANKS A LOT!

[@Brad_West]

You’re welcome Herbie! Glad you enjoyed it 😊

[@postproduktion3915]

Hi Brad, thanks for the helpful video. That's exactly how I know you and your work. Please, do not allow yourself to be removed from the direction by plagues. Thanks again and keep it up !!!

[@Brad_West]

Glad you enjoyed it Reza. More to come 😄👊🏼

[@darrengodssonfielding]

Always very helpful stuff. Have learned so many useful tips form you guys. Dankie baie

[@Brad_West]

Lekker 😊🤙🏼🇿🇦 I’m so glad you found the video helpful. Thanks for watching Darren!

[@cogmovies]

Thank you Brad! An amazing demonstration on how to correct White Balance within Final Cut Pro, without the need for 3rd party plugins. Great job!

[@Brad_West]

Thanks John. Appreciate it 😄🙏🏼

[@livingend]

This helped me a lot, thanks man! 😄

[@Brad_West]

So happy to hear that! You’re welcome 😊👊🏼

[@dereklamarstudios]

Thank you for this. Easy and thorough !

[@Brad_West]

I’m so glad you enjoyed it. Thanks for watching 😊🤙🏼

[@topicguide]

Hi Your videos is so simple & to the point always! Love to be with you always.

[@Brad_West]

Thanks for your feedback. I’m glad you’re enjoying the tutorials 😊🙏🏼

[@fredsonsilva0007]

Thanks! It helps me a lot!

[@Brad_West]

Awesome! I’m so happy to hear that 😊👍🏼

[@OlivierVerdier]

Thanks sooo much !

[@Brad_West]

You’re welcome 😊👊🏼

[@tylerhuttosmith]

This helps so much as someone who is colorblind! Thank you and subscribed

[@Brad_West]

So happy that this video was helpful to you 😊 Thanks for the sub 🙏🏼

[@juancarlos_mt]

Brooo, I watched this video a week ago. I’m currently working on some projects and this technique is just awesome. Sometimes getting an accurate balance can be extremely hard, but with this video I’ve been able to get through some difficult color corrections. Can’t thank you enough! Greetings from Thailand! 🇹🇭

[@Brad_West]

I’m so happy to hear that this technique was helpful to you! 😄 Those tricky white balance situations can be pretty difficult to correct at times. So glad this worked for you 😄👊🏼 Ah I miss Thailand! We visited there 10 years ago 😳 Thanks for the support!

[@nicolasguillaume2264]

Merci encore. Very good tips. I had an issue in color grading last week. I had to shoot in big room (100m2). There was natural light on one hand and Warm LED lights in the middle and the other hand. The light is different on each shots (because of changing positions and angles). I'm going to try as per your method but if it doesn't work maybe you know a good way to make every shots match together (maybe in another video).

[@Brad_West]

Thanks for the suggestion Nicolas. That can be a tricky grading situation. Let me know if this method works for you. Thanks for the suggestion. I’ll see what I can do 👊🏼

[@JTFuller]

Wow man, that was cool.. Very helpful thank you..

[@Brad_West]

You’re welcome. Happy to hear that 😊

[@tidusfantasy]

that was magic!!!

[@Brad_West]

Glad you enjoyed it. Thanks for watching 😂🙏🏼

[@katrienenyves]

Thanks brad, good info

[@Brad_West]

You’re welcome 😊👍🏼

[@florentR]

Amazing, thank you so much!! 🔥

[@Brad_West]

You’re welcome 😊👊🏼

[@Miranda_Maheri]

this was exactly what I was looking for!! thank you :)

[@Brad_West]

I’m so glad you found the video. Thanks for watching 😊🙏🏼

[@mymonfort]

Thanks a lot.

[@Brad_West]

No problem 😊👍🏼

[@7making]

Excellent

[@Brad_West]

Thank you! Cheers!

[@kingjesus5325]

super thank you god bless you

[@Brad_West]

You’re welcome! Thanks for watching 😊

[@joelbarto1103]

Very clear. Thanks! You touched on color masking. I still can’t figure out exactly what a mask is “doing”. Perhaps you can break that subject down for us.

[@Brad_West]

Hey Joel! Thanks for the suggestion, that’s a great idea for a future video. 😊 In the meantime, if you have a look at the video I made of my step by step color grading process I cover color masks a little bit more. Here it is: kzbin.info/www/bejne/ZpCWn3WHltiAb80

[@jesustrias8437]

Great. Gracias!!!

[@Brad_West]

You’re welcome Sergio 😊👊🏼

[@monizfilms]

Thanks for the tutorial Brad. FCP also has a colour balance picker and I’m wondering if this process is more correct.

[@Brad_West]

You’re welcome. 😊 I’ve used the built in color picker on FCPX and I’m honestly not a fan. It works, sometimes. I find that it often darkens the shot which is fine because it’s easy enough to correct that. I also like to have full control. If you don’t like the result with FCPX’s color picker, you can’t fine tune the white balance, you have to add a color wheel and make adjustments that way. Again, there’s nothing wrong with doing it like that, but its just not the way I like to do it 😊

[@ZoeyBlack]

Brilliant thank you! Been trying to improving my editing and colour grading and this was so helpful.

[@Brad_West]

Glad it was helpful!

[@thanhpham2542]

AWESOMEEEEEE

[@Brad_West]

😄🙌🏼

[@travisreed5965]

Way Cool Brother Man - Keep On Keeping On Cheers

[@Brad_West]

Thanks Travis 😊👊🏼

[@ipekavsargokdogan]

wow thanks soo much :))

[@Brad_West]

You’re welcome! 😊👊🏼

[@ginotarabotto]

Hi, super useful. So you don't need to shoot in a raw codec to be able to adjust white balance?

[@Brad_West]

Hi Gino. No you don’t, it’s better to get a decent white balance in camera to get better results when color grading but if you don’t have a shot where the white balance is totally off (like a super blue or orange shot) you can easily adjust the white balance. Having a totally blue or orange shot as an example will be harder to correct. Hope that helps 😊🤞🏼

[@trendingwwwandw]

Amazing content. Great video.🎶👍👍👍👍👍14

[@Brad_West]

Thank you 🙏🏼

[@rajpranavam5133]

super i like . how to in 4k video add scope

[@Brad_West]

You can show your scopes using Cmd 7, no matter what resolution you are working on 😊👍🏼

[@AlexanderStefanovBg]

Isn't it more easy to use a draw mask tool around "white area"? Maybe it's the same result, but faster.

[@Brad_West]

Yeah you can totally do that! 😊👍🏼 The area that is then displayed on your scope will be a lot smaller though. Filling the screen with the white area “fills” the scope so it’s easier to see what you’re doing. Also, on second thought you could probably use the crop tool to still fill the screen and get the same result faster 😄 Thanks for watching Alexander 👊🏼

[@ketzerman3120]

Hey Brad, thanks for your fcpx videos, they are super helpful, one quick question, how do you find the right saturation? I always struggle to find the point, where it's perfectly saturated and not over saturated, thanks for your help! ☺️

[@Brad_West]

Hey, thanks so much for watching! 😊🙏🏼 How much (or how little) you saturate a clip is definitely a personal preference kinda thing. Some grades look very cool when they are pretty desaturated and others that have colors that pop look really cool. Having said that, for most of my work I generally keep the vectorscope somewhere between a third and halfway in terms of intensity. Another thing you could do is bring a reference image of a grade you like into FCPX and use that as a guide for setting your saturation 😊 Hope that helps!

[@ketzerman3120]

@@Brad_West Wow, thank you so much for the detailed answer, these tipps are very helpful, especially the one where you keep your vectorscope, i mean for everything (colors, skintone, whitebalance, exposure etc.) there's some tools with some guideline, except for the saturation, there's nothing thats telling you "its too much" :D

[@Brad_West]

Haha yeah you only really realize that you have been over saturating when you look back at an old edit and think, “damn that looks nasty!” 😂 Happy to help!

[@mard6956]

Thanks brad what if I don’t have anything white in my clip? Also any update on that color grading course

[@Brad_West]

If you have an area that is grey, that will also help you get really close to an accurate white balance. Unfortunately things were delayed with the production of the course after moving countries but I'm still working on it. Hopefully I can get it done soon 😄🤞🏼

[@mard6956]

@@Brad_West thanks I’ll be waiting

[@omarbrown2696]

Proper

[@Brad_West]

😄👊🏼

[@mrlarrybull]

Thanks for a very helpful video! QUESTION: after zooming waaaaaay in to get the white part to fill the screen and lining up the RGB colors, when I go to zoom back out that clip is completely black. What did I screw up?

[@Brad_West]

Hmmm, I’m not sure. Try removing all the transform attributes by hitting Cmd + Shift + X. Make sure scale and position are selected and hit ok. Also make sure your opacity is still set to 100% and not 0%. Does this solve the problem? 🤞🏼

[@mrlarrybull]

@@Brad_West That did it! Thanks again!

[@Brad_West]

You’re welcome! 😊

[@YoussefHallouly]

Final cut also has a white balance corrector, why don't you use it? Or maybe it was not there when you made the video

[@Brad_West]

I find that it doesn’t always work too well. I’d say 70% of the time it’s worked for me, but in some cases I still get a green or blue tint so I wanted to show a more accurate (although more manual) way of doing it 😄👍🏼

[@YoussefHallouly]

@@Brad_West Understood! Thanks :)

[@rogerthompson2005]

Hi, thanks for your video. For some reason my RGB parade is showing RGB all in monochrome, so you cannot see the 3x colours displayed? Its not ticked 'monochrome' either - any advice please? thanks

[@Brad_West]

That’s really strange! I have encountered that error before. My go to solution for weird problems in FCP is to trash the FCP preferences and reboot. Give that a try and let me know if it works. Hope that helps 😊🤞🏼

[@rogerthompson2005]

@@Brad_West I found its because my screen is calibrated, and the scopes only show the RGB colouring with the standard imac picture profile now!! hope they fix it! Stupid not being allowed to view your screen is its best colour for colour correcting!!

[@Brad_West]

Oh no! That’s so stupid! Hopefully Apple fixes that in a future update 🤞🏼