My NEW Favourite Grading Tool in 2023

How to improve your film emulation looks ? One of the keys to this is the Density of colours. 'Ive just discovered this great plugin from Mononodes.com and it is so simple to use and looks fantastic!
*Please note that HUE V LUM is just one of MANY ways and tools needed for film emulation - this is really just ONE example of an incredibly useful tool. You can also recreate a similar look without this DCTL but please note - there is some seriously good maths going on here!
10% off all DCTLs from www.mononodes.com if you apply code DARREN at checkout.
00:00 INTRO
00:10 Film Looks
00:37 How to make video look like Film
01:05 Kodak 2383 LUT
01:20 Hue V Lum
01:46 Versions in Resolve
02:20 What is a DCTL?
03:06 Installing a DCTL in Resolve
04:18 Mononode Color Shift
07:10 Which Colorspace?
07:40 Hue Shift
09:10 10% Discount Code
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10% DISCOUNT on ANY Dehancer product using code DARREN10 at checkout www.dehancer.com
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** DOWNLOAD MY NODE TREES & OTHER STUFF HERE FOR FREE - If you have already subscribed you should have received an email link already.
bit.ly/2RrjvpN for free downloads and items coming in the future and all my current discount codes are listed **
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15% MINIMUM DISCOUNT ON MOTIONVFX
Graphics in this episode were made using MotionVFX for DaVinci Resolve. Get 15% discount with this link or more if they are running a promotion mvfx.co/DarrenMostyn using code DARREN at checkout (excl bundles).
I used mTitle Hype DV, mTutorial DV, mTuber 2 DV and mKBHD
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** If you want to say "thank you" then you can 'buy me a coffee' if you like.
always appreciated and with a personal thank you AND get your name posted on my next KZbin LIVE**
www.buymeacoffee.com/darrenmo...
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Images Courtesy Chinchilla and Katya Ganfeld. www.katyaganfeld.com
#dctl #density #filmlook

[@Bo_Hazem]

This is mindblowing yet something I need to learn nonetheless. Thanks a lot for this amazing video, Darren.

[@DarrenMostyn]

Glad it was helpful!

[@ragingpoop8658]

wow it looked way more natural than the hue v lum. blackmagic should just pay the developer and make this built in.

[@Rogeras32]

not a 200€ difference though, right? :D

[@WanderAndringa]

@@Rogeras32 lol it for sure is! You're paying premium for a good quality camera/lenses etc. etc. Why not lay down an extra €200 to hand your clients even better looking footage? This is what it's all about mate.

[@PawFromTheBroons]

@@WanderAndringa I tend to have second thought about plugins being almost the price of the actual software they merely complete.

[@JimRobinson-colors]

There you are. Full marks for pronouncing Stefan's last name. I don't think I have heard anyone try that. I have been talking with Stefan over the last few years. Really good guy as well. And as you know I really like to see good guys, do well. One of the reasons I started promoting and referring you as well. I honestly hadn't got to Stefan's DCTLs as of yet. He really delved in heavily in the recreation of film looks, with a really out of the box method that he developed. It seems we are all trying to get that red, looks like this will get us closer to that goal. Stefan is going to be happy with this video, Darren. You explained and made his product look tremendous. Good stuff.

[@DarrenMostyn]

Thanks Jim. Yes, I wouldn't talk about any product Im not happy using on my own work, and after a project last week I was quite blown away by its simplicity and quality. I have to confess to a 'post-it' note under my camera lens with a phonetic spelling of Stafan's surname!!

[@JimRobinson-colors]

@@DarrenMostyn i talked to Stefan and he gave a thumbs up on your pronunciation. But he did mention that Daria got it closer.

[@DarrenMostyn]

@@JimRobinson-colors OK....not happy! I practised for at least 5 minutes! :) Daria is better than me at most things to be honest!!

[@samchambliss3442]

Super cool! Learning that Resolve has tools to essentially make our own tools is just amazing.

[@themakerdigital]

I love how you're not acting like "the god mastermind" and more giving subtle tips and tricks and showing your own discoveries and most importatly it feels like you're more excited yourself doing it and showing it to us and it's a real passion of yours

[@DarrenMostyn]

It is - I literally started using this tool about two weeks ago and once used on a real job and client and me happy I fell in love with it. Using on a BBC documentary grade TODAY!

[@enidrajm]

I've been deep in the rabbit hole with Stefan's DCTLs since I encountered your video a month ago. Love them! Thanks for the introduction.

[@haserway]

Just wow! So many spent hours on nailing a specific colour. Huge time saver, thank you!

[@DarrenMostyn]

Glad it helped!

[@12yfilms]

Ok you got me. I'm buying it right now. Your presentation of this tool looks amazing. I love the deep red color of her sweater. You were able to achieve this without adding the back-and-forth steps to correct her face. Thank you!

[@Omnis2]

Always love finding someone new to follow. That DCTL transform is stunning

[@DarrenMostyn]

Stefan is a good guy with a great product! Check out his KZbin channel too

[@NerdSyncProductions]

That difference is stunning!!

[@team2films]

Great video Darren. Excellent example clips too.

[@StefanRingelschwandtner]

Great review! Thanks so much again!

[@DarrenMostyn]

Thanks @stefan ! Look forward to seeing what you create next!

[@shanthanbomma]

This technique is so similar to the lightroom sliders! Amazing!

[@pauls1ngh]

Amazing run down. Thanks Darren 🙏👍

[@DarrenMostyn]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@SleipnirADV]

Great one! Need to try this tool out

[@B9CINE]

I also downloaded this plugin DCTL, I really liked it.

[@GlennTaubenfeld]

Absolutely gamechanger. You’re such a great teacher. Been following your channel for abit now

[@DarrenMostyn]

I appreciate that Glenn, thank you

[@rjroser202]

This is so exciting!!

[@PeppermintGentleman]

This was great! Thanks for sharing this!

[@DarrenMostyn]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@ALECDRAY]

This is a game changer! Thank you!

[@FilmByKyle]

Yes! I just started using these as well. So 100 percent worth it.

[@alexisagcopra4207]

In my very juvenile DaVinci Resolve journey (3 months in), whilst transitioning from photography to videography, your channel is the very 1st one I have looked into, and still the one I follow to help me with Colour grading especially understanding how colour works and how davinci works. Kudos, sir 👍💯

[@DarrenMostyn]

Thank you Alexis. Appreciated

[@epicbucketlist]

Wow, that is pretty neat. Thank you for sharing.

[@Ivan-RAW]

As allways, I loved it! Thank you for teaching! ❤

[@DarrenMostyn]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@yp118]

Great Darren,great! Great as usual!

[@DarrenMostyn]

Many thanks!

[@Miaxkash]

Darren, I have watched so many colorists on KZbin and I have to say you are an amazing teacher. Thank you for sharing your knowledge!

[@DarrenMostyn]

Thank you.

[@clicknpics]

Thanks, Darren it is appreciated

[@PostromoPictures]

Really great tool! The way you can control how the shift affects highlights with that "deep" tool is life-changing haha

[@FilmBarrie]

Instantly bought this, I've been dealing with this issues for YEARS (I have a resolve USB license stick for goodness sake.) This is going to dramatically change how I work and it just simplifies the whole node chain further for me. Such a rad tool, thanks Darren! And thanks for the coupon code!

[@DarrenMostyn]

Im loving it too.

[@carminepost9472]

Yep, I have been up on Stefan for a while, defo on my next to buy list!

[@DarrenMostyn]

Loving his work!

[@christianrushpostpro]

I kind of liked having this tool as my secret weapon. Now the cats out the bag on Darren's channel! I love everything from mononodes. I've got about half the shop in my arsenal. It's amazing

[@babyave]

just bought it! thankk you for showing this off. gamechanger for sure

[@DarrenMostyn]

Hope you enjoy it!

[@videooutpost]

To think about all the times that would have saved me so much trouble... doh! Thanks Darren! (and MonoNodes).

[@chuseto9386]

Awesome!!! I'm just ask my shelf about some tool like that!!! In a future I'll buy this.Thanks so much.

[@maxbressan]

wow this was great!!

[@thebandthatisDAVE]

Cool! Thank you

[@raquetamalvada]

Thx 4 sharing!

[@DarrenMostyn]

No problem!

[@XVIIsionsProductions]

That is awesome!!

[@chrisburks7292]

Wow, this looks awesome!

[@DarrenMostyn]

It is!

[@huynhaibac2020]

topnotch colorist !!! Always great explanation , thank you !

[@budiherryanto]

❤❤❤ Amazing, thank you for sharing this knowledge to the world.

[@DarrenMostyn]

You are so welcome

[@karliemorris7318]

thanks you for teaching this

[@DarrenMostyn]

It's my pleasure to share great products with my channel!

[@davidp158]

Powerful stuff with more control that what is already pretty good in Resolve.

[@DigitalGenki]

This is ground breaking. thank you for showing this to us

[@DarrenMostyn]

You are very welcome

[@Rogeras32]

just your average density packed into a 200€ dctl thing. Just add HSV node, go into rgb mixer, turn off "preserve luminance" and increase the green chanel in the green output. Here, I saved you 200€, you're welcome :) I'd much rather spend these money on a Walter Volpatto TAC resolve training pack

[@DigitalGenki]

@@Rogeras32 i'll try it out, thank you :)

[@julienpierb]

Funny how, yesterday I had never heard of DCTL and this morning I have 3 colorists talking about it. Amazing stuff!

[@DarrenMostyn]

welcome to DCTL world!

[@benderocks788]

Just like in pro audio, vintage analogue gear/treatment seems to be sought after in video too for the warmth and richness it imparts. However, digital emulation seems to get closer and closer to the analogue thing, so nice find there Darren, thanks for sharing your discovery. BTW, that old red phone, we had the EXACT same rotary phones here in Canada several decades ago. In the house where I grew-up, we had that exact phone model so it was an instant FLASHBACK experience for me to see that phone again! Forget about "Color Warping" on the phone, I'm talking "TIME Warping" of the phone here!!! 😂 Thanks for that double-whammy rotary red phone experience 🤣☎🤣

[@DarrenMostyn]

Glad you enjoyed the video and the phone!!

[@xguilherme011x]

I have this tools for a while, and from the tools itself to costumer service Stephen did amazing! I really how he did the saturation and density

[@xguilherme011x]

And it works as good in aces as in dwg

[@davinci7643]

Thanks 👍🏻👍🏻

[@gmore70]

Amazing. Thanks

[@GuidoValdata]

This Is actually very interesting!

[@helle_larsen]

This is amazing!!

[@DarrenMostyn]

Its a fantastic product - I use all the time!!

[@BayuRahmawan_id]

HOLY MOLY !!!

[@HeliopausePictures]

Nice example, Darren! I just finished a film using these and they truly are life-changing. One tip I have is to choose whatever dctls (perhaps no more than two) per scene (using groups) in a post clip. If you start using a bunch of these at the clip level your timeline will get seriously bogged down. I find them to be more of a look device rather than a clip level effect anyway. They are awesome! Almost like having Baselight in Resolve :) Thanks for sharing!

[@DarrenMostyn]

Glad you ar enjoying them too. Thanks for the advice!

[@itsRohanJoshi]

Hey ! Can i reach out to you somehow? Do you have an email or Instagram?

[@DarrenMostyn]

@@itsRohanJoshi instagram is best. search my name. No tech support pls

[@shawncorrigan1759]

Thanks!

[@DarrenMostyn]

Thank you for the super thanks. Very kind!! All the best, Darren

[@DAF21films]

i bought this plugin and i dig it, i dig it alot, its a must have if you use Dehancer or filmconvert.

[@londonztoa6359]

Great look Darren. Some of his other plugins are rather tasty too..

[@DarrenMostyn]

Agreed!

[@joyoffilming9500]

After testing the Color-Shift DCTL Package just last night with a larger private project, I could not do other than press the purchase button this morning. This is exact what I've been waiting for to get away from the curve-tool (although I feel quite familiar with it). I could 'copy' within 1 hour my curve-based favorite 'Mediterranean Hollywood Look' with just 3 DCTLs from the package in my node tree - but at much higher precision, far less noise or artifacts, and even higher render speed. Even for me as an (quite ambitious) amateur the business case for these tools is quite simple: At a price of $ 179 (after applying your code) these DCTLs save me hours of complex curve-bending, running into color-blocking or fringing, etc. Also, on the render side, thing become faster as I can simplify or even omit noise reduction, speeding the render process by at least 25% in average. I can fully understand that you, as a professional colorist, must have such a tool in your arsenal. Thanks so much for introducing these DCTLs to us.

[@DarrenMostyn]

Im glad you agree with me - they are fantastic DCTL's!! Enjoy.

[@MetalmcBiff]

Oh WOW! The way it retained the darks and saturation without blowing out the subtle highlights and textures in the reds is absolutely wild!

[@DarrenMostyn]

I loved it instantly too!!

[@TheVapingHeed]

Thanks for using s log 3 footage Darren,nice to see davinci guys using more consumer camera stuff. I've been looking at dctl stuff for a while and Ur video is an awesome explanation of them. Many thanks

[@DarrenMostyn]

Glad you like it. Yes, we get all shapes and flavours of footage here!

[@rongchn_]

Amazinggg

[@ErikWerlin]

Love this tool and great info. Hopefully I'll be at a point in my career where I can spend money on great tools like this.

[@danilesuslovi]

bro, thank you

[@lisandialmonte9262]

🔥🔥🔥🔥

[@michaelbobarev]

Wow, wow … magic & delicious !!❤🔥🎥

[@gatopardo9960]

amazing

[@DarrenMostyn]

Thank you! Cheers!

[@gomezcreativemedia]

WOW!!!!

[@Der_4xel]

Hey Darren, just started with DR and I think your channel is one of the better ones when it comes to explanation of the actual functionalities and how they work in general. The problem for me is to keep this information in my head since it sooo comprehensive. However, love it. Since I am a diver, I would be quite interested in your approach in color grading/ correction this kind of footage. Any chance for this you could do that?

[@DarrenMostyn]

chromatic adaptation in the effects will be your best friend here. also watch my episode here about RGB Mixer kzbin.info/www/bejne/boecdJeEqc2ZqZY

[@TrapPhoneLoveMelodiesss]

Mind blown @5:06 🤯🤯🤯 Wow!

[@Bearwoo]

Great stuff, need to try this out. So many good plugins out there now. I am a huge fan of Scatter and Filmbox by Videovillage in case you have not checked them out.

[@nicomirinda]

Great video!. Haven't heard of that tool before. Thanks for sharing. Quick one. What are your thoughts around Filmbox by VideoVillage? I use that tool to simulate film and it does an amazing job. Not cheap tho, but I found it to be the best compared to Dehancer, FilmConvert and Look Designer (from ColourlabAI).

[@JoshDavid]

i shot the red telephone footage on 16mm film with another DP named Nikita for Isamaya French - thanks for featuring! love the channel

[@DarrenMostyn]

I work with Katya who directed this shoot - I did some work on this job. Nice to meet you Josh.

[@JoshDavid]

@@DarrenMostyn small world i love it! amazing work as well thank you

[@drewh79]

It's like having a light room tool for Resolve, it's amazing.

[@manasdas2473]

Had to struggle with it by doing it in LAB COLOR SPACE and using just the saturation part n excluding luminance.. this make life easy

[@Rogeras32]

google davinci HSL HSV density and enjoy your life, mate :)

[@HikingWithCooper]

He has some great items. Looking at his skin tone heat map dctl because dang that speeds things up.

[@jmalmsten]

Looking at this and the other tools at Mononodes... He seems to do things the way I want to... Now, I am really tempted to plunk down money on both the DCTL's and the film damage thing he has built. Dang ye!!!

[@fpsoundpacks]

Wow very pricy!!! Thanks for the hint using hue vs lum.

[@unklevinhsjournal8089]

Hi Darren, I love every one of your videos and thank you for posting them, I think you are just amazing. I'm a very amateur youtuber wanna be but I would like to up my game in color grading, I have a question if you don't mind helping me. Ive heard about DCTL for a while now but hesitate to purchase it because I only color grade my video in REC709. My question to you is would you recommend me to purchase DCTL for my color grading and wouls it be a game changer for me? Thank you for your time.

[@mohamadali2066]

Thx Darren amazing explanation, plz explain how to make multiple exports from same grade HDR-Rec709-DCIP3-DolbyVision how to setup the color mangment at the start for multiple exports, what are the possible way for trimming at the end. & plz make an Episode on White Point.

[@ProEditingLooks]

nice

[@CINENIMUS]

Have you got an episode on Sharpening and it’s node placement?

[@lexexists3335]

This is so cool! Do you know if the deep slider would have the same impact on deeper skin tones?

[@DarrenMostyn]

it is isolating level of highlights, so all skin tone will be affected on the slider.

[@nashhall694]

Totally agree Darren, I’m already way ahead of you & have been using Stefan’s DCTL’s packs (crosstalk, hueshift & colorshift ) for a month now & they have been a game changer in making my wedding films pop. They are worth every cent!!!!!👍🤗🤘🥰

[@DarrenMostyn]

Great to hear!

[@DarrenMostyn]

@@muziektelevisie Hi. Im blocking you from my channel for even asking. It's not a strange question, it's asking me to break the law and disrespect the months of work that went into this for Stefan who designed the DCTL who deserves every penny. How on earth you think I would even consider this is beyond me! You are not welcome on my Channel.

[@muziektelevisie]

@@DarrenMostyn yeah, you're right that was stupid, I'm an idiot. in my defense, i'm just a hobbyist, not a pro. of course I wasn't asking you, but the commenter. I've actually already bought it in the meantime from stefan's website!

[@DarrenMostyn]

@@muziektelevisie In light of you buying it legitimately and recognising the work of Stefan I'll not block you. Thank you for doing the right thing. It's a great plugin albeit not the cheapest, but you get what you pay for. Wish you all the best and thanks for being honest. Darren.

[@GrantSR]

The VAST power in Davinci Resolve, that I i only paid $300 for, constantly boggles my mind!

[@MrJhmw01]

Density is not just a question of hue-lum but of sat-lum too, so to emulate in resolve one also needs to invert from the effect of an additive color science to a subtractive science, that is the more colour present, the less luminance but also the more saturation. I wonder what the maths is behind this, which colour model etc.

[@DarrenMostyn]

appreciated that a lot more can be done to get a more filmic look - the idea of this episode is to show how simple it can be.

[@akoabo7]

You can do that in davinci alone, all the tools are there, even the more “unknown” routes in the architecture of resolve. But you have to be willing to invest in that, it will make you understand the “science” that’s already there in resolve and color science in general. You’ll have a bigger understanding for look development and how to get there what you and the dop and director have in mind. (not talking about you Darren, just in general) Film is of course more than density alone, much more. The biggest advantage however for this tool, as far as density is concerned, is you’re saving time! And as a professional you want to save time! And for sure, an incredible tool in any colorists arsenal! And Darren, still best resolve channel out there🔥

[@DarrenMostyn]

as mentioned in my description of this video - more tools needed for a film look than just hue v Lum and a FPE LUT. This DCTL is actually the closest Ive seen to getting me where I want quickly and accurately for look development too. Film is of course more than density, but this episode is about that, not halation etc as covered in my other episodes. However, I don't believe you can do this 'easily' in resolve - there is more maths going on here in the DCTL than the tools you have in regular Resolve. Appreciate your kind words on my channel too! This is great tool, not a cheap one, but it will pay for itself very quickly in the right hands. All the best, Thanks for comments. Darren

[@Rogeras32]

Great take, most of these DCTL tools are literally DVR features repackaged into a more consumer friendly interface. Many "routes" that you are referring to are pretty well known in the industry but take a little bit of research that a lot of YT commenters don't even consider. The only thing worth investing into are good grain scans and proper luts / look development plugins - well, aside from self-education of course

[@DarrenMostyn]

@@Rogeras32 Hi - actually these DCTL's take maths further than DVR tools.

[@DarrenMostyn]

Appreciate that you understand a good DCTL when it's presented. Of course we can do this ourselves, but I'm like you - I need a good fast tool and this is it. Appreciate the kind words too BTW!

[@TheGerryFrank]

Hi Darren. Gerry from Austria here :) First let me say i admire your work - both - colorgrading and the way you create your YT videos. Now question : Have you had the chance to check out Stefans´s Look/Lab/Print DCTL which only seem to work in ARRI color space. I still struggle to incorporate his DCTLs into my DWG Workflow. What would be your approach ? Thank you so much for your opinion.

[@blueroomstudiosbury]

Brilliant video, thanks Darren.... I use Black magic pocket Cinema cameras 6K & 4k and mainly grade Black Magic RAW Gen 5 colour science, should I use the CST in the node tree or can I set the project settings to Davinci YRGB Colour managed, Davinci wide gamut intermediate and rec.709 Gamma 2.4?

[@DarrenMostyn]

All answered here for you. Hope this helps. kzbin.info/www/bejne/bpjIdZWEpa1omas

[@pierrelouismarketing]

Hi mate, I love your channel. I cannot find one video of someone using a colour checker x-rite when grading footage. There is a tab in Davinci Resolve but someone is ever showing where to add the node especially when using log footage. Help!!!

[@houthat]

wow

[@RussellCane]

TOP

[@stefanocson6237]

great

[@DarrenMostyn]

thx

[@simonwyndham]

Hi Darren, one thing I always get confused by is the colourspace settings. I notice you have a CST in the grading nodes to convert to DWG, but I've seen other colourists setting the project itself to DWG then setting the input and output project setting gamut to Rec.709 if they are working with that footage. Wondering if you could do an explainer on the differences between the two methods? I know you've done such things in the past, but not sure if you've covered it with the latest Resolve releases, which seem to have changed things a bit from the older versions.

[@DarrenMostyn]

Its all covered here Color Space Transform - PRO COLORIST Explains kzbin.info/www/bejne/eaW2c4mBoq2eoLc

i often have problems with hue vs luminance as it creates noise and banding and so on ... are these different in that regard ?

[@LeeRolling]

CN：我一直都很喜欢你的视频！今天看到这一期教程 受益匪浅！学到了很多！非常感谢你的教程！就是在中国大陆这边买这个插件有点不是很方便！😂PS：我英文不好，我用的翻译器。 EN：I have always loved your videos! I have benefited a lot from seeing this tutorial today! Learned a lot! Thank you very much for your tutorial! It's not very convenient to buy this plug-in here in Chinese Mainland! 😂 PS: My English is not good, I am using a translator.

[@DarrenMostyn]

Hi Lee. I cant help with purchasing - this is not my product, Im simply enjoying using it. Hope you get sorted. darren

[@LeeRolling]

@@DarrenMostyn 感谢您的回复！MR.Darren Mostyn。 我已经通过一些办法购买到了这个插件！对我的工作有着非常大的帮助！感谢您分享给我们！谢谢！ thank you for your reply! Mr. Darren Mostyn. I've purchased this addon some way! It is very helpful to my work! Thanks for sharing it with us! Thanks!

[@ErivesFilms]

Thank you for uploading all this awesome content! Quick question, what output color space should I use for a Macbook Pro? Rec.709, Gamma 2.4 or Rec.709, Rect.709-A? Thank you!

[@gasspro5715]

Im wondering too..

[@DarrenMostyn]

Output colour space is determined by your deliverable. THEN match your screen to that. So I deliver for broadcast, must be Gamma 2.4. Then my monitor is set to Gamma 2.4. Its not the other way around.

[@ErivesFilms]

@@DarrenMostyn Thank you! So it will vary, what would Netflix, KZbin, Facebook or other social media platforms be? Are they individually different? Maybe this could be an upcoming subject for a tutorial video from you? Thank you Darren!

[@sebastianojeda423]

should mask the dctl in some objects? not everything?

[@ikonmediafilms]

I've been working on my own DCTLs! it's been a treat being able to know that you want to achieve something and then knowing you can do it. Mind you it's not a walk in the park... Ive spent a lot of time ripping out my hair lol but so far I'm working on two tools one based on a Subtractive (Somewhat close to the way CMYK behaves) saturation color matrix and film density.

[@MetallNYX]

I found the warp tool very effective for that kind of effect. I also very often use 3D Lut Creator Plugin. Great tutorial by the way as always. 👍

[@brown2840]

Color warper can do very similar with not much effort.

[@DarrenMostyn]

Not really.

[@jaykellett7693]

HOLY SH*T