Your Color Grading Sucks, Not Your Footage!

[@SightseeingStan]

🎥 Sign up for Frameset here: frameset.app/stills?via=stijn And use the code "stan10" for 10% Discount!

[@foljs5858]

Wrong. Both my footage and my color grading sucks

[@SightseeingStan]

Ouch... 😅

[@SilverWiskeyStones]

Get rekt....Self!

[@phuotchillchill]

True! Me too

[@subhasishchristche]

😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@JohnnoWaldmann]

Both of mine too. But with practice one of those will improve.

[@Azharnazar2]

"I've been learning color grading for the past year, and your video was incredibly helpful! Your node structure made it so much easier to understand what's happening and where things are applied. A million thanks-so many of my confusions are finally cleared up!"

[@SightseeingStan]

Really glad it was helpful! Thanks! 🙏

[@patarman2589]

I’ve seen a lot of people on KZbin explain grading but I must say your workflow and explanation are awesome. Thanks for the content!

[@SightseeingStan]

I appreciate that! Huge thanks man 🙌

[@jonathanattanasio]

The "texture pop" is wow, I had never considered it. I coloured a V-log file of my Lumix S5 II, it already looked great before, with this method everything became easier and ten thousand times more beautiful. Thank you very much.

[@SightseeingStan]

Glad to hear it and that you found the video helpful! 🙌

[@cj_modeller]

I’ve watched like a thousand color grading tutorials over the last few days (zero experience or knowledge), and this is the best one, hands down. BIG thank you man!!

[@SightseeingStan]

Great to hear! Thanks a lot 👍

[@marcinjarecki2277]

one of the best video about color grading. Realy. I watch 100s yt videos about color grading. 80% of technics You use, i know from other videos, but You are first one, who take all of them to one video and explain everything in simple way. Simple and powerfull grading technics. 20% of what i was missing, i found in Your video. I had a problem how to change yellow warm tones, to orange, hollywood movie style, worm tones. Thank You

[@SightseeingStan]

Thanks so much! Glad it was helpful man! 🙏

[@BrunoVilelaIS]

I always get bored with color grading tutorials. thousands of nodes and explanations that are hard to understand. Your video is great for my needs. I don't want to be a professional colorist, but I need some direction to do some color grade and some explanations about what the tools are doing in my image. Your video brought me exactly what I needed! Thank you very much!

[@SightseeingStan]

Glad to hear that the video was helpful to you! Thanks a lot! 🙌

[@boldbearStudios]

Straight to the point without any babble. Great content, thanks a lot!

[@SightseeingStan]

Glad you enjoyed it! 🙌

[@mamoko_video]

Thanks for this tutorial. Really clear and simple.

[@SightseeingStan]

Glad to hear it was helpful! 🙌

[@luisdiaz7205]

man I love the emphasis on the simplicity i think we as colorist over complicate sometimes but you did a great job

[@SightseeingStan]

Glad you liked it! Thanks!

[@edgaramezquita5192]

I just love the new way of teaching/learning .... and you did a great job. Thanks for ur hard work and pushing the new way.

[@SightseeingStan]

I appreciate that!

[@Luckymich77]

Thank you for frameset and all the tips from ghis video. You have helped me unlock my animation skills on unreal engine. Its like night and day after this video!

[@SightseeingStan]

Glad to hear that! Thanks for leaving a comment 🙌

[@LukaToni84]

thanks for your video! that is the best and most helpful video I have watched over the 2 years I am working (amateur) on DaVinci Resolve and the first video who explained color grading perfectly!

[@SightseeingStan]

Glad it was helpful! Appreciate that 🙌

[@saturn_fpv]

You raise the shadow with the curve tool just to bring it down with the hdr wheel. Stuff like that will break the image qt some point. Stick to one tool for one purpose. Anyway, I learned about the compound node, so thanks man.

[@SightseeingStan]

Thanks for the tip! I'll look into that for sure. Glad you found the compound node helpful 👍

[@Sayject]

Hey man can I just say to someone who struggles learning things you really explain that perfectly thank you so much for your video I’m excited to learn more from you

[@SightseeingStan]

I appreciate that! Thanks 🙏

[@animator99_sculpt28]

I would like to thanks you thousand time, I've watched many tuts on KZbin and I bet you tuts is best one for me

[@SightseeingStan]

Really appreciate that 🙏

[@JacobGundesen]

Wuaw!! thanks do much!!!! You made my colorgrading so much more simple

[@SightseeingStan]

Glad I could help! 🙌

[@chrisjohnsonfilms]

Absolutely great grading tutorial. Your videos are must see everytime.

[@SightseeingStan]

@@chrisjohnsonfilms Really appreciate that Chris! Thanks man 🙏

[@RazaFilmsYT]

Excellent tutorial, love your workflow!

[@SightseeingStan]

Thanks a lot!

[@NoahBayl]

Woooow thats gold!!! Thank you so much

[@SightseeingStan]

Glad it helped!

[@waoqee]

Thank you for this, brother! The information on this video I had to learn throughout more than a year until I understood it fully, only if I had this video an year earlier would've saved me a ton of time! Princeless vid anyways, hope many people see it!

[@SightseeingStan]

Really appreciate that man! Glad to hear you found the video helpful 🙌

[@ProduktFilm]

This was just amazing! Many thanks

[@SightseeingStan]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@CwoodFPV]

Awesome!!! Best workflow I've seen to date

[@SightseeingStan]

Appreciate that! Glad you like it 🙌

[@SerjMelnychenko]

Fantastic video - learnt so much from it, and will definitely try the same workflow for my clips. Thank you!

[@SightseeingStan]

Great to hear! Glad you found the video helpful and I hope you get good results on your footage 🙌

[@joshrathbun1]

Thanks for making this as I am still struggling somewhat on coloring but this filled in the gaps! You the man!

[@SightseeingStan]

Happy to hear you found the video helpful! Thanks! 🙌

[@molleancia7809]

Amazing, dude. Great video, thank you¡¡¡

[@SightseeingStan]

Glad you liked it! Thanks!

[@Its_dinosaur]

Thanks for the helpful content dude keep doing more

[@SightseeingStan]

Thanks! Glad you found it helpful! 🙏

[@EricCheung]

Beautiful! Great explanation too!

[@SightseeingStan]

Glad you liked it! Thanks 🙌

[@FrankEats]

This was awesome. Thank you 🙏

[@SightseeingStan]

Glad you enjoyed it!🙌

[@mattcfilms]

Great tutorial! Hope to see more!

[@SightseeingStan]

Thanks! Stay tuned! 🙌

[@BourgeFilms]

Thank you for this!

[@SightseeingStan]

Glad it was helpful!

[@UraFlight]

Amazing tutorial Stan ! Could you please show us or make a tutorial on how to change a colours of different objects without affecting for example skin tones colours ?

[@SightseeingStan]

Thanks a lot! Glad you enjoyed it. Sure thing, I'll keep it in mind as a potential video topic 👍

[@UraFlight]

@@SightseeingStan Thank you so much for your reply

[@elsofokefana]

Amazing dude! 🔥🔥

[@SightseeingStan]

Glad you enjoyed the video man! 👍

[@xplorewithcamera]

Great Tutorial .. Thank you

[@SightseeingStan]

Glad you liked it! Thanks 🙏

[@mmoik7819]

Maybe for beginners it makes sense to hit the "Auto" button before starting to color grade just to get an idea where the color is off or what's going on with the original. Always helps to save a ton of time. The reference image is next level :)

[@ajithkmr62]

You are incredible ❤

[@SightseeingStan]

Cheers! Really appreciate it 🙌

[@Resol-world]

You can use it with wide gamut for editing and it auto converts different camera profile automatically (if clip has it set), so think even easier to use with multiple camera. Otherwise you need to change the profile by hand in the cst nodes for different profiles.

[@SightseeingStan]

If that method works for you, then that's awesome! I prefer the CST method, especially when working with film emulations 👍😊

[@mateostabio]

Wow, thats a lot of work!! how would you do a video with 200 cuts?

[@SightseeingStan]

Copy paste or grade at timeline level or use groups

[@elvismorellidigitalvisuala6211]

What an amazing and PRO workflow... can't wait to try, it works with 3D rendered images sequence ACES profile?

[@xutsider]

apart from learning basic exposure triangle.. this is the only video you need to see.. see my trailer for chapter 2, these are the only two things you need to study especially as a beginner for photo and video

[@DreamsToRealityLLC]

Thank you bro I was hoping you would do this

[@SightseeingStan]

Appreciate it man, glad you enjoyed it!

[@nonskippable]

Nice grading tutorial! I’m just not sure if the grain should be applied at the beginning. Many say it should be at the end of the pipeline. What are your thoughts on this?

[@SightseeingStan]

Good point and I actually had a discussion about this with a colleague. I am honestly not sure what is the 100% correct way. I've seen it both ways! I have so far not noticed a difference to be fair..

[@nonskippable]

@@SightseeingStan If it works, it works! 😉 I’ll check it myself. Thanks!

[@zerocore_]

@@SightseeingStanI spoke to a colorist who made a good point: When you grade digitised analog footage, the grain that already exists in the image gets affected by the adjustments you make. Therefore it usually makes sense to add your artificial grain before your grade.

[@tacosalpaxtor]

That's some knowledge you dropped man. Liked and Subd

[@SightseeingStan]

Appreciate that! Thanks for subbing 🙏

[@carloprendon8070]

Do u have also film look creator tutorial? Anyway nice content man! I tried this one in my video it looks way better now than old edit videos.

[@SightseeingStan]

No I don't at the moment! Glad the video was helpful to you! 🙌

[@probilmusic3396]

I just subscribed to this channel its so enjoyable

[@SightseeingStan]

Appreciate it! Thanks for subbing 🙌

[@andersistbesser]

Ja grading sucks with many guys. I learned the same as i learned that i dont need a better camera but better grading skill. Since i am better now my camera feels like a new one😂

[@SightseeingStan]

There's definitely a lof other things involved in getting good looking images besides just the camera!

[@chadaway]

thank you for this

[@SightseeingStan]

Glad you liked it 👍

[@clickredeye]

Excellent video

[@SightseeingStan]

Thank you very much! 🙌

[@Icavot07]

Awesome video! Do you have any Blackmagic 6K Pro tutorial to explain the correct CST?

[@MattShafter]

Now do it for those that have Davinci Studio please.

[@SightseeingStan]

@@MattShafter The workflow is the same no watter if you're using the Studio version or the free version.

[@romanbruni]

brilliant ! cheers from Rio

[@SightseeingStan]

Thanks! 🙌

[@Sebas-sg1kj]

Hi! Great video. Question: why you turn up the dark areas with curves first and then make them darker with hdr controls? why not to remove the curve ajustment on dark areas first? thanks.

[@0vvo]

I have question about skin tones, what is the best approach to keep the skin tones right in this type of cold film look. It is even necessary to have skin tones right if we have blue scene like this? Can you show us your skin tones on scopes after final touches? thanks a lot! ;)

[@SightseeingStan]

Not an easy question to answer so simply. There are different approaches for correct skin tones. I would say it looks nicest to have correct skin tones, but really depends on the grade. In the example of this video the skin tones are pretty much correct on the scope.

[@BurlapandLight]

Great video and explanation. Definitely going to be adding this to my tools to use. But, I shoot Fuji and for the input color space, fuji is not an option.

[@SightseeingStan]

Allthough I have no experience with Fuji footage, I've read input color space rec709 or rec2020 and gamma F-Log. Have you tried this?

[@BurlapandLight]

@@SightseeingStan Just tried the Rec709 for input and that worked out great!

[@BurlapandLight]

@@SightseeingStan I have noticed that doing it this way also bogs down my CPU and I get jittery playback after the color edit. Anyway to fix that? I make sure Resolve is the only program open as well.

[@michaelp3736]

Do you have advice with footage that wasn’t taken in log, but just the standard of my Sony Camera or iPhone? Meaning do I simply take out the all the transform nodes?? Or a suggestion maybe do a video showing color grading that was not filmed in log. Great video though and I will try to go back to log (I’ve never liked the result because it took so long to get back to what was very close to what it looked like if filmed not in log)..

[@SightseeingStan]

Yes, your footage is then not Log but Rec709. So you could essentially use the same workflow. Normally when you convert your Log footage to Rec709, it should look pretty much the same as if you would have shot it in a standard (non log) profile...

[@michaelp3736]

Thank you! 👍

[@markdavidalcampado7784]

This week I guess this video stands out

[@SightseeingStan]

Thanks 🙌

[@kurt_hansen]

Hi, thanks for this, nearly the same as i am doing it...., but why not using the new Film Look node?

[@SightseeingStan]

Hey man! I actually haven't used that much so far. So I can't really say anything about it!

[@markjhonvillania3489]

I love your workflow bro. may i ask what is the color space timeline settings for ipad pro davinci resolve?

[@basedontruestories]

Nice one

[@SightseeingStan]

Thanks!

[@kristofeight9668]

If you correctly set up color management in project settings you don't need first CST node

[@RickProductions]

thank you sir

[@SightseeingStan]

Glad you enjoyed! 🙌

[@RapzoneProductions]

Share the steps to setup for hdr workflow and export for 8bit footage and it should say hdr on KZbin after uploading.

[@Salman_Quadri]

Thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you!!!!!

[@SightseeingStan]

Glad it helped!🙌

[@deandaddison]

Yeah this is basically keys to the kingdom...

[@SightseeingStan]

Glad you enjoyed it 🙌

[@herlambangtanosefren2350]

Nice tutor

[@SightseeingStan]

Thank you!

[@fabiorebelopaiva2649]

What's best Colour Management for colour grading, HDR or Wide Gammut?

[@SightseeingStan]

I'd say wide gammut

[@IntoTheLightCreative]

3:38 Super helpful tutorial! Thanks so much. :) Question: Why go from CST DaVinci Wide to Rec 709 and then CST Rec 709 to Cineon instead of skipping that step all together and just doing CST DaVinci Wide to Cineon? (I thought Cineon has more color info then Rec 709, so wouldn’t it be better to not go to Rec 709 until the very last step- which is what that film LUT is doing- taking it from Cineon to Rec 709. At least, that’s what I thought anyway…)

[@SightseeingStan]

The reason for that is because if you want to reduce the gain of the film LUT, you need to have that REC709 node. Otherwise you'll be going back to a log image (Cineon). I mention that in the video. If you're using the film LUT at 100%, then of course you don't need that extra node.

[@IntoTheLightCreative]

@@SightseeingStan gotcha. Thanks for that clarification, and for the great video. :)

[@quickpickle]

Personally id remove the magenda from the skin using color slice.

[@jordyissappig]

i think ive done some wrong settings how can i see what my monitor uses?

[@chrissmichaels]

Fantastic. Can this type of work be used in a full-fledged Feature film??

[@SightseeingStan]

Thanks a lot Chris. This will work on any footage from any camera. I have never color graded a feature film but I have color graded a short film with this method.

[@chrissmichaels]

@@SightseeingStan That's cool. I was planning to use it on feature film.

[@balamurali1784]

What's your system's specifications and CPU, graphic card everything

[@SightseeingStan]

I'm on a macbook pro m1

[@heiko4297]

Wait. Could you explain, why you are doing the color space transform with so many nodes? Couldn't you just transform it straight to the point, what the "lut needs"? Why those extra steps?

[@SightseeingStan]

The first one transforms log to DaVinci Wide Gamut in order to do the grading in a wider color space. Then you go to Cineon Log for the LUT. And the extra Rec709 transform is optional in case you want to reduce the gain of the Film LUT.

[@heiko4297]

@@SightseeingStan if I'd go from LOG to REC709 in one step (not applying a LUT), and do the grading on this one, I lose image information and actually work with less, than I captured? Oh dajum. Thank you!

[@TLOverlander]

So.... Crushed blacks and over saturation?

[@zenitaudiovisuals]

indeed... wrong way crushed blacks. 🤷‍♀

[@rinkoyama813]

Why do you use so many color transformations? Would it be possible to use only one? Slog to film cineon and that’s it? Why do you transform it to DaVinci and then to rec709 and then to film cineon?

[@SightseeingStan]

Slog to DW is so that you can work in DW color space, which is a wider color space than slog. The last rec709 is so that you can reduce the film LUT if you want to.

[@walaabahnassi1009]

thx bro

[@badfrank8339]

perfect video. And what about skintone?

[@SightseeingStan]

Glad you liked it! I typically just keep an eye on the skin indicator on the vectorscope while grading

[@badfrank8339]

@@SightseeingStan ok ok. 😊 But how to grade it without grading background? 🙏😀

[@SightseeingStan]

@@badfrank8339 Oh that would be a whole other video with using qualifiers or masking!

[@badfrank8339]

@@SightseeingStan yeah exactly, i think i want this for christmas 🤣🤣

[@SightseeingStan]

@@badfrank8339 hahaha let me talk to Santa for ya!

[@Monk.9]

thxxx a lot, 1 question why the grain node before the exp. node

[@SightseeingStan]

I don't have a specific reason for it. I've seen/heard ppl put it at the end. I haven't noticed much difference either way...

[@aaronhinton92]

With all due respect, this is bad advice. You’re teaching bad behaviors. You should never do anything in nodes after your output transform, because you’re breaking your color management pipeline. Film looks should be built before your output to Rec709, not after. Those old film LUTs are designed for older workflows where the LUT itself is your output transform.

[@HarshParmar-x3s]

Correct. I don't know why but many people are doing this on KZbin 😢

[@bishopbell01]

I'm struggling to learn color grading cause any video that I've clicked, they're doing it. At least the tips from the video gave a good look to my clips. Still I hoping to find some "Color grading made right"

[@felipesaconi6233]

wondering how I should configure the color normalization for a shoot performed with a iphone 15 pro (in 4k 60fps prores log). Is the input color 709? Thanks !

[@momobabo50]

Film grain is for the paid version

[@momobabo50]

texture pop aswell

[@StuartHetzler]

How do you know what color space goes with the film look LUT you applied?

[@Andresvideo]

If it's a Film lut that comes with Davinci, you always go with Cineon. All other online luts, you have to guess. Some are named for "log" or rec709 but others don't. Just trial and error and pay attention to not let the lut destroy your image.

[@PaulPaul-vj2vx]

why not transform directly to cinelog in the second CST-Node? why an extra node?

[@SightseeingStan]

As I explain in the video, this is for when you would want to reduce the gain of the Film LUT node. So you go back to Rec709 and not Cineon Log.

[@PaulPaul-vj2vx]

@@SightseeingStan ah, makes sense! but wouldn't it give me more quality if I would use the whole possible colorspace of DaVinci wide gamut etc to go to cinelog and change to rec 709 at last?

[@deondriamichelle]

Dope

[@SightseeingStan]

@@deondriamichelle thanks! 🙌

[@HoneyBoySoSweet]

Where can I download sample footage for practise?

[@reymarkanacan4991]

what if I am using a macbook. what would be the Gamma in Color Transform?

[@SightseeingStan]

Rec709-A

[@Resol-world]

For the life of me, not sure why you recommend a CST node and not use the color managed workflow. It suxks to have to add that node in every clip.

[@SightseeingStan]

You can copy your entire grade onto all other clips with the same camera color profile. This method allows you to grade in a broader color space plus if you're working with different camera profiles I find it an easier workflow. But hey I think a lot of it also comes down to personal preference. At the end of the day, if you're getting good results that you or your client is happy with, than that is the best workflow for you!

[@nicholasbrecken7357]

Use groups. Work smarter.

[@Resol-world]

@@nicholasbrecken7357Again it's built in you don't need to even assign clips to groups. Anyways all the pro classes I took recommend color managed.

[@KonstantinA27films]

signed up for email but have not received node tree after it. Any chance to share it.

[@SightseeingStan]

What email? I haven't mentioned anything like that

[@KonstantinA27films]

@@SightseeingStan sorry, wrong tab. you can ignore.

[@trevorwild195]

Too bad the Film Grain and Texture Pop are only available in Studio (paid) version. The rest I can follow not too bad.

[@DrewProject]

If you simply start tweaking the color without any conversion why is that a mistake? (I’m on fcp, not davinci)

[@SightseeingStan]

You're free to start editing straight from your log footage. It's just more difficult to get accurate colors etc. Rec709 is a standard color space which most monitors display. So converting it to rec709 shows you the footage the way its actually supposed to be (what the camera captured when it was filmed and how it will be displayed on a monitor).

[@landonstudios]

I just slide random dials till it looks alittle better then the original

[@worm7861]

Great video. My videos are washed after export and I preview my videos with apples quicktime player. Any help here

[@SightseeingStan]

Thanks a lot! Make sure your output color space is rec709 gamma 2.4 or rec709 (scene). You can also check what it looks like if you import that exported file back into Davinci. Does it look washed out as well or does it look good? Quicktime or any other media player doesn't necesarilly show you a "correct" image...

[@javimartinez7194]

its possible video iPhone log? color grading tutorial

[@BOSSISBACKSTUDIOS]

love from india..

[@aalihimu]

What if my monitor is sRGB?

[@matthewhartman7176]

It's likely still 8bit, which is rec709. 99.99999% of consumer monitors, TVs, and screens on devices are in some flavor of broadcast rec709, which is why colorists transform into that color space/gamma for delivery. There is no current way to ensure 100% display color consistency across the plethora of consumer grade screens in the world, so I wouldn't worry too much about achieving the impossible.

[@aalihimu]

@@matthewhartman7176 thanks

[@JoshuaScottApplegate]

hmm, when I export the project with this workflow, its exporting with a flatter image than im viewing in davinci. Anybody else?

[@JoshuaScottApplegate]

oh I think my color space needed to be REC707-A for mac

[@SightseeingStan]

Glad you found a fix for it! 🙌

[@JoshuaScottApplegate]

@@SightseeingStan Yes super helpful video, thanks for the tips - brought my shitty grading on this project to something that looks half way decent - too bad I already delivered the project before seeing this HAHA

[@nakinaki7991]

We act as we gonna create color grade like this😅

[@Nidakhan.mbilal]

😮😍🙌

[@SightseeingStan]

@@Nidakhan.mbilal 🙌

[@JoshuaHardee]

Im sorry, but the final grade looks worse than the film lut without the conversion. In my opinion, you overworked the grade but the talking head part of your video looked decent. So you hit the mark on your own headshot but missed the mark completely on the grade shown as an example.

[@frank.arroyo]

Nice video. But if you don’t expose properly all of this goes out the window