If you're one of those people who tend to stay in the cinema for a moment at the end of the film to watch the credits, you've probably come across the term 'colour grading' at some point. The number of phases and processes involved in producing a film, regardless of its length, can be surprising. It's not enough to just film the content and edit it; numerous adjustments are also required to ensure that the final result meets the team's expectations and is faithful to the script.
Colour grading is a fundamental part of this extensive teamwork required to create a story that reaches its audience. If you don't know what it is, stay with us. We'll explain it all, and at the end, we'll give you some tips to make your projects' colour the best it can be.
What is calibration?
Colour grading involves the manipulation and editing of colour in an audiovisual project. Since we cannot control the lighting conditions during filming, the weather, the hours of daylight or their intensity, post-production becomes a crucial moment to adjust these aspects. This is where colour grading plays a fundamental role.
Colour grading is the manipulation and editing of colour in an audiovisual project. But why is it so important? Colour has a deep emotional impact on the viewer and can help us convey a specific emotion. For example, if the short film we're shooting is a noir piece, you can create a darker mood to convey mystery and clandestine activity. This way, we can use a palette of tones that allows us to create a specific atmosphere and make the viewer connect more with our message and the universe we're showing.
However, it also has another, much more practical purpose: correcting the colours of a scene that wasn't filmed as required. As we've mentioned, it's impossible to control the time of day when filming outdoors, so colour grading can help us adjust the colours of all the shots that will make up our video or film. It will also help to create visual cohesion so that the entire work is perceived as a single unit.
How is it done?
To achieve quality colour grading, it is essential to have high-quality recordings and establish a clear objective for their use. This objective will act as a guide for the perception or feeling we wish to evoke in the viewers. From this premise, we can select the colours that best suit the desired tone and atmosphere in the colour grading process.
The calibration process is intricate and consists of several fundamental phases. These include:
Material
Suppose we have already recorded all the necessary footage for our project. Now, before anything else, it is essential to import and order all the sequences according to how they will appear. It is important to have a clear idea of how the film or video will look before colour grading.
Primary colour correction
Before making any colour adjustments, performing a white balance is essential. This technique allows for the correction of any chromatic irregularities present in the shots. Subsequently, it is necessary to edit and homogenise the exposure to ensure no image is over- or underexposed, thereby avoiding the loss of detail due to excess or lack of light. Overexposure can result in a blown-out image, where only white is perceived, while underexposure can lead to an image that is too dark, almost invisible. It is also recommended to adjust the contrast and brightness during this phase to achieve optimal image quality.
Secondary colour correction
At this stage, attention is paid to the most minute details, selecting specific areas of the frames to adjust particular colours. This approach allows for the editing of saturated zones and the modification of specific colours without affecting the rest of the surrounding area.
Creative calibration
This phase, also known as grading, is the core of the colour correction process. With the desired look already defined for our project, we proceed to carefully select the necessary layers to create custom looks and give a distinctive appearance to the production. At this point, we can employ LUTs (Look-Up Tables) or integrate colour effects such as gradients, vignettes, or hue adjustments to enhance the desired visual style.
Review
It's common, when working on a project for a long period, for details to slip through. Therefore, it's essential to thoroughly review the edited material. We recommend performing this process on a calibrated monitor to ensure colour accuracy. This way, you'll be able to view all scenes with true colours and make last-minute adjustments if necessary. This review will allow us to ensure visual consistency across all recordings and the desired atmosphere for the project.
Export
When all the material has been reviewed and approved, it's time for one of the most rewarding parts: rendering and exporting. This means we've achieved what we wanted and are happy with the result.
Remember to choose the appropriate format so that the project can be distributed or projected, depending on the function you wish to give it. And, of course, always save a copy on an external hard drive along with the colour grading settings, in case you need to review or edit something in the future.
Calibration vs. colour correction
It is important to clarify some terms before continuing, as they are often confused. Although we refer to the process as grading today, it is also often called colour correction. This confusion is common and can become even more complicated if we try to understand both processes simultaneously. Therefore, it is preferable to explain them individually.
Colour grading, the main topic of our discussion today, focuses on the use of colour to evoke a specific mood in the viewer or to create a particular atmosphere that complements the message we wish to convey.
The second term, colour correction, is remarkably technical and focuses on ensuring that the colours in a video align correctly with what is displayed on screen. Here, the main objective is to achieve a visual representation that is accurate and true to life, without adding specific artistic or emotional intentions. Essentially, the aim is for everything to look as it should, without deviations or distortions. Colour correction includes processes such as white balance, exposure, and skin tones, among others.
As you can see, the main difference is intent. Behind colour grading, there's an artistic will, seeking to capture a particular atmosphere to convey a series of emotions that connect with the viewer.
Tools
To carry out grading, we have a variety of programmes that can considerably simplify the process. It is important to remember that in its early days, grading was a physical process that involved the manual editing of film strips, one by one. Fortunately, nowadays we have software that makes this task much easier. Below, we present some of our favourites:
DaVinci Resolve
This software offers complete control over your project's look and is perfect for those seeking a specific style. You'll be able to make very precise adjustments to colour, contrast, and brightness until you achieve the desired appearance. It also features numerous creative grading functions, such as curves and keyframes. The first thing you should do is import all your project material into the program. Then, you just need to go to the ‘colour’ tab and edit as you prefer.
We recommend getting familiar with the global adjustment tools (exposure, contrast, and saturation) first. This way, you can make small edits and better understand the software. Once you're happy with the overall look of the image, it will be time to move on to more specific areas with the node-based grading system. You'll be able to make non-destructive adjustments, meaning you'll always have the opportunity to go back and make changes if necessary.
Adobe SpeedGrade CC
Its main advantage is all the tools it offers. It is the most recommended if you are looking for precise control over colour grading or need to match the look of multiple scenes or shots. As it works perfectly with other Adobe Creative Cloud applications, it is much easier to share projects and sequences between programmes.
To start working with Adobe SpeedGrade CC, import your sequences into the program and begin with layers. We recommend that the first one be positioned above all others so that the adjustments affect all sequences located below it. From there, you can add layers on top of individual clips or groups to make more specific adjustments. As with DaVinci Resolve, all changes made in SpeedGrade CC are non-destructive, so you can experiment without fear.
Blackmagic Design Fusion 18
This last option offers a wide range of features and a flexible interface with which you can customise the workflow according to your needs. Fusion 18 is also compatible with 360° videos, making it ideal if you work with virtual reality (VR) or augmented reality (AR).
You have two distinct workflows for colour grading: node-based and timeline-based. The former offers users complete control over colour grading, allowing them to apply unlimited adjustment nodes to their sequences. The latter allows you to edit footage using traditional timeline editing tools. It will all depend on your preferences and the project's needs.
Additional tips
Interested in the wonderful world of colour grading? If you want to start colour grading and have already chosen your software, we've got some tips to help you get to grips with and understand the necessary programmes without losing hope (or patience):
Monitor calibration
Work with professionally calibrated monitors to ensure accurate colours.
Visual references
Use visual references and maintain open communication with the director or cinematographer to ensure the creative vision is aligned.
Consistency
It is necessary to maintain consistency in the colour style throughout the entire production, not only to achieve the aesthetic purpose but also the emotional one. Remember that colours influence our mood and help us to delve deeper into the characters' skin and into the situation.
We hope that with this data and advice, you have understood the importance of colour grading and the effects that can be achieved. If you need help with colour grading or creating an audiovisual project from scratch, at MadMedia we will be happy to assist you. Together we will discover Cómo hacer que tu idea se haga realidad.