In the comments section of my YouTube channel, I’ve gotten numerous requests for an HDR color correction workflow. The problem with trying to do a tutorial on YouTube is that QuickTime screen recorder only captures in SDR, resulting in a dark image and wacky colors, so for now, screen captures are the way to go. An X-Rite ColorChecker Passport Video is required for this method. A comprehensive HDR workflow can be found here.
1. SOOC
2. Adjust luminance with the color wheels.
Here is the proper way to adjust luminance for vibrant, contrasty HDR images that will pop off the screen! hehe
3. Correct white balance using the WB target of the ColorChecker and RGB Parade.
4. Draw a mask around the WB target and level out the red, green and blue
channels using the temperature and tint controls beneath the color wheels.
5. Open the vectorscope. Boost saturation to maximum using the master color wheel.
6. Draw a mask around the color chips as shown and using the eyedropper in Hue vs. Hue of the Hue/Saturation curves, select the green, cyan, blue, magenta, red and yellow chips.
7. While holding down the shift key, move individual colors up or down so they align properly on the vectorscope as shown. Return master color wheel saturation to normal when finished.
8. Copy the color the corrected clip (CMD +C) and paste attributes to all clips shot under the same lighting conditions.
9. Using the color wheels, tweak the luminance and boost saturation to your liking.
10. Apply draw mask to the subject’s face. Skin should not exceed 100-120 nits. Reduce brightness using midtone color wheel if necessary.
11. Correct skin tones using the draw mask, vectorscope and midtone color wheel. Skin tones should fall on the skin tone line of the vectorscope.
12. Using adjustment layer, apply film grain.
If you found this post helpful, you might also be interested in checking out my blog post on noise reduction.
The Daejeon Chronicles 
Thank you so much for this.
I was worried about wether to use my Color Checker Video Passport in HDR workflow or not…
But this gives me confidence.
One question – At what level do you keep the White Patch in the Waveform ?
The Glossy Black is close to 0… Middle Grey is ~18% … And White Patch is ~90% IRE..
So my question is what should be the ideal values for them in the Waveform ?
By the way.. any plan to make a post / blog for something similar in Resolve ?
( Note – I am still shooting on the old original Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera since 2016… Budget constraints…. 😋
Hi, Rajesh. Great questions! I’m pretty sure reference white should still be 100, middle gray in the ~40s and black should be 0, so my example is off a bit! I recently got Resolve Studio 17 with the Speed Editor and plan to switch over very soon! Once I do, I will be sure to make a workflow for DaVinci as well.
Hey Rajesh – It turns out I was mistaken about the levels of HDR reference white and 18% gray. https://daejeonchronicles.com/2021/02/13/hdr-reference-white/
Hi Jon,
I’m looking at the possibility to follow your kind of workflow (even if it could be only for Rec709 to start).
Why did you choose the UltraStudio 4K Mini over their DickLink cards to put in a box like this one https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1312723-REG/sonnet_echo_exp_se1_t3_echo_express_se_i.html
(to have a Thunderbolt 3 input)?
I ask this because of the price difference there is.
You could try it.
Comments say that some BlackMagic cards don’t fit well in this model.
Well, I wanted to know what made you choose the fully integrated BlackMagic box.
The fact to be able to use the keyboard and mouse? But maybe not only?
If you’re looking for a budget solution, the UltraStudio Monitor 3G is only $115, works with both Windows and MacOS, Resolve and Final Cut Pro, but it’s 1080p.
https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1578062-REG/blackmagic_design_ultra_studio_monitor_3g.html
Because it is compact, affordable and reliable. It is compatible with both DaVinci Resolve and Final Cut Pro. It has been updated to work with the new M1 chip. I’ve successfully used mine with the 2017 27” iMac and 2019 16” MacBook Pro, the Asus ProArt PA32UCX, LG C7 and CX OLED TVs and the BlackMagic Ninja V. Highly recommended!
Can you advise on where skin tone levels would be for delivering in HLG? How about an HLG delivery workflow?
Max should be 75%, skin tones should be around 55 to 60%. Set library to wide gamut HDR, project to Wide gamut HDR Rec.2020 HLG. When you are finished editing, send to compressor, create an HEVC master file then upload to YouTube.