"It is also worth bearing in mind that the traditional lift, gamma, and gain operators are particularly unsuitable for acting on ST 2084 image data, where 0-1 represent zero to 10 000 cd/m2. Highlights, in particular, can swing uncontrollably into extreme values as a result of small changes. Modern grading systems offer alternate grading operators... Continue Reading →
Back to Basics
We're not gonna lie - it's great to be able to just hook up the SSD from the Ninja V and start grading the RAW files immediately in Final Cut Pro with no transcoding. Apart from using it to white balance our shots, we've ditched the bad old ColorChecker altogether. Color charts are made for... Continue Reading →
Adjusting Exposure in Final Cut Pro
I was just in the middle of doing yet more tests to determine the very best zebra settings for the a7s III when I came across this - arguably the single most important step toward getting vibrant, contrasty, High Dynamic Range images in Final Cut Pro - adjusting exposure. Simply pulling shadows down till they... Continue Reading →
HDR Grading Tips
My longest HDR video to date, it took Compressor a ridiculous 4-1/2 hours to create the HEVC 10-bit file and an additional 24 hours for YouTube to finish processing the HD version! I’ve received many requests to do an HDR grading tutorial on YouTube, but a screen recording with QuickTime would be in SDR with... Continue Reading →
ProRes 422 or HEVC?
In our untiring commitment to being the ultimate resource for those seeking factual information on uploading HDR videos to YouTube, we’ve added another comparison that aspires to settle the question: should you be transcoding XAVC S-I to HEVC or to ProRes 422 when uploading to YouTube? This 10-second clip took 83 seconds to finish processing... Continue Reading →
Big Sur: UltraStudio 4K Mini Glitchy
After installing Big Sur (at last, Safari 4K HDR!), the dreaded spinning beachball of doom appeared anytime I tried doing anything at all in Final Cut Pro 10.5. Unplugging my UltraStudio 4K Mini, things returned to normal, so I was certain the device was the culprit. I'd already updated to the latest 12.0 beta firmware,... Continue Reading →
Sony a7s III ProRes RAW Support in Final Cut Pro (update)
I was really excited to learn that Apple had finally enabled white balance and ISO adjustments to ProRes RAW in Final Cut Pro and was looking forward to trying it out when my a7s III arrives in a few weeks, but Jordan Drake just brought to our attention that ProRes RAW WB and/or ISO adjustments... Continue Reading →
Get Stunning Color From Your a7 III
https://youtu.be/be8DDa-1aq8 If the audio sounds a little better in this tutorial, it's thanks to Serge M's wonderful guide to using the Audio Compressor effect in Final Cut Pro.
Switching to Resolve!
After months of agonizing, I finally broke down and hired a professional calibration technician to adjust my LG OLED C7, calling the very first name that popped up in a Google search for Ho Chi Minh City. The price was steep - $300.00 - but the quest for perfect color has become a crazy obsession.... Continue Reading →
Just a Reminder
https://youtu.be/WK_WbjzVVBU I have confirmed that HDR PQ does indeed work with the Asus PA32UCX, UltraStudio 4K Mini and Final Cut Pro. Meanwhile, still shooting Sony 8-bit HLG!
Achieving Perfect Color and Skin Tones in FCP X, Part II
In the second part of this tutorial, we color correct a shot taken with a daylight balanced LED light. The image is already looking pretty good straight out of the camera, and the differences might be too subtle to see given that the images uploaded to WordPress are small and much darker than the originals.... Continue Reading →
Final Cut Pro 10.4.4 Comic Book Effect
A new feature in the effects pane allows you to turn your live action video into animation at the click of a mouse. It’s pretty cool!
Leeming LUT v502: Basic Color Correction Workflow in FCP 10.4.1
1. Drag the footage onto the timeline. 2. Add camera LUT - Leeming LUT One - Panasonic HLG v502. 3. Adjust the shadows, midtones and highlights using the color wheels. 4. Fix the color temperature using the color temperature control. 5. Boost color using the saturation control on the left side of the master color... Continue Reading →
How to Use the Ninja Inferno for Grading HDR Video in Final Cut Pro
Once you've set up your project in Final Cut Pro and installed Blackmagic Desktop Video on your computer, you're just about ready to grade HDR video using the Ninja Inferno as an external monitor. You'll probably want to edit your project in 1080p and export in 4K. Note: This section is a work in progress! I'm getting... Continue Reading →
Say Your Goodbyes to SDR!
So basically, if you've got a camera that shoots RAW or LOG, for around the cost of the GH5s, you can get yourself a Ninja Flame or Inferno, a BMD UltraStudio Mini Monitor and the best 55" OLED TV on the market and begin creating and enjoying HDR videos that blow the socks off anything available today. What... Continue Reading →
How To Upload HLG HDR to YouTube in Two Minutes
There are now one or two excellent online tutorials for grading in HDR for delivery to YouTube, however (1) they restrict the discussion to V-Log L; (2) the workflows are either in DaVinci Resolve or NLEs other than FCPX; (3) they require the use of expensive external monitors and (4) they're overly long and complicated,... Continue Reading →