The Subtle Art of Storytelling 🌈🎨

Color grading is the process of adjusting the colors in your video to achieve a specific look or mood. Whether you want to enhance the warmth of a sunset or create a cool, cinematic atmosphere, color grading is just one more tool to add to your artistic toolkit.

I use Davinci Resolve Studio, which I’d argue has the best color grading software available! If you get overwhelmed, I’ve provided a step-by-step breakdown of how I have quickly color graded in just 10 minutes for the last 3 years! It is only now that I am starting to expand my use of the available tools.

I’d argue this basic color grading is all you need in the beginning, but would encourage you to level up when you have time. Good color grading can make your videos look more professional, and encourage viewers to give your videos a longer chance.

Demystifying Color Grading Language

Before we dive in, let’s unravel a few terms that might seem like a foreign language to our fellow beginners:

1. Shadows:

• Definition: The darkest parts of your video, where less light hits. Think of the shadows as the hidden corners that add depth and mood to your scenes.

2. Midtones:

• Definition: The middle range of brightness in your video, neither too dark nor too bright. This is where a lot of your video’s detail and texture reside.

3. Highlights:

• Definition: The brightest parts of your video, where the most light hits. Highlights add can draw attention to specific elements.

4. Hue:

• Definition: Hue refers to the color itself—red, blue, green, etc. Adjusting the hue can dramatically alter the overall color palette of your footage.

5. Saturation:

• Definition: Saturation controls the intensity of colors. Dial it up for a vivid, lively look, or tone it down for a more muted, sophisticated vibe.

6. Exposure:

• Definition: Exposure determines how bright or dark your video appears. Adjusting exposure can impact the overall luminance and mood.

7. White Balance:

• Definition: The color temperature of your video, ranging from warm (more red and yellow tones) to cool (more blue tones). Adjusting white balance ensures your colors look natural in different lighting conditions.
• Tip: Get yourself a white plastic card that you can take underwater with you and adjust your white balance on your camera to the card. This will make your underwater footage crisper than your eyes can see! YES: you can do this on a GoPro.

8. Contrast and Brightness:

• Definition: Contrast is the difference between the darkest and brightest parts of your video. Contrast adjustments can set the overall mood of your video.

Emotion: Tints and Temperature

Tints:

Tints are subtle color variations that can evoke different emotions. For example, a slight magenta tint can add warmth and romance, while a cool blue tint might create a serene, contemplative mood.

Temperature:

Refers to the warmth or coolness of the overall color tone. Warm colors (reds, yellows) create a cozy, inviting atmosphere, while cool colors (blues, greens) convey calmness, distance and sadness.

My EASY Process For The Last 3 Years

It’s only recently that I have started dipping into Color Grading more, but below is the process I have used for the last 3 years and is really all you need in the beginning to add a bit of POP to your videos. Look for the red arrows in each picture to understand what I am referring to.

1. Go into the Color Tab of Davinci Resolve

2. Open the Color Wheels

3. Open Scopes, and use “Parade”

4. Adjust the “Lift” so it sits just at or slightly below the “0” on the Scopes.

For my DSLR, the Lift is normally a negative number, but for my GoPro, its typically a positive number.

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5. Adjust the “Gain” so it sits just at or slightly below the “1023” on the Scopes.

For my DSLR, the Gain is normally a positive number, but for my GoPro, its typically a negative number.

6. Increase “Saturation”.

I increase this just a smidgen (1-2) for my DSLR, but a lot more (5-9) for my GoPro since I decreased lift and gain.

7. I end by adding a bit of Tint or Temperature depending on the emotion I want to portray. I also use these functions to color correct footage if it is too much of one color. For example, in this clip of Breena from Creator’s Wheelhouse, I added in “-100” temperature because her red hair was making the clip too orange.

That’s it! Once you have one clip color-graded, you can select all other clips that you want to be similarly graded and click the middle button of your mouse while hovering the clip you have already color-graded (you’ll have to google an alternative button if you don’t have this on your mouse!).

If your software offers it, don’t shy away from using presets. They’re like training wheels for color grading. Apply them, see how they work, and adjust to your liking.

The Art of Color Grading: Beyond the Basics

If you decide you want to step it up, which I hope you eventually do, the next level of color grading is about crafting a visual narrative that resonates with your audience. It’s also about creating a visual identity, something your audience starts to identify you with. I encourage you to experiment, play around, and discover your own style.

1. Shadows, Midtones, and Highlights Refinement:

• Step 1: Open your color grading tool and locate the controls for shadows, midtones, and highlights.
• Step 2: Independently tweak the shadows, midtones, and highlights to refine the tonal balance in your footage.
• Step 3: Experiment with subtle adjustments to enhance specific elements within your frame.

2. Color Channels Manipulation:

• Step 1: Explore the color channels (red, green, blue) in your grading tool.
• Step 2: Make individual adjustments to each color channel, fine-tuning the color balance for a unique look.
• Step 3: Observe the impact on your footage and adjust until you achieve the desired color harmony.

3. Color Grading with LUTs:

• Step 1: Import Look-Up Tables (LUTs) into your editing software. LUTs are like Presets, but they adjust less parameters. They are typically put on top of footage that is already color-corrected to look normal, but that is not a required first step.
• Step 2: Apply different LUTs to your footage to preview and choose a cinematic look.
• Step 3: Fine-tune the intensity or blend mode to achieve the perfect balance.

4. HSL (Hue, Saturation, Luminance) Adjustments:

• Step 1: Locate the HSL panel in your color grading tool.
• Step 2: Adjust the hue, saturation, and luminance of specific colors within your footage.
• Step 3: Refine each parameter until you achieve the desired visual atmosphere.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

As you embark on your color grading journey, beware of these pitfalls:

1. Overdoing It:

• Less is often more. Avoid saturating colors to the point where they become distracting.

2. Inconsistent Grading:

• Strive for consistency, especially in a series. Beware that footage from different cameras is color graded to look similar. Your audience will appreciate a cohesive visual experience.

3. Ignoring Skin Tones:

• Keep skin tones natural. Nobody wants to look like they’ve spent a day on Mars.

Action

Choose one color grading tool you are going to use and practice in your next few videos. ONLY after you are seamlessly using it, add in the next tool. Good luck! 🙂