To become an object of beauty for the eyes, color grading should not be overlooked in video editing. It is a simple program that many professionals use for color grading, but beginners can also access it. To transform your footage, this guide will help you gain knowledge about the basics of color grading with DaVinci Resolve.
Getting Started with DaVinci Resolve
Firstly, download and install DaVinci Resolve from the official website. Then open the software after installing it and start a new project. Go to File> Import> Media or drop your files into Media Pool to import your video clips.
Understanding The Interface
By being complex at first glance Davinci resolve’s interface is designed such by default to make your workflow efficient. The following are important panels among others in Color Grading:
- Media Pool: This is where your clips are imported and organized.
- Timeline: Used to organize clips into one video.
- Viewer: This panel enables you preview your footage.
- Color Panel: This is where all magic of color grading happens.
Click on Color tab at the bottom of the screen to switch to Color workspace.
Primary Corrections
The first step in color grading includes getting primary corrections done which involve adjusting basic settings so as to fix any issues like exposure and white balance you might have with your footages.
Color Wheels: In Color Panel check beneath “Lift”, “Gamma,” GAIN” and OFFSET”. These manage various parts of image:
Lift controls black levels (shadows)
Gamma manages midtones which affect overall contrast perception by manipulating how shadows look, while highlights remain untouched.
Gain manipulates white levels (highlights)
Offset affects overall brightness/ darkness levels of an image or frame as well as hue biasing (or tint).
Use these wheels to balance your image; if it’s too dark increase Gain for instance.
White Balance: If there are problems related discolorations say too warm or too cool colors adjust Temperature and Tint sliders in Color Wheels panel.
Secondary Corrections
With secondary corrections you can adjust specific areas of a frame without affecting the whole image.
Qualifier Tool: This tool is used for selecting a particular range of colour within an image. Selected, one can alter the colour, saturation and brightness of this range.
Power Windows: These are shapes which you can place over parts of your image to make localized adjustments. e;g if one face in your video seems darker than others then you should use a Power Window to brighten up that area only.
Adding Style with LUTs
LUTs (Look-Up Tables) are premade color grading presets that allow you to quickly impart a specific look or style on your footage.
Applying LUTs: In the Color Panel go to LUTs tab. Scroll through available LUTs and drag it onto clip after choosing one. You may blend the LUT with original colors by adjusting its intensity.
Fine-Tuning with Curves
Curves give you precise control over color and contrast in your images.
Custom Curves: A graph appears displaying diagonal line across the screen when clicked on curves. By clicking and dragging points on it, you can change brightness/contrast at various sections of photo, for instance shadows, midtones, highlights etc..
Hue vs Saturation: This curve allows adjustment of saturation for select hues in footage… For example, your video may have intense green backgrounds that simply dull other shades by reducing their saturation.
Color Matching
This is important to ensure that they all look alike if you have multiple clips shot in various lighting conditions.
Color Match Tool: In the Color Panel, choose a clip that you want to match with another one. Click on the Color Match button and by using the eyedropper tool, select a reference point you need. DaVinci Resolve will automatically tune its colors to be just like your reference.
Exporting Your Graded Footage
Whenever you are done with color grading, it is now time to export your video. Scroll down and go to Deliver tab at the bottom side of your screen.
- Render Settings: Select your preferred format and settings.
- Add to Render Queue: Press Add to Render Queue button,
- Start Render: Finally, click on Start Render button in order for your video can be exported.
Conclusion
Changing footage from average into stunning with DaVinci Resolve for color grading. Amazing videos can be created by mastering primary corrections and secondary corrections, learning how to use LUTs, fine-tuning curves against them and keeping colors consistent. Keep trying as within no time; professional quality color grades will become easier for you to produce