Color Grading / Color Timing in Photoshop

[Mintoro]

Hello,

I am searching a way to do Color Grade like in the attach sample
Would you guys tell me the technique to do in Photoshop
I cant find tutorial about it, i had read many PS book about color
but no info about proffesional color grade like this.


Thanks
mintoro

i dl the sample from www.finalcolor.com

[SalaTar]

32 float and a bit of cash

[Mintoro]

hmmm,

come on man, i just wanna use for personal still photograph
scan from negative film. (only 14/16bit per channel)

Can you guys gimme a clue. I cant find information out there.
thanks

Mintoro

[Yossarian!]

Umm, levels and curves? Is this a trick question?

SalaTar is getting at the fact that the images above were done on highly specialised software using 32bit colour processing and images which were probably run through a $5 mil telecine machine.

It looks like most of the results were achieved by crunching the levels, desaturating and tinting to a particular tone then doing spot grades on specific features (ie. vingette for the sky, blur here, grad there...)

Just play with the colour tools dude

[Mintoro]

No its not trick

I hv been searching a way to do it for many years "since the Matrix movie"
I was shock when i saw the movie look green but it still pleasing in my eye.

I try blending mode in photoshop but still look bad/ not smooth or look natural
so after watching finalcolor web i try looking the answer in here.

I use nikon filmscanner for scan the negative but, color result is so normal
image. I use curve and level in photoshop for adjust contrast and color balance.


thanks
mintoro

[SalaTar]

Take a look at digital film tools for PS

http://www.digitalfilmtools.com/photshopprods.htm

[Mintoro]

hmmm, that expensive solution eheh :)

So, its really hard to do in photoshop only ?
or simply not possible in photoshop?

come on guys, tell me some your movie magic touch here


thanks,
mintoro

[haz]

well there isnt really any magic involved apart from knowing the tools and how to apply the tools to the colour vision/style you are after.

If you really want a quick fix, then you could use something like Magic Bullet by red Software (developed by the orphanage). But to get a colour like those images you showed you have to be able to have access to a telecine machine like Spirit or DaVinci... and that costs! also if you want to do frame by frame you have to make sure your frames have alot of depth information (16bit or 32bit)

Hope this helps... its not like everyone doesnt want to share their knowledge.. its just that you have to face the facts... those shots were done on some serious high end systems.. so what you are asking us is to figure out a cheap alternative.. :)

[Mintoro]

hello haz,

hehe you right,
I want to know how it can be done in the hard way using photoshop.
or maybe you guys can gimme some tip or concept to do it.
it pure for 1 frame only, coz it photograph "not movie"
and sometime the frame is huge like scan from MediumFormat 6x6 or 6x7 negative.
@4000dpi, it about 8900 x 8900 pixel for 6x6 and 8900x10900 pixel for 6x7
more then 500MB in 16bit for 1 photo and from
35mm @4000dpi 5640x3660 pixel = 112MB (16bit)
so it must be done in photoshop i think

how do they do SEPIATONE LOOK in the car while the grass still green(dark brown green)
and other color look good in eye
I try all blending mode in PS using channel mask but still look BAD.
Which tone or color or channel that should be blend with sepia/brown ?
"which area shadow, midtone, or highlight ?"

thanks
mintoro

[pingking]

what about a mask for the grass and put it in a new layer?

[Mintoro]

Guys,

Let me keep simple
What should i do to change the mood from "normal/regular" image to
afternoon mood/sepia tone "color cast" like those volvo sample.
I think that what i am looking for.


thanks
mintoro

[haz]

hey Mintoro,

in combustion I can isolate colours using the 'Colour Shift' operator... might be worth looking into that...

Cheers

HaZ

[adolf]

hey dude !
all u have to know is :
how color works ! principles of color ! like how much rgb is in shadows, midtones and highlights ! what if u decrease rgb on color wheel ? will it darken my image ! it will ! how rgb and cmyk differs ! understand tonal values !
then understand ur weapons ! ur color tools ! all ur grading fundamentals lie in adobe photoshop ! practice them hard ! u wil err and er and improve ! practice makes one perfect !
then u will have to do selective color correction based on masks ! also u will have to experiment layer modes or blend modes !
so to achieve that color correction i would:
make use of mask
play in layer modes ( blend modes )
and do the color correction in multiple passes !
it can be achieved easily in photoshop ! but ur source quality should be good !
believe me i learnt color correction from photoshop and today i color correct film in flame and smoke !
please understand color grading art is not software dependent ! it is akin !
so dont depend on softwares ! if u havr it and understand basic color theory and have a flair for colors then u will easily achieve this look !
please analyse the source image very very carefully !
also there is a good book !
color correction for digital video.
photoshop color correction
i believe that shall help u
all the best !
feel free to contact me
adolf
yash_2001us@yahoo.com

[michaelmovies]

If you're using Photoshop CS or CS2 open the uncorrected image, then go to Image > Adjust > Match Color. Make sure "Preview" is checked, then click the Source dropdown and choose the final corrected frame as the source.

Basically this will try to automatically match the curves and balance to the image you apply as Source. Most of the time it does a reasonable job, then you can play with the sliders to get the match closer.

That's as close to a magic solution as I've seen for stills. If that isn't close enough, read the good advice above and stop looking for a machine to make artistic choices for you.

Michael

[Mintoro]

Hello,

Adolf, thanks for the good tips, i will do it !!!
I will try harder but right now my brain so jamed "can not find the exit"
Maybe i dont have access to colorist so right now i hv to do on my own
the very hard way.

I hv read some photoshop color correction book, but
Mostly this book teach about fixing the wrong pic to correct pic.
but in this vfxtalk you guys make "correct pic" to "wrong pic" by adding
color cash etc, etc and this kind of work actually make those "wrong pic"
look much better in the eye :)

I put sample in 48bit "JPEG2000b.JPF inside ZIPfile, the other for thumbnail",
hopefully you color grade the image to those sepiatone colorcas like in the volvo :)
and Teach me/others "behind the magic" or "the secret receipe"
step by step work you hd done :)
I think that process can gimme fresh new idea in my mind.


Michael, thanks for the advice.

regard,
Mintoro

[Gautch]

You all are making this way to hard.

Here is what i did.
Duplicate your layer (ctrl+J) This is so you don't ruin your original.
Desaturate the duplicated layer.
Push your contrast up a bit.
Change the mode to Multiply.
Add an effect, use my settings (see last image).

Make a new layer (Shrt+Ctrl+N).
Fill it with a tan color.
Change the mode to Color.
Drop the contrast around 40% (this allows more white to show)

Now look at it.... go back and change anything you want. Make a look thats all your own.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v228/gautch/Tutorial_01/Grade01.jpg
.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v228/gautch/Tutorial_01/Grade02.jpg
Here are thoes setting i was talking about. take notice that the gradient is a little darker on the right.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v228/gautch/Tutorial_01/Grade03.jpg

Thats it. Simple.

Now if you want to get a different mood just change the top layer and its fill color.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v228/gautch/Tutorial_01/Grade04.jpg
.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v228/gautch/Tutorial_01/Grade06.jpg
.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v228/gautch/Tutorial_01/Grade05.jpg

And please, please save.... Save always. Just after you save, save again... Its an evil cycle, i know.

[adolf]

hey mintoro !
how r u feling now ! jammed ! u ned to relax and go out for a break ! then return afreash and work it out ur best ! i want to share a few techniques of color correction with u ! here they are :
1)first analyse ur image ! check out the tones and hue ! u can do this by levels ! go to the levels and check the histogram ! the small mountains of shadows should start at 255 and that of highlights should be at 0 ! if not then adjust them to these values to get the full tonal range of an image !
2)once u r done with histogram then adjust the contrast by curves !
3) use curves tool to adjust ur contrast rather than using contrast adustment tool!
4)ur histogram will do most of the tonal adjustments and remove overexposure and underexposure in an image ! but curves tool will enhance ur contrast adjustment further !
5)check out the rgb channels in histogram by similar manner !
6)now for hues go to saturation adjustment and increase it to 300% so that u know the color cast !
7)detect where the cast is most prominient in . i.e. shadows, midtones or highlights !
i never cut cast in master adjustment ( all discreet products have master, shadows, midtones and highlights adjustments )instead i cut cast in the particular area of shadows, midtones or highlights !
8) check out flesh tones ! ideal flesh tones should point at 11; o clock in your vectorscope !
9) check out other colors in an image ! wheather their hues are correct . if they look natural !
10) once u have done correctivecolor correction then go for creative color correction ! u can give sepia , cyanotype look or any ! there are no rules for this !
feel free and experiment ! do what u like !
11) finally when u r done with then check out ur vectorscope and waveform monitor !
( if u have it )
12)and then u r ready !
u feel heavenly for what u have created !
i suggest everybody share their color correction techniques and tricks !
let make this thread mind blowing and colorful !
mike how r u ?
what do u have to say for this !
mintoro ! mail me if this tip proves useful to u !
same to others !
so i can post more color correction tips !
please dont be software dependent as grading is an art not restricted to softwares !
please fel fre to correct me !
thanks !
adolf
smoke, flame , avid !
yash_2001us@yahoo.com
bye!

[Mintoro]

Hiya.... Gautch you the man.. :)
finally the dream come true
thank.. thank.. thank.. for Gautch and Adolf

Adolf. all the book i had read only teach No.1 -- No.9 right?
Number "10" is the technique that i am looking for ...

And now Gautch fill those "No.10" Bravoo --> this defenitly freshing my head hehe.
I will study it.

Adolf i agree with you, hope you PRO will fill this thread with other technique like that.
so we AMATURE can learn from the MASTER :)

thanks youuuuuuuuuuuuu....

regard,
mintoro

[Mintoro]

Gautch i tried your technique... it work :)
nice bleach bypass technique too.

Adolf your tip no.6 really usefull to me, yeah you right full saturation show me
color cast that i though it was neutral white/grey. thanks

since i don't have/use vectorscope and waveform monitor, so for skin tone i use this
guide number in cmyk from this page "hxxp://dgrin.smugmug.com/gallery/1091766"

Oh yeah you guys ever see newest LV "Louis Vuitton" poster and magazine
it has cool color.. its like old color but really cool.

regard,
mintoro

[adolf]

hey mintoro !
try to observe colors in nature ! whenever u see any color u get a feeling in ur heart !
ur brain responds to every color in a unique way ! and ur pupil of eye reacts to it instantly ! u get the mood of the color and u start feeling the colors nature !
for example when i see orange color i get zeal and energetic ! when i se red i get a feling of danger ! on seeing blue i feel calm and relaxed ! on seeing green i feel fresh ! on black i feel sober , gentle and classic, while white make me peaceful ! voilet makes me royal , yellow is energy and enthusiasm !
so very important :
ALL THESE COLORS DERIEVE THEIR CHARASTERISTIC FEEL FROM THEIR NATURE ASSOCIATION . EG BLOOD IS RED AND WE NORMALLY DONT LIKE TO SEE BLODSHED ! WE GET SCARED AND HENCE ON SEEING RED WE FEEL DANGER ! SAME FOR ALL COLORS !
try to study the mood of the shot ! discuss with dop what feel he tried to achieve !
when i used to do color grading a dop used to sit with me !
he believed that colorist try to balance everything ! regardless the feel the dop has achieved and hence he use to sit with me ! so that i dont destroy the feel he wanted by excesive color correction !
so feel the mood of the shot and then decide the grade or tone for it !
i shall mail u more tutorials !
till then god bye !
please help us expand this thread and make it excellent for learning aspects of color grading !
adolf
waiting for u all to expand it !

[Gautch]

hey mintoro !
try to observe colors in nature ! whenever u see any color u get a feeling in ur heart !...

Very true and well put. Though don't for get to look at the lighting, shadows, reflections, and refractions! All of which affect the color, thus affecting the mood.


hey mintoro !
...try to study the mood of the shot ! discuss with dop what feel he tried to achieve !
when i used to do color grading a dop used to sit with me !
he believed that colorist try to balance everything ! regardless the feel the dop has achieved and hence he use to sit with me ! so that i dont destroy the feel he wanted by excesive color correction !
so feel the mood of the shot and then decide the grade or tone for it !
....
This is a great tip! One i wish more colorist understood. Yes your talents are inportant, but remember the DOP usualy had somthing in mind when he shot it. (DOP= Director Of Photography)

I usually Pre-Vis my Grading in Photoshop (I use Aftereffects for the final grading) that way its quicker and every one knows what your going for.

Another tip. Create a color pallet for each mood your aiming for.
Keep them consitant. Keep in mind day/night, in doors/out doors.. etc.
Give the pallets to every one on the team. Then look them over during your color grading to besure you have a consistant look.

[adolf]

hey gautch !
thanks to u !
i usually start with corrective color correction and then go for creative color correction ! but in corrective color correction all shots in a scene have to be color matched .i.e. to put together :
THE LONG SHOT , MID SHOT AND CLOSEUP MUST COLOR AND BRIGHTNESS MATCH !
so we do a lot of brightness and color matching for a single scene ! i believe this is an important step in color grading process !
also we have a lot of color setting presets ! we save all settings for all moods and apply them on trial n error basis ! we then modify the shot if the experiment succeeds!
but many times we have to regarde the shot from scratch !
tahnks to u all for expanding this thread !
please send in ur contributions !
adolf

[Mintoro]

Hello,


"Adolf said: try to observe colors in nature ! whenever u see any color u get a feeling in ur heart !..."
hmmm, I do like seeing nice color but so far i can't express it to the mood.
Ok.. i will learn it hard and try to feel those color... i think it rather hard for me.

now for technical stuff:
Gautch: how do you isolate the skintone with those technique.
seem it wont work with people photograph... look not natural/smooth like in movie
also sometime the multiply in bleachbypass step make photo toodark.


regard,
mintoro

[adolf]

hey mintoro !
practice thw techniques which i mentioned above ! for people do selective color correcion using layer mask ! and u shall have it !
adolf

[Mintoro]

Hello,

I am trying to figure this hxxp://www.fxguide.com/fxtips-73.html

=======================
1. Make a negative of your clip

2. separate the channels of color: RED, GREEN, BLUE
(I used Color Correct and rewired R<-R, G<-R, B<-R for Red, R<-G, G<-G, B<-G for Green and R<-B, G<-B, B<-B for Blue)

3. create frames of pure color, CYAN, YELLOW, MAGENTA (as pure as possible, use Vectorscope to help out)

4. use logic ops to combine the color separated clips with the frames of color, using Max/Lighten:
combine RED with CYAN, BLUE with YELLOW, GREEN with MAGENTA

5. take the results of the RED / CYAN and BLUE / YELLOW and multiply with logic ops

6. multiply the results of step 5 and the GREEN / MAGENTA results

7. run the results through Negative
=======================

I also read thread about "The Aviator Color"

And this is the result in Photoshop Actions
I use this number for filter taken from "Photo Filter Layer"

Red... 234,26,26
Cyan.. 29,203,234

Green. 25,201,25
Magenta 227,24,227

Blue 29,53,234
Yellow 234,250,0


feel free to try and use it if you like :)


Regard,
Mintoro

[Mintoro]

Hello adolf,

Yeah I tried that already using green channel as a mask Normal/Invert "still no good"
but now i am sure if layer mask is the key :)

thanks
mintoro

[adolf]

please dont use any channel as mask ! use the mask of the same image and apply color corrections to it !
adolf

[Mintoro]

Hello Adolf,

How about blend RED channel and Blue channel using Hardlight?
and use it as a mask in Color Layer ?

Or just use luminosity as mask and then apply curve ?

What you think the car in my first post?
Is it is selective part by part color correction process?
i mean select the grass, the car, the people etc, etc.

or is it just global color correction using greyscale mask?


regard,
mintoro

[adolf]

hi mintoro !
u can use any luminosity mask ! u can also check out ur rgb channels as individual mask ! the car is not a global color correction ! global correction is for low budget work which needs to be delivered very very fast ! if u have god budget and good time then u can go for selective color correction ! and it is done most of the time during telecine ! u can also do selective color correction in desktop softwares !
ok

[adolf]

thanks mintoro !
but i dont use shake !
just beginning it ! i shall mail u a few tips that shal help u !
till then bye !
adolf

[Der4]

There is a cheap way to get telecine type tools for color correction with 32 bit float. The program is called Color Finesse. It is a plug-in that comes with After Effects 6.5 professional or above. You can also get it as a stand alone program. Just google the name. Or you can try Final Touch but it's 5K.

Good Luck,
Anthony