BEST color correction software for PC users-need URGENT help

hey guys
i am PC user (windows 7). i am looking for BEST color correction software for PC. i want to train myself to work in film industry in my nation. currently i cannot purchase any original software, what i am going to do is go and buy any pirate software in stores in my country or just download any software in rapidshare, filesonic etc. its better i mention this straight forward. i want learn color correction to its best. but i am not sure which is best color correction software for PC users.... i need some quick help friends, i hope people who have experience will feel free to help me. thankx in advance.

Da Vinci offers a lite version. Not sure if it's th best, but Da Vinci is used a lot in CC.

http://blackmagic-design.com/support/

BUT i am using PC. da vinci is not for PC only mac i guess, i am not sure, so if there is any software for pc version in blackmagic-design company please tell the product's full name, easy for me to find in their website and also i can check any review. anyway i have adobe after effect(i thought its color correction software, my bad), recently i manage to find there is color finesse free plug-in inside adobe after effect. i spend hours and hours try to learn and use it, but i feel like i cannot do alot of things using color finesse. so i am trying to look for any professional color correction software for PC users. i really passionate to learn color correction, hope anyone who have experience can help me, thankx in advance.

my advise:

- dont pirate software

- read a book about basic color correction concepts like:
The DV Rebel's Guide by Stu Maschwitz
The Art and Technique of Digital Color Correction by Steve Hullfish

- stay with after effects for the time being as its perfectly suitable to get your hands dirty

First of all, read those Books and get comfortable with color correction. ;)
like "dont crush those blacks" and so on, learn those guidelines.


personally, i like Magic Bullet Looks from Red Giant. It's a plugin for After Effects or Premiere.
but it's not that hyper-professional and it's a sin to use their premade looks ;)
there are many functions to really give your footage a creative and good look - but it's more semiprofessional.

you will be tempted to use the diffusion filter and a vignette and some curves, and some contrast and some skin-smoothing and some diffusion on top and some edge blurring... and some.... and... some...

best regards!

Assimilates SCRATCH is a very high end CC software which is available for windows.

I will go with Scratch too.. I have been using it for a year now and it feels like a breeze under nimble hands. :)