Author Topic: Tutorial: Color Optimizing (Read 8910 times)

Daffy · « **on:** December 18, 2006, 08:19:48 AM »

This maybe the most underestimated part of editing a movie but in my opinion one of the most important ones.
Nothing is as disturbing as watching a movie with good editing, synching, effects and all that but with some goofy looking colors.
My goal when i optimize colors is to make them look as natural, in other words as close to what they look when you play.
If you wanna go hog wild and achieve some wild west colors you should try to experiment a little.
Be aware that this will cause the preview of your movie to have less fps so may advice is to do this when you're close to finished.

Software:
• Sony Vegas

Lets get started.

Step 1:
First off we need two tracks/layers so go ahead and create that and add the same clip to both.

Step 2:
Our tools for the task if the filters included in Vegas so press the Track FX on the top track/layer and add the filters listed in the same order as they're shown.
Set the Opacity of the top track/layer to 25% and the Compositing Mode to Hard Light.

• Mask Generator
Settings:
Type: Green
Low In: 0,050
High In: 0,900
Low Out: 0,150
High Out: 0,800

• Gradient Map
Settings (Select the Blue Light Preset):
0: 0-0-0-0
1: 255-150-50-255
2: 255-255-255-228
Amount: 0,2160
Mode: Blend

• Color Balance
Settings:
Red: 0,0000
Green: 0,0000
Blue: 0,1000
Highlight
Preserve Luminosity

Step 3:
Press Track FX on the bottom Track/Layer and add the filters listed below, again add the filters listed in the same order as they're shown.

• Levels
Settings:
Input Start: 0,050
Input End: 0,925
Output Start: 0,020
Output End: 0,980
Gamma: 1,000

• HSL Adjust
Settings:
Add to hue: 0
Saturation: 1,07
Luminance: 1,05

• Brightness and Contrast
Settings:
Brightness: 0,05
Contrast: 0,05
Contrast Center: 0,50

And there, your colors should look a lot better.
I hope you found this useful and helpful, try to experiment to get the colors you like instead of doing the exact same... remember editing is about being creative.

Here's a proof of what this does:

If you want to post this somewhere ask for permission, don't take credit it for it yourself and provide me with a link.

Fugitive · « **Reply #1 on:** December 18, 2006, 08:24:48 AM »

That looks so... ehm... much better, great tut.

Spoofy · « **Reply #2 on:** December 18, 2006, 08:29:42 AM »

Simply amazing. Vegas is the new Photoshop

Eddeman · « **Reply #3 on:** December 18, 2006, 08:37:16 AM »

I'm gonna use that for sure, nice tut mang :]

GriMm · « **Reply #4 on:** December 18, 2006, 08:57:51 AM »

nice tutorial the video is more clear by that

Ostits · « **Reply #5 on:** December 18, 2006, 12:38:48 PM »

I appreciate this SO much, thank you daffy, truly thank you!

faKe · « **Reply #6 on:** December 18, 2006, 12:43:18 PM »

Awesome...

bj070893 · « **Reply #7 on:** December 18, 2006, 01:42:29 PM »

Finally, we know how to get those gorgeous colors. Thanks Daff.

Dannye · « **Reply #8 on:** December 18, 2006, 02:18:31 PM »

Wow, LC looks alot more beautiful and alot less dull with this technique!

Nice tutorial Daffy.

I wonder if I could adapt this to Premiere for my own use...

SoRu · « **Reply #9 on:** December 19, 2006, 10:12:35 AM »

i was searching this....

thanks Daffy

Brad · « **Reply #10 on:** December 22, 2006, 09:53:38 AM »

I don't like this..

Kenny · « **Reply #11 on:** December 23, 2006, 05:48:48 AM »

Thanks Daffy, I used this for Damned re render. Oh crap I ruined the surprise.

Falcon · « **Reply #12 on:** December 23, 2006, 12:26:12 PM »

could you explain me how I could copy this everytime to every clip because it would be much time to put it on every clip

Daffy · « **Reply #13 on:** December 23, 2006, 01:27:35 PM »

The tutorial shows how to apply the filters to the track/layer instead of the clips so you don't have to do it on every clip...

Laketown · « **Reply #14 on:** December 24, 2006, 12:42:27 AM »

Hey, does this thing work the same in SA?