Color Grading In DaVinci Resolve

Day One

Introduction to DaVinci Resolve

• A complete demo of the system, looking at every area of the new software and how it works with the control surface.
• Setting up your Resolve

Setting up your Resolve

• Loading the software and getting started
• How to create a new customized user, and get all the configuration settings correct before you kick off
• Understanding databases
• Setting up different formats SD, 2K, HD, 4K

Importing Footage/Dailies, Projects, EDL, XML, AAF

• Importing and conforming both film and digital material using an EDL/XML/AAF
• Scene cut detector and manually creating a timeline

Basic Color Theory

• Looking at the waveform, vector scope and histogram.
• How different colors interact with increased saturation/contrast and why some colors complement each other more than others
• RGB vs. YUV correction in DaVinci Resolve

Primary Correction/Grading with Curves

• Primary correction is very important – it’s the base of any “cool look”
• Get it right and it will simplify your whole color correction process.

Day Two

Serial and Parallel nodes

• You’ll use them all the time, how do they work and when do you use each one.

Secondary Correction

• Keying is a very important part of what we do as colorists
• Learn how to key in Resolve using either HSL RGB or LUM
• Is it best to key a color or adjust its Secondary curve?

Power Windows

• Each node has 4 Power Windows: the classic DaVinci Circle, Linear, Square, Polygon and a Bezier Power Curve.
• How to use each one, and why we decide to use one over the other repositioning, key-framing and auto tracking

Keyframing

• Using the pan, tilt, zoom and rotate controls, just how far can we zoom in on a film or digital image?
• Keyframing in the timeline and auto tracking explained.

Resolve Workflows

• Including Film, Red, Canon, Arri Alexa, Sony F3 and other digital files.
• Resolve works with lots of formats: so get to know the pros and cons of each format.

Day Three

Layer & Key Mixer Nodes

• These nodes offer lots of flexibility: see how to combine them with the other Resolve nodes to complement tour grades
• How to mix between the nodes

Looks & Styles

• How to create looks and styles within Resolve that will give you a great start to your session. Here are just a few we will look at:
  • Orange & Teal
  • Cross process
  • Bleach Bypass
  • Schindlers list red coat
  • Duotones
  • Day for night

Versions & The Gallery / Power Grade

• What are versions, setting up the gallery including importing and exporting stills
• Making your own Power Grade looks

Rendering & Output Options

• The grade is finished but how and where do you render it to?
• Playing out to tape
• Exporting different Formats
• Exporting Easy DCP
• Exporting using presets.