What Happens When You MASTER Color Grading in DaVinci Resolve? | Class17

Color Grading Class Overview

Introduction to Color Grading

• The class focuses on comprehensive color grading techniques, moving beyond basic tools to full video editing.

• A playlist for learning DaVinci Resolve from basics to advanced levels is available in the description.

Upcoming Classes and Resources

• Future classes will cover Fusion, along with a live video editing course where students can learn interactively.

• Details about the live editing course can be found via a link provided in the video.

Practical Application of Color Grading

Editing Process Begins

• The instructor demonstrates color grading using his own videos, emphasizing practical application for YouTube or blogs.

• Previous lessons covered the layout of the color page and functionality of various panels and tools.

Shooting Techniques

• All videos were shot on an iPhone, utilizing cinematic mode for background blur while keeping focus on the subject.

• HDR shooting can lead to uneven tones; thus, specific LUT (Look-Up Table) adjustments are necessary for better results.

Using LUT for Color Correction

Finding and Applying LUT

• The recommended LUT is "Filmic Pro," which can be easily found online and downloaded.

• Instructions on how to add this LUT into DaVinci Resolve are provided through a short tutorial linked in the video.

Adjusting Video Nodes

• After applying the LUT, it automatically integrates into the first node of your project.

• Renaming nodes helps keep track of changes made during editing; keyboard shortcuts facilitate this process.

Color Correction Techniques

Temperature and Tint Adjustments

• Initial adjustments include correcting yellow tones by dragging temperature leftward slightly (up to 200).

• Identifying color tones requires experience; if yellow/red dominates, adjust accordingly by reducing yellow tones.

Saturation and Contrast Enhancements

• Increasing saturation enhances colors' vibrancy; suggested settings range between 55 to 60 for optimal effect.

• Contrast adjustments help highlight subjects more effectively; minor increases around 0.25 are recommended.

This structured approach provides clarity on key concepts discussed in the transcript while allowing easy navigation through timestamps.

Creating a Next Node in Editing

Selecting and Modifying the Face

• The process begins with creating a new node by pressing Alt + S. The focus is on selecting the face to remove some color saturation while keeping it bright and soft.

• A tool called "Qualifier" is used to select specific areas, avoiding HSL settings, and opting for a 3D cube selection for better accuracy.

• The user selects skin areas by clicking and dragging, ensuring not to lose previous selections by using the plus option correctly.

Enhancing Skin Appearance

• After selecting the face and lips, the highlight feature is turned off to clean up visual markers that are not needed.

• Saturation is adjusted negatively to -45, followed by slight adjustments in shadows (to +7) and highlights (to +5), enhancing brightness without overdoing it.

Softening Skin Texture

• Mid details are accessed to soften the face's appearance; dragging left reduces sharpness significantly. A final adjustment of -70 is deemed sufficient for softness.

• The user demonstrates before-and-after effects of softening, emphasizing moderation in adjustments.

Adjusting T-Shirt Appearance

Creating a Parallel Node

• A new parallel node is created using Alt + P for editing the t-shirt separately from previous adjustments made on the face.

Selecting T-Shirt Area

• Similar techniques are applied as with facial selection; however, care must be taken as other elements like monitors or microphones may also get selected inadvertently.

Refining T-Shirt Color

• Once selected, shadow levels are darkened slightly through left dragging. Saturation is reduced around -44 to achieve a richer look.

Final Touches on Color Adjustment

• The color warper tool is utilized to further darken the t-shirt’s color for an enhanced appearance, aiming for a fresh look reminiscent of new clothing.

How to Color Grade Your Video

Introduction to Softening the T-Shirt Look

• The process begins with softening the appearance of the T-shirt in the video. This is achieved by adjusting settings in mid details and dragging left to create a softer look.

• The speaker emphasizes removing any extra selected areas that are not part of the T-shirt, ensuring focus on the desired section.

Masking Techniques

• A masking technique is introduced using a pen tool to click around the T-shirt area, creating a selection that excludes unwanted parts.

• The concept of feathering is explained, which helps soften the division between selected and non-selected areas for a more natural transition.

Enhancing Focus on Subject

• A parallel node is created to enhance brightness in the center area (the subject), while darkening the background to draw attention away from it.

• Circular masks are used to refine selections further, allowing adjustments in size and shape for better focus on key elements.

Adjusting Shadows and Highlights

• The speaker discusses increasing shadows slightly (around 910) and highlights (around 5), contributing to overall image depth without overwhelming contrast.

• Another parallel node is created with similar adjustments but focuses on making outer areas darker while maintaining softness.

Finalizing Edits

• An important feature of inversion allows users to switch their selection from inside to outside areas easily, facilitating targeted edits.

• After darkening outer regions, additional adjustments can be made for softness and clarity before finalizing edits.

Conclusion: Achieving Professional Results

• A final node is created using Alt + S for saving results; this showcases how central focus has been enhanced while backgrounds remain subdued.

• Bonus tips include applying Gaussian blur effects for added depth in background areas, enhancing overall visual quality significantly.

Video Editing Course Overview and Color Grading Techniques

Introduction to Color Grading

• The speaker discusses the desire for tutorials on different color grading techniques, particularly for vlogging videos shot outdoors. Viewers are encouraged to comment on specific tools they want to learn about.

• The video concludes with an invitation for viewers to express their interest in particular topics or tools related to color grading.

Details of the Editing Course

• An editing course is introduced, which spans 30 days and allows one-on-one interaction with the instructor. This format aims to clarify doubts regarding video editing and shooting issues.

• Participants can discuss various aspects of video production, including camera usage and troubleshooting common problems encountered during filming.

Registration Information

• The course starts on the first day of each month, providing flexibility for registration at any time without complications.

• Contact details are provided in the description, including a WhatsApp number and Instagram link for further inquiries or discussions about course details.

Conclusion and Call to Action

• The speaker expresses hope that viewers found the color grading insights helpful and encourages them to like the video if they enjoyed it.

• A reminder is given for viewers who haven't subscribed yet, urging them to do so before concluding with well wishes: "Stay safe, stay happy."