Fxphd – Insider Techniques for the Pro Colorist

Description

Fxphd – Insider Techniques for the Pro Colorist

For my 13th season of fxphd training I wanted to do something different. Lots of people are learning to color grade using many different ways: in the classroom, books, film school, YouTube, and more. This is OK, but when you start offering your services as a colorist and begin working with clients it becomes a lot more serious.

 

Insider Techniques for the Pro Colorist looks at how to approach a color session, where you start the grade and what an experienced client expects from you. We’ll also fix bad camera problems causing shots in the sequence to not match as well as use twelve Resolve OFX Plugins to fix problems and add creativity. This course has many tips on how to make your way up the grading ladder including things such as how you should set up your room, monitor, control surface, and even insights on whether it is ok to work for free.

 

This course is primarily centered around a 60 second segment introducing a marketing video for a paint shop. Filmed with three different cameras (GoPro, A7iii, and a 4k Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera), the footage presents many challenges: flicker, wrong color temperature, bad framing, changes in exposure, noise and a fussy host/vfx artist and CEO who is paying for the grade ;). The course comes with all the footage — over 10GB! — so you can follow along as a tackle the problems.

 

–Warren Eagles

 

This training is exclusively available for standalone purchase in the fxphd store and is not available as part of the fxphd membership.
What level is this class?

 

This is an Intermediate/advanced class where you get 12 lessons and the media that is used in each class. You should have completed the Fundamentals course or have been previously color correcting with Resolve. Maybe you have been coloring with an older version and want a refresher on what is new. You can follow along with the classes using the same techniques on the same footage as Warren uses during the classes. All media is supplied.
What will I be Coloring?

 

A mixture of footage, Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera ProRes and BRAW, RED R3D, Sony A7ii, and GoPro, including all the problem footage. You will also get all the XMLs and reference movies used in the conform classes.
Why take this class?

 

You want to learn what is new in Resolve 16 and at the same time get an insider view of the techniques the professional Colorists use in their daily grading sessions. I think my real world experience as a colorist and teaching classroom classes helps the way I transport techniques into online training classes.
Who is this class for?

 

This is for you is you what to take your grading to the next level and are starting to work with clients. Even if you use Resolve on a daily basis you’ll get something from these classes.

 

Once you purchase this course, you can immediately download all class instruction videos. This course is not part of the normal fxphd membership and does not include access to our discussion forums or VPN software. Footage supplied with the course may only be used for learning or your showreel (use in commercial or non-commercial projects is prohibited).
Class by class breakdown
CLASS 01: OVERVIEW

 

An overview of the course, including an overview of Resolve 16 and a bit about Warren.
CLASS 02: SETUP

 

Worried about upgrading? Backing up old Resolve projects and databases, system settings, project settings.
CLASS 03: CONFORMING THE PAINT PROJECT

 

Conforming from a Premier Pro XML. Finding missing media, using the new drag and drop reference movie feature, fixing Premiere Pro to Resolve framing issues. New copy and paste of attributes from clip to clip, using Centre Crop with no resizing to address framing, using the mix viewer to see and then correct timing issues between the conform and the reference movie. Spotting what didn’t come across in the XML.
CLASS 04: GRADING THE PAINT PROJECT

 

Fixing color temp with Chromatic Adaptation OFX, creating a fixed node structure, Using the scopes to match mis-matched shots with the Color temperature control. Showing the reference movie on the Color Page to see what camera was used for each shot. Comparing progress with the split screen.
CLASS 05: MAKE THE CEO LOOK GOOD

 

The CEO is important (he’s paying you) so we need to pull out all the tools. Beauty OFX, Face Refinedment OFX, correcting the GoPro ‘wrong color temp shot’ with the Curve tool, histogram overlay on the Curves, Isolation Curve YRGB selections. Uploading a WIP to Frame.io.
CLASS 06: ACTION SPORTS, PART 1

 

X2 Master timelines 23.98 and 25fps footage. Copying a 1920 x 1080 timeline to an Instagram 1200 x 1200 square timeline. Fixing over-corrected footage with Curves. The new CIE 1931xy scopes and Color Compressor OFX. Using the new Speed Warp control to allow smooth post slow motion. Using Render Cache to see the results.
CLASS 07: GRADING RAW

 

Blackmagic BRAW and RED IPP2. Setting the project settings for RAW, using 2010 R3D files in IPP2, and BRAW explained. Highlight recovery, sidecar files, exporting RAW stills, and looking at dual ISO. Examining if a clip needs noise reduction and/or if you can stabilize it. Color Space Transform OFX to transform IPP2 to Alexa LogC
CLASS 08: ACTION SPORTS, PART 2

 

Matching X2 angles, the new Resolve Scopes explained, pulling back oversaturated images, and grading both underwater and above water in the same shot. A look at the new 3D Fusion title templates, using the new Adjustment layer, Analogue Damage OFX and punching titles through the OFX layer.
CLASS 09: PROBLEMS AND HOW TO FIX THEM

 

Got a flat grey sky you need to replace on a moving shot? Match Move OFX to add a new sky replacement. Bouncing car interior stabilize plus a still frame overlay from V2.
CLASS 10: FEEDBACK ON THE PAINT PROJECT

 

Working with feedback received from the client. How Frame io feedback markers are displayed in Resolve with comments and annotations. Continuing to grade the paint project, including Deflicker OFX and Color Stabilizer OFX. Conforming an updated timeline using downloading clips from Frame io.
CLASS 11: DON’T BE AFRAID OF A CONTROL SURFACE

 

If you get the chance to color a project and the post house has a control surface you haven’t used before, don’t be afraid. It looks more intimidating than it is and the reality is you will still use the mouse a lot. Blackmagic Mini panel and Advanced Resolve surface explained.
CLASS 12: HOW TO MAKE MONEY AS A COLORIST

 

Warren showcases his room set up, including monitor positions and wall color.
MARCH 2020 BONUS CLASS

Get Fxphd – Insider Techniques for the Pro Colorist download

There are big challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic and maybe even bigger ones to come after it has passed. When it’s all over you will need to hit the ground running, as you will hopefully be very busy as things ramp up again. This class includes advice on what you can do to keep your color skills fresh during the forced break…things like refreshing an old reel, re-grading the original clips, changing mixed frame rates and re framing for Instagram. The aim is to help you use the time in a positive way.

Warren Eagles has been grading for more than three decades. He started in photography before moving into London’s film cutting rooms, then settled into the role of Colorist. Warren has extensive experience in all forms of grading, from Super 8 music videos to feature films. A Resolve user since 2005, he is proficient in both the software and what can be achieved creatively with it. Warren has his own DaVinci Resolve grading facility in Australia and spends his time grading, or teaching International Colorist Academy classes. You find out more about Warren at