Colour Correction/Grading
Posted: Sat Jun 13, 2020 9:50 am
Prompted by a discussion in the Film Comments section (please contribute) and not wanting to take that too far off topic, I thought i'd post this here (though it's more "art" than "technical").
Firstly, I'm using the term "colour correction" to mean getting a shot to a state where it is neutral and natural such that any two shots will match in terms of colour. I'm using the term "grading" to create a "look" for a shot, whether its a deliberate warm look or cool look or the famous "orange and teal" look.
I believe it is important that shots match as inconsitency in colour, like lack of continuity or incosistent audio remids the audience they are watching a film/video - it's a distraction.
I do wonder about grading though. Without doubt the "look" of the opening shots sets a certain tone, gives a certain feel to a film, but within a very short time our eyes/brain adjust and I wonder if the grading continues to have any effect at all.
Of course, in films where different tones are used deliberately to contrast different scenes/environments ("The Matrix" being the most oft-cited example) our eyes/brain are constantly being reset and so it must have some impact - but when the same look is used throughout a film?
I'm not arguing against grading, just wondering whether it has any impact beyond the first few seconds. Thoughts?
Firstly, I'm using the term "colour correction" to mean getting a shot to a state where it is neutral and natural such that any two shots will match in terms of colour. I'm using the term "grading" to create a "look" for a shot, whether its a deliberate warm look or cool look or the famous "orange and teal" look.
I believe it is important that shots match as inconsitency in colour, like lack of continuity or incosistent audio remids the audience they are watching a film/video - it's a distraction.
I do wonder about grading though. Without doubt the "look" of the opening shots sets a certain tone, gives a certain feel to a film, but within a very short time our eyes/brain adjust and I wonder if the grading continues to have any effect at all.
Of course, in films where different tones are used deliberately to contrast different scenes/environments ("The Matrix" being the most oft-cited example) our eyes/brain are constantly being reset and so it must have some impact - but when the same look is used throughout a film?
I'm not arguing against grading, just wondering whether it has any impact beyond the first few seconds. Thoughts?