Color Grading in FCP

[David Roth weiss]

There is absolutely no way to know the answer to your question without evaluating the material and knowing your skill level.

I’m asked this question several times a day, and it’s almost impossible to guess. Some documentaries require an enormous amount of work of every single shot, and every shot is completely different, and those take a longtime. On others, most of the shots are well lit and everything is shot in similar circumstances, and so color grading goes very fast.

However, to hazard a guess, you’re looking at a day or two in most instances.

David Roth Weiss
Director/Editor/Colorist
David Weiss Productions, Inc.
Los Angeles
https://www.drwfilms.com

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A forum host of Creative COW’s Business & Marketing and Apple Final Cut Pro forums. Formerly host of the Apple Final Cut Basics, Indie Film & Documentary, and Film History & Appreciations forums.

[Andrew Rendell]

It’s a bit of a “how long is a piece of string” type question. It rather depends on what you’re trying to achieve: if you have a relatively simple programme and you’re just after making sure that the levels are legal and the colours are reasonably well matched between shots, it could be as little as 3 to 4 hours; if you have layered effects, badly colour balanced source material and/or want to be creative with the way the programme looks you might spend 2 days on it.

[Thor Ullr]

David & Andrew,

A big Thank you for the info… it gives me a better idea of what to ask him

PS: All I know at this point: short film shot with a Red one camera

Thank you once again for the help

have a wonderful evening

Thor

[Walter Biscardi]

[Thor Ullr] “A big Thank you for the info… it gives me a better idea of what to ask him

PS: All I know at this point: short film shot with a Red one camera”

How much experience do you have in color enhancement? A RED project is not really a great one to practice with if you have little or no experience.

Also, RED material is much better suited for Apple Color or Resolve for color enhancement. FCP’s 3 Way CC tool is good for video, but I would step out to Color or Resolve for RED.

In answer to the question about time. I have spent 4 hours to 3 days on a 30 minute project for color enhancement. Depends on the material shot and the type of project.

Walter Biscardi, Jr.
Editor, Colorist, Director, Writer, Consultant, Author, Chef.
HD Post and Production
Biscardi Creative Media

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[Jeff Greenberg]

A professional colorist gets 90 seconds on average per shot, with 100-200 shots per 10 minutes. Figure 2.5-3 hrs for every 10 min….30 min? An expert? A day.

Best,

Jeff G

Apple Master Trainer
Avid Cert. Instructor DS/MC
Avid & Color Videos Vasst.com
Compressor Essentials Lynda.com

[Thor Ullr]

Hi Walter,

Thank you for your input, it’s very appreciated.

“How much experience do you have in color enhancement? A RED project is not really a great one to practice with if you have little or no experience.”

I have very little experience, I have only done one 2 min short film using FCP’s 3 Way CC tool.

the situation:

I am finishing a script for my first 15 minute short film this week + filming it next week with a deadline of March 1st ( edited & color graded including)

My friend’s movie is also due March 1st .

choices… do I have the time to help him out without sacrificing my project ?

🙂

thank you for your time

Thor

[Al Bergstein]

A problem you may run into is something that is hard to see. Be sure to try your output on both a flatscreen, which I assume you are going to be working on, and a video projector. I’ve had a hard time tweaking my latest 16 minute doc for proper color display on projectors, it *appears* there may be some odd lighting in some clips that cause wierd color shifts when moving to the projector (I’ve tried many projectors all with wildly different results, both high end and low end). The final project looks fine on display, just not projected. seems as though some things, like filtering for broadcast safe may be essential,and without using the color scopes, you just won’t see it and other problems.

So you might want to prepare for that eventuality and look at the clips a bit with a video projector to see if the lighting is well done (shot with a lot of controlled lights, not a lot of wild tungsten or flourescent filtering in to blend with daylight, etc.). If it’s not, you may be in for a lot longer grind… words to the wise…

I’ll probably spring for Walter’s DVD soon (G)…he seems to have spent some time doing this…I’d like to get a good solid indepth overview on color grading in general, as I find the scopes in other competing tools. Good luck!

Alf

[Thor Ullr]

Jeff & Alf Thank you for your input & wisdom 🙂

& everyone else who has stopped by and shared there experience with me, I am very grateful
I wish everyone all the success this year !

Thank you

Thor