FCP best for color correction?

[Zane Barker]

While yes you can do some color correction in FCP. But the program Color included in the FCS is way better suited for color correction.

**Hindsight is always 1080p**

[David Roth weiss]

I\’m going to disagree with Zane in this one. While Color is a more powerful app, color correction in FCP using the 3-way CC filter is quite adequate for many types of projects, and it is a much more convenient way of working for many, because it happens right on the timeline rather than roundtripping out to another app. Using Colorista is even better, because it has the addition of power masks, allowing you to easily isolate selected portions of the frame with soft-edged shapes, much like the more powerful Apple Color, which is undoubtedly more capable in the right hands.

While Color is more powerful, and quite capable, it is by no means the best choice for everyone on every project. It can be very inconvenient on some projects in fact, and it certainly has a learning curve that makes it a poor choice for many users.

I certainly do not see any value to using After Effects to color correct FCP projects.

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

POST-PRODUCTION WITHOUT THE USUAL INSANITY ™

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.

[Jonathan Hensley]

I would say it mostly depends on what you’re hoping to do with the final product.

If it it a narrative film, for example, shot on the RED and you’re hoping to go into festivals with it, take the time to go to Color or some other professional color grading program and back to Final Cut.

If it’s a short video interview and you need a small color grade done in two hours or so, stay in Final Cut. Final Cut’s color corrector is good for quick yet effective color grading that needs to be done fast. Color is for more in depth projects that need a lot of work, or where you can devote the time needed to make an effective grade.

Hope that helps.

[Joe Orange]

Thanks for the replies.
Let’s assume intended usage is at the top end. What would be the tell-tale signs that a color correction isn’t quite right or has affected final output quality because it was not done in a top end application like say Color?

[Walter Biscardi]

[Joe Orange] “What would be the tell-tale signs that a color correction isn’t quite right or has affected final output quality because it was not done in a top end application like say Color?”

The resulting image is not what it should be. Colors are off, colors don’t match shot to shot within the same scene. Scenes don’t tell the story as effectively as they could if they had the proper look applied to them to further the story.

Of course, what I just described has nothing to do with the tool, but the person operating the software. If you have no idea what you’re doing in terms of color correction, really doesn’t matter which software you use.

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

“Foul Water, Fiery Serpent” Winner, Best Documentary, LA Reel Film Festival.

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[Walter Biscardi]

And by the way, my comments are not directed right at you, this is true of anyone starting out with editing and not understanding the basics of color correction. It took me some time to figure out what I was doing before I got comfortable with it.

In the case of “Good Eats” on the Food Network, I started out grading it very simply with the FCP 3 Way CC tool. If you’re comfortable at all with that, Magic Bullet Colorista is essentially the same thing, only cleaner. You don’t get as much noise in the signal nearly as quickly as the 3 Way CC tool does, particularly if you have the raise the blacks or the mids.

Then we moved over to Final Touch HD which used to be $5,000 and is now Apple Color. Color is one of the best color correction tools on the market and right on par with Davinci Resolve, which we also own now too. I have a couple of basic tutorials here on the Cow on getting started with Color and the Cow also sells my “Stop Staring Start Grading with Apple Color” training DVD.

What you’ll find that Apple Color is a very easy tool to use once you understand it. But the art of good color correction does take some time to grasp.

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

“Foul Water, Fiery Serpent” Winner, Best Documentary, LA Reel Film Festival.

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[Jonathan Hensley]

Honestly, I don’t think you can tell a color grade is bad based on what project you used it in. As the old adage goes, it’s not the tools you have, it’s how you use them.

However, there are certain advanced tools in Color that you simply don’t get with Final Cut. Final Cut’s 3 way Color Corrector is meant to be basic for quick, on the fly color correction.

If you have the time, then I would say go ahead and learn Color. Go ahead and take a few weeks to learn the program and how to round trip back to Final Cut. If time is not an option, and you want the most options for your film, there is no really reason not too.