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General => Video Editing/Compression => General Discussion => Video Editing Tutorials => Topic started by: Daffy on December 18, 2006, 08:19:48 AM

Title: Tutorial: Color Optimizing
Post by: Daffy on December 18, 2006, 08:19:48 AM: This maybe the most underestimated part of editing a movie but in my opinion one of the most important ones.
Nothing is as disturbing as watching a movie with good editing, synching, effects and all that but with some goofy looking colors.
My goal when i optimize colors is to make them look as natural, in other words as close to what they look when you play.
If you wanna go hog wild and achieve some wild west colors you should try to experiment a little.
Be aware that this will cause the preview of your movie to have less fps so may advice is to do this when you're close to finished.

Software:
• Sony Vegas (http://www.sonymediasoftware.com/products/product.asp?pid=404)

Lets get started.

Step 1:
First off we need two tracks/layers so go ahead and create that and add the same clip to both.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v92/Indiana_Jonas/Tutorial/Color_1.jpg)

Step 2:
Our tools for the task if the filters included in Vegas so press the Track FX on the top track/layer and add the filters listed in the same order as they're shown.
Set the Opacity of the top track/layer to 25% and the Compositing Mode to Hard Light.

• Mask Generator
Settings:
Type: Green
Low In: 0,050
High In: 0,900
Low Out: 0,150
High Out: 0,800

• Gradient Map
Settings (Select the Blue Light Preset):
0: 0-0-0-0
1: 255-150-50-255
2: 255-255-255-228
Amount: 0,2160
Mode: Blend

• Color Balance
Settings:
Red: 0,0000
Green: 0,0000
Blue: 0,1000
Highlight
Preserve Luminosity

Step 3:
Press Track FX on the bottom Track/Layer and add the filters listed below, again add the filters listed in the same order as they're shown.

• Levels
Settings:
Input Start: 0,050
Input End: 0,925
Output Start: 0,020
Output End: 0,980
Gamma: 1,000

• HSL Adjust
Settings:
Add to hue: 0
Saturation: 1,07
Luminance: 1,05

• Brightness and Contrast
Settings:
Brightness: 0,05
Contrast: 0,05
Contrast Center: 0,50

And there, your colors should look a lot better.
I hope you found this useful and helpful, try to experiment to get the colors you like instead of doing the exact same... remember editing is about being creative.

Here's a proof of what this does:
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v92/Indiana_Jonas/Tutorial/Color_2.jpg)
If you want to post this somewhere ask for permission, don't take credit it for it yourself and provide me with a link.
Title: Tutorial: Color Optimizing
Post by: Fugitive on December 18, 2006, 08:24:48 AM: That looks so... ehm... much better, great tut.
Title: Tutorial: Color Optimizing
Post by: Spoofy on December 18, 2006, 08:29:42 AM: Simply amazing. Vegas is the new Photoshop
Title: Tutorial: Color Optimizing
Post by: Eddeman on December 18, 2006, 08:37:16 AM: I'm gonna use that for sure, nice tut mang :]
Title: Tutorial: Color Optimizing
Post by: GriMm on December 18, 2006, 08:57:51 AM: nice tutorial the video is more clear by that
Title: Tutorial: Color Optimizing
Post by: Ostits on December 18, 2006, 12:38:48 PM: I appreciate this SO much, thank you daffy, truly thank you!
Title: Tutorial: Color Optimizing
Post by: faKe on December 18, 2006, 12:43:18 PM: Awesome...
Title: Tutorial: Color Optimizing
Post by: bj070893 on December 18, 2006, 01:42:29 PM: Finally, we know how to get those gorgeous colors. Thanks Daff.
Title: Tutorial: Color Optimizing
Post by: Dannye on December 18, 2006, 02:18:31 PM: Wow, LC looks alot more beautiful and alot less dull with this technique!

Nice tutorial Daffy.

I wonder if I could adapt this to Premiere for my own use...
Title: Tutorial: Color Optimizing
Post by: SoRu on December 19, 2006, 10:12:35 AM: i was searching this....

thanks Daffy
Title: Tutorial: Color Optimizing
Post by: Brad on December 22, 2006, 09:53:38 AM: I don't like this..
Title: Tutorial: Color Optimizing
Post by: Kenny on December 23, 2006, 05:48:48 AM: Thanks Daffy, I used this for Damned re render. Oh crap I ruined the surprise.
Title: Tutorial: Color Optimizing
Post by: Falcon on December 23, 2006, 12:26:12 PM: could you explain me how I could copy this everytime to every clip because it would be much time to put it on every clip
Title: Tutorial: Color Optimizing
Post by: Daffy on December 23, 2006, 01:27:35 PM: The tutorial shows how to apply the filters to the track/layer instead of the clips so you don't have to do it on every clip...
Title: Tutorial: Color Optimizing
Post by: Laketown on December 24, 2006, 12:42:27 AM: Hey, does this thing work the same in SA?
Title: Tutorial: Color Optimizing
Post by: plumpegg on December 24, 2006, 02:35:00 AM: yeah sweet it works in sa To

so i think Sa collab vid will be nice one
Title: Tutorial: Color Optimizing
Post by: .Synergy on December 24, 2006, 12:09:33 PM: The sea looks better on the first one, good tut,sadly i dont have vegas.Or you could lighten it
Title: Tutorial: Color Optimizing
Post by: gesior7 on December 26, 2006, 03:59:41 PM: Useful one.
nice! It helps me a lot.
Title: Tutorial: Color Optimizing
Post by: stuntman on December 30, 2006, 05:34:47 PM: sweet tut mate, i needed some reference for this
Title: Tutorial: Color Optimizing
Post by: M2B on December 30, 2006, 10:46:27 PM: Whoa I swear I was just making a tut like this, using a lot of the same steps with a similar outcome. Scary, but good tutorial.
Title: Tutorial: Color Optimizing
Post by: Coolman on January 07, 2007, 03:28:48 AM: Oh very nice Daffy, it's a look much better, i'll try it with a video clip
Title: Tutorial: Color Optimizing
Post by: gesior7 on January 31, 2007, 03:45:11 PM: The colors are much better, but what I have to do, if I use more than one video track?
Title: Tutorial: Color Optimizing
Post by: Aries on January 31, 2007, 03:46:49 PM: Quote from: gesior7
The colors are much better, but what I have to do, if I use more than one video track?

That's where shit gets too confusing and you don't try it
Title: Tutorial: Color Optimizing
Post by: brandon6199 on May 14, 2007, 09:22:31 PM: works like a charm
Title: Tutorial: Color Optimizing
Post by: Link on May 14, 2007, 11:55:31 PM: Quote from: gesior7
The colors are much better, but what I have to do, if I use more than one video track?

Niuce question
Title: Tutorial: Color Optimizing
Post by: Daffy on May 15, 2007, 12:02:45 AM: Put them on top or set these two tracks to interact with each other and no tracks outside those 2.
Title: Tutorial: Color Optimizing
Post by: Link on May 15, 2007, 07:00:07 AM: Show me how to interact
Title: Tutorial: Color Optimizing
Post by: Reckless on May 15, 2007, 07:52:53 AM: i have it seen by a friend
Title: Tutorial: Color Optimizing
Post by: Daffy on May 15, 2007, 03:04:29 PM: Is there anyone here who's actually able to even try to figure out stuff by themselves?
Title: Tutorial: Color Optimizing
Post by: Laketown on May 15, 2007, 04:09:22 PM: not really
Title: Tutorial: Color Optimizing
Post by: Juan on May 15, 2007, 06:17:46 PM: I used these settings for my VC RP, they look really nice.
But its more of a Interlocked look than a Doperide III look.
Title: Tutorial: Color Optimizing
Post by: Daffy on May 15, 2007, 10:33:05 PM: You might have some different graphics card settings that makes it look like that or monitor settings.
Title: Tutorial: Color Optimizing
Post by: Link on May 16, 2007, 08:56:06 AM: Quote from: Daffy
Is there anyone here who's actually able to even try to figure out stuff by themselves?

Tried but failed.
Title: Tutorial: Color Optimizing
Post by: Daffy on May 16, 2007, 08:58:04 AM: Fair enough.
Title: Tutorial: Color Optimizing
Post by: Link on May 16, 2007, 02:47:57 PM: So learn me....
Title: Tutorial: Color Optimizing
Post by: Juan on May 16, 2007, 07:18:45 PM: Quote from: Daffy
You might have some different graphics card settings that makes it look like that or monitor settings.
I have two ati 1950's in crossfire mode, i bet you have an nvidia card because when i had my old nvidia card i had more colorful colors, the ati's give me more contrast.
Title: Tutorial: Color Optimizing
Post by: Daffy on May 17, 2007, 05:32:59 AM: Yep, i have a 6800GT GS GLH
Title: Tutorial: Color Optimizing
Post by: DJ Marchello on June 08, 2007, 12:29:21 PM: great i think ill use it in the ast crew video
thx daffy
rly nice
Title: Tutorial: Color Optimizing
Post by: jessrocked on June 09, 2007, 08:16:35 AM: Quote from: Daffy
The tutorial shows how to apply the filters to the track/layer instead of the clips so you don't have to do it on every clip...

is it also possible with Video FX's like color correction?
Title: Tutorial: Color Optimizing
Post by: Daffy on June 09, 2007, 08:56:26 AM: Well that's kinda why they're called Color Correction.
Though from my experience they look better with real life video than with games.
Title: Tutorial: Color Optimizing
Post by: Daneeka on August 06, 2007, 06:54:41 AM: To me, the outcome of this tecnique look like a simple raised brightness and/or gamma effect.
Is it just me or there are more differences between adjusting levels and this technique?
Title: Tutorial: Color Optimizing
Post by: JL on August 06, 2007, 07:07:21 AM: Gonna try it in SA.
Title: Tutorial: Color Optimizing
Post by: GTA_Guy on August 06, 2007, 07:18:06 AM: I'm going to use this one, nice one Daffy
Title: Tutorial: Color Optimizing
Post by: boxXx on August 07, 2007, 04:00:51 AM: i got an idea .... in the nvidia control pannel you can adjus color / digital vibrance(or WTH ) / brightness / contrast / etc .... i might try and play with the setting in the nvidia control pannel and see what happens
Title: Tutorial: Color Optimizing
Post by: Daffy on August 12, 2007, 07:54:48 AM: You haven't done that already...?
Jeeez
Title: Tutorial: Color Optimizing
Post by: KoreaBank on September 24, 2007, 05:46:59 AM: thanks
Title: Tutorial: Color Optimizing
Post by: Daffy on September 24, 2007, 07:08:32 AM: No biggie.
Title: Tutorial: Color Optimizing
Post by: Dogger on November 17, 2007, 08:20:34 AM: Fuck, its much better. I love your tuts Daffy, but you can say what collor corection you use in Fracture
Title: Tutorial: Color Optimizing
Post by: Daffy on November 29, 2007, 09:25:02 PM: That's my little secret.
Title: Tutorial: Color Optimizing
Post by: brandon6199 on November 29, 2007, 10:01:24 PM: its not a secret...
Title: Tutorial: Color Optimizing
Post by: unreal on January 16, 2008, 12:54:57 PM: Wow that quality is really good. I didnt realise that LC was such good quality and with your colour correction it fucking rocks!
Title: Tutorial: Color Optimizing
Post by: Willzyyy on August 08, 2008, 03:46:16 AM: This worked great on my last vid, but on the new vid I am editing when I put it to 25% and then "hard Light" the hard light bit makes the screen stay almost completely black thoughout the WHOLE process. Even after I am finishes it is still VERY dark, you can barely see a thing. What could this mean? Shall I do this without the "hard light" change?

EDIT: Never mind, it works now. I was moving the opacity up and down on the clip (that white line that moves up and down to change brightness) instead of the bar at the side. lol. I am so stupid sometimes. Ok. Thanks Daffy!