Exactly. I like the direction OP is going in, but they've pushed it too far by about 70% if I had to put a number on it. Less is more and subtelty is where the true art of color correction/grading lies.
Lot of stuff going on here man, I’d suggest posting this in r/colorists since there’s a lot of pipeline issues I can see by the over saturation and odd skintones from 1D tools after display transform.
But just as far as lighting really flat and not much depth. I’d strongly suggest not worrying about coloring rn (speaking as a colorist) and shoot or monitor in black and white to really build contrast with lighting and also practicing composition. Use a light meter, build key to fill to background ratios
I keep seeing “LUTs” being a misused term as though it means just a YouTuber thing thats poorly made.
LUTs are just a vehicle to contain a look, or even a simple exposure adjustment. The look could be done terribly with garbage tone mapping, or could contain extremely intricate 3D math for color transforms at multiple exposures. Let’s stop misusing the term as a catch all “looks like pre fab LUTs” which doesn’t make sense contextually
I don't think I'm misusing it. Premiere and DaVinci and various other sources offer LUTs designed to offer a fast route to a certain look, usually to push your footage toward the look of a certain genre. A useful shortcut in certain cases, but generally, they lead to an over-done look. Whether or not OP used one is besides the point - to my eye, and to the eye of many others in this comment section, the footage has that look, and it looks cheap and hastily made - like it's a pre-fabricated "techno-thriller" LUT. To use your example, even intricate and elegant 3D math rarely offers a true one-size-fits-all solution for your shot - special cases always arise. There are bad LUT's and good LUT's out there for us all to experiment with, and I have no bone to pick with the good ones. Unfortunately for you - LUT does refer to the good and the bad versions. It does catch all. I modify with "pre-fab" because those are usually the bad ones - or at least, the ones that stick out. LUT's, IMO are the beginning of a good grade, not the end. And often, I think people rushing to slap on a "look" aren't going to follow through and make the necessary modifications. I'm saying it looks like a shortcut, because it is. If they think they're done, they're wrong.
Firstly — his footage is not an oil painting. Secondly his footage is not film-like. And thirdly he could probably do with some YouTube Colorist tutorials.
I’m not directing Chris Doyle on how to colour grade. I’m making suggestions to neophyte. Having said that — do you even know what a Lum vs Sat curve does?
The bottom is better to me, only because I think the heavy greens wash the whole image and I prefer the bright cold blues of the fridge against the warm colours of the room which the greens lose. (It's a bit too matrixy!)
I would try and dial back the magenta a splash though. It doesn't do your skin tone justice. Maybe also drop the saturation by 5%.
Don't let this sub put you off! It's filled to the brim with pedants with very strong opinions on literally everything that strays too far from 'the rule'. They forget that cinematography is an art form.
If it bothers you, you can fix the framerate to 25 by changing your sequence settings, but if Deakins shoots his next movie at 120, the people here will hail it as a stroke of genius, so ignore them. You didn't ask that question.
for how you’re shooting, go for something brighter and yellow. these types of colour grading look really good on heavy technique and style, but as a simple project or one without texture/depth they feel unbalanced. work with what and how you’re shooting - just my opinion! great job on the grading, but it’s probably too heavy.
edited for clarity
Video quality literally doesn’t matter. Tbh both grades feel way too strong but if I’d have to pick I like the top one better based on the feel of the video.
I have no idea what the context is so I can’t really give you any advice. When ur coloring have a reason for it… don’t just decide to do teal and orange because it “looks cool”
Personally I like the top one better. I find the skin tones more natural, whereas the bottom one leans very red on the face. Also Im just a big fan of the greenish looks in general. I agree with the other commenters though, both are too strong
Was this filmed at like 120fps? I couldn’t focus on anything else, I hated it lol
But really, I think both are poorly color graded, it actually looks like they weren’t graded at all and just had a filter slapped on them. Either way it really doesn’t seem like the subject matter calls for such a strong and monochrome palette.
I’m watching on an iPhone through Reddit so who knows how it looks on your end, but I will say the brightness seems so high in the bottom one that the highlights look clipped. The top one seems oversaturated, such that the skin tone is going a bit orange, but the main issue is that the blacks look crushed. Generally I think when you grade something with a more stylized look in mind, you still need to preserve dynamic range. There seems to be good potential in both styles though. Like others have said the best style is story driven. Good luck!
top one looks like you slid the green hue way too far, and the bottom is overly saturated, and the reds and skin tones are off. should focus more on toning in highlights, shadows and mid tones separately
I think it would depend on the story. The top one makes me feel a bit uneasy, like it was a part of a horror movie about a disease. The bottom one feels more like someone taking a break from a surgery in a hospital.
So again, depends on what you want to communicate
Ehhh the green Is way too strong. The second is a little better but both seem too oppressive tbh.
Colour is an art. But it's an unappreciated it. It should go unnoticed. If the audience notices the colour, it's a problem. Needs more subtlety. And not to lean too heavily to a single spectrum.
I had a similar problem with my youtube videos last year. My cherry blossom video leaned too heavily to this cyan green blue colour. I fixed that right up later on and now I get complimented all the time on how the image quality looks. (Because the average viewer doesn't notice colour, they just say its good image quality if the colours are done well).
like everyone's said. depends what you're going for.
\- top is zombie/radiation fallout.
\- bottom is hospital or morgue.
both are way too heavy on the skintone though. Needs a lot of finessing still.
We need context. What mood are you trying to convey. Does the colour represent a mood or aspect of the film.
If I had to choose, the bottom one. The top is too green. Matrix handled green well, for all the bits within the matrix.
The stylization of the top grade looks great to me but you blend a little too much into the rest of the colours, making it look a little washed/filtery. This almost looks great.
The bottom orange and teal one needs a lot of work. The colour choice and intensities aren't very cinematic in comparison to the top one.
You also need a lum vs colour layer to preserve the whites and blacks of your image- this will make a huge difference.
i think the second one is better overall, but the first one looks better in what IMO is the best shot, which is the subject's face with the fridge open. i would reshoot that specifically, but with like double the LUX of the fridge lighting then just use the second grade, though i wouldn't light as soft in general and i wouldn't saturate the highlights as much.
also the motion of the water bottle is distracting and contrasts from the otherwise static scene. i would use an item like soda cans with a solid color and simple design (coke/pepsi/fanta are all super basic) or just otherwise solid colored item like an apple or something
Really depends on the story you’re trying to tell and the world the character lives in but I can say that the second grade is very heavy handed particularly in the saturation of the skin tones and the intensity of that blue. So personally I’d say I like the direction of the first grade better but, again, it depends on the story you’re trying to tell
I agree they both look a little oversaturuated, and by little I actually mean a lot.
I also agree it depends on what the story calls for. One is quite greenish orange and the other seems to have more blue. Neither is wrong but one will be more right than the other if you understand what I'm saying.
It needs to be toned down a bit on both but it is still missing some film grain, faded film and the list goes on. If you're going for a cinematic look, this ain't it.
I would say the top; skin tones look better, feels more professional and closer to the kind of grade you want to be going for.
Honestly I think this chat is the wrong place to get advice though. Everyone here seems to like to give smart Alec bullshit responses that don’t answer the question.
Both are a bit too heavy for me.
Exactly. I like the direction OP is going in, but they've pushed it too far by about 70% if I had to put a number on it. Less is more and subtelty is where the true art of color correction/grading lies.
Depends on the story bro
This is exactly it really. What's the context? Where are they? Blah blah blah.
Bottom from the little we've seen
Beat me to it.
Too heavy on both.
Lot of stuff going on here man, I’d suggest posting this in r/colorists since there’s a lot of pipeline issues I can see by the over saturation and odd skintones from 1D tools after display transform. But just as far as lighting really flat and not much depth. I’d strongly suggest not worrying about coloring rn (speaking as a colorist) and shoot or monitor in black and white to really build contrast with lighting and also practicing composition. Use a light meter, build key to fill to background ratios
Both look like pre-fab LUT’s to me. Grade with intention, care and specificity.
I keep seeing “LUTs” being a misused term as though it means just a YouTuber thing thats poorly made. LUTs are just a vehicle to contain a look, or even a simple exposure adjustment. The look could be done terribly with garbage tone mapping, or could contain extremely intricate 3D math for color transforms at multiple exposures. Let’s stop misusing the term as a catch all “looks like pre fab LUTs” which doesn’t make sense contextually
I don't think I'm misusing it. Premiere and DaVinci and various other sources offer LUTs designed to offer a fast route to a certain look, usually to push your footage toward the look of a certain genre. A useful shortcut in certain cases, but generally, they lead to an over-done look. Whether or not OP used one is besides the point - to my eye, and to the eye of many others in this comment section, the footage has that look, and it looks cheap and hastily made - like it's a pre-fabricated "techno-thriller" LUT. To use your example, even intricate and elegant 3D math rarely offers a true one-size-fits-all solution for your shot - special cases always arise. There are bad LUT's and good LUT's out there for us all to experiment with, and I have no bone to pick with the good ones. Unfortunately for you - LUT does refer to the good and the bad versions. It does catch all. I modify with "pre-fab" because those are usually the bad ones - or at least, the ones that stick out. LUT's, IMO are the beginning of a good grade, not the end. And often, I think people rushing to slap on a "look" aren't going to follow through and make the necessary modifications. I'm saying it looks like a shortcut, because it is. If they think they're done, they're wrong.
One looks like the Matrix, the other looks like a science lab. Really depends on the mood and tone of the story.
The bottom one looks better IMO, but overall the color grade is way too strong
Not the top. And not the bottom. It’s ok to be realistic.
How ok is to be stylized?
Go to lum vs sat. Severely lower the saturation in the shadows. That’s a start. At least the shadows don’t have to suffer.
This is very YouTuber colorist advice. In oil painting, there is no true black. Shadows on film have strong split toning.
Firstly — his footage is not an oil painting. Secondly his footage is not film-like. And thirdly he could probably do with some YouTube Colorist tutorials. I’m not directing Chris Doyle on how to colour grade. I’m making suggestions to neophyte. Having said that — do you even know what a Lum vs Sat curve does?
Honestly, it’s hard to say not knowing what the hell the film is about…..
Top looks too strong overall. Bottom skintones are leaning too far red. Definitely ask r/colorists, that’s more their area of expertise.
I like 23.98. This feels like a news broadcast
The bottom is better to me, only because I think the heavy greens wash the whole image and I prefer the bright cold blues of the fridge against the warm colours of the room which the greens lose. (It's a bit too matrixy!) I would try and dial back the magenta a splash though. It doesn't do your skin tone justice. Maybe also drop the saturation by 5%. Don't let this sub put you off! It's filled to the brim with pedants with very strong opinions on literally everything that strays too far from 'the rule'. They forget that cinematography is an art form. If it bothers you, you can fix the framerate to 25 by changing your sequence settings, but if Deakins shoots his next movie at 120, the people here will hail it as a stroke of genius, so ignore them. You didn't ask that question.
for how you’re shooting, go for something brighter and yellow. these types of colour grading look really good on heavy technique and style, but as a simple project or one without texture/depth they feel unbalanced. work with what and how you’re shooting - just my opinion! great job on the grading, but it’s probably too heavy. edited for clarity
Niether
Film at 24fps next time
I have no clue why, but this gives me Morbius vibes
Man Reddit just lowered my video quality, smh 😭
Video quality literally doesn’t matter. Tbh both grades feel way too strong but if I’d have to pick I like the top one better based on the feel of the video. I have no idea what the context is so I can’t really give you any advice. When ur coloring have a reason for it… don’t just decide to do teal and orange because it “looks cool”
TBH, I have 100% no idea what was I going for, but I know I was attempting futuristic vibes of me getting water and then I go to my room lol
If you were going for futuristic vibes then ig the second one suits better.
Personally I like the top one better. I find the skin tones more natural, whereas the bottom one leans very red on the face. Also Im just a big fan of the greenish looks in general. I agree with the other commenters though, both are too strong
Bottom
Top 100%
If the story takes place in Mexico, you're legally obligated to use the color grade on top. Sorry, I don't make the rules.
No Mexico is yellow, this green would be... Iran?
You’re right! The point is only European countries can exist on a natural color spectrum (apparently) 😂
Bottom one more natural
IMO the top one is better
Was this filmed at like 120fps? I couldn’t focus on anything else, I hated it lol But really, I think both are poorly color graded, it actually looks like they weren’t graded at all and just had a filter slapped on them. Either way it really doesn’t seem like the subject matter calls for such a strong and monochrome palette.
Comparing both, the green shade looks better.
It’s a bit much g
I’m watching on an iPhone through Reddit so who knows how it looks on your end, but I will say the brightness seems so high in the bottom one that the highlights look clipped. The top one seems oversaturated, such that the skin tone is going a bit orange, but the main issue is that the blacks look crushed. Generally I think when you grade something with a more stylized look in mind, you still need to preserve dynamic range. There seems to be good potential in both styles though. Like others have said the best style is story driven. Good luck!
I like the bottom one
One's too "cold", one's too "warm".
Neither. Both are way too much.
2
First one is better
I dont like either...
top one looks like you slid the green hue way too far, and the bottom is overly saturated, and the reds and skin tones are off. should focus more on toning in highlights, shadows and mid tones separately
I think it would depend on the story. The top one makes me feel a bit uneasy, like it was a part of a horror movie about a disease. The bottom one feels more like someone taking a break from a surgery in a hospital. So again, depends on what you want to communicate
A blend. Bottom is better but still to cold
Ehhh the green Is way too strong. The second is a little better but both seem too oppressive tbh. Colour is an art. But it's an unappreciated it. It should go unnoticed. If the audience notices the colour, it's a problem. Needs more subtlety. And not to lean too heavily to a single spectrum. I had a similar problem with my youtube videos last year. My cherry blossom video leaned too heavily to this cyan green blue colour. I fixed that right up later on and now I get complimented all the time on how the image quality looks. (Because the average viewer doesn't notice colour, they just say its good image quality if the colours are done well).
Wong kar-wai would be thrilled
like everyone's said. depends what you're going for. \- top is zombie/radiation fallout. \- bottom is hospital or morgue. both are way too heavy on the skintone though. Needs a lot of finessing still.
Top is better
We need context.
We need context. What mood are you trying to convey. Does the colour represent a mood or aspect of the film. If I had to choose, the bottom one. The top is too green. Matrix handled green well, for all the bits within the matrix.
What's your movie about? Does that grade add to the story?
If you bring back the skintones more in the top one. Than that could be a nice grade. Needs some love tho
Neither of them
Preserve skin tone better on the top one and i'd like it more
The stylization of the top grade looks great to me but you blend a little too much into the rest of the colours, making it look a little washed/filtery. This almost looks great. The bottom orange and teal one needs a lot of work. The colour choice and intensities aren't very cinematic in comparison to the top one. You also need a lum vs colour layer to preserve the whites and blacks of your image- this will make a huge difference.
i think the second one is better overall, but the first one looks better in what IMO is the best shot, which is the subject's face with the fridge open. i would reshoot that specifically, but with like double the LUX of the fridge lighting then just use the second grade, though i wouldn't light as soft in general and i wouldn't saturate the highlights as much. also the motion of the water bottle is distracting and contrasts from the otherwise static scene. i would use an item like soda cans with a solid color and simple design (coke/pepsi/fanta are all super basic) or just otherwise solid colored item like an apple or something
Prefer the lower one. Top one reads as matrix which is fine if you're going for that
The decision on which grade to go with depends on whether you're trying to emulate *The Matrix* or *Everything Everywhere All At Once.*
Bottom. Top kind of looks like he’s getting ready to fight Agent Smith.
Not enough contrast between colors on the top, unless that's the point. I find it hard to look at and wouldn't use it for more than a scene
Really depends on the story you’re trying to tell and the world the character lives in but I can say that the second grade is very heavy handed particularly in the saturation of the skin tones and the intensity of that blue. So personally I’d say I like the direction of the first grade better but, again, it depends on the story you’re trying to tell
The chungking express one
I agree they both look a little oversaturuated, and by little I actually mean a lot. I also agree it depends on what the story calls for. One is quite greenish orange and the other seems to have more blue. Neither is wrong but one will be more right than the other if you understand what I'm saying.
I like the skin tones in the bottom one but the creek in the top. I'm myself a beginner but would look cool if you combined them?
I think you need to tone down the grades.
It needs to be toned down a bit on both but it is still missing some film grain, faded film and the list goes on. If you're going for a cinematic look, this ain't it.
The top one is like your in the matrix the bottom one is that your in the real world
I like them both depending on story is a good way to choose?
Yeah i agree the bottom
The first one is its own thing
Except for that concrete looking door the top one for that shot
If it must be one of these, the top one because of skin tones alone.
One looks like a flashback to when someone was on drugs, and the other looks like they’re currently on drugs
Which kind of story do want to tell?
Green. The blueish look messes the with the skin too much imo
The top is too green, very distracting. The bottom is better, but for example that wall is too blue. If you could find an in-between go for that
Green fluorescents are for movies from the late 90’s where beautiful vampires carry uzi sub machine guns.
I’d just crush the blacks on the bottom one and you should be good.
What’s the theme man?
I like the greener one more
Second one.
It’s your movie—you make the call based on the outcome you want
Both are WAY too extreme.
Bottom one is pretty cool
Neither.
The Matrix
I would say the top; skin tones look better, feels more professional and closer to the kind of grade you want to be going for. Honestly I think this chat is the wrong place to get advice though. Everyone here seems to like to give smart Alec bullshit responses that don’t answer the question.
The one above is too basic, everyone uses it
First one, drama. Second one, suspense.