Xrite Color Checker Workflow

Get answers to your questions about color grading, editing and finishing with DaVinci Resolve.
  • Author
  • Message
Offline
User avatar

Remo Pini

  • Posts: 176
  • Joined: Tue Dec 18, 2012 4:33 pm

Xrite Color Checker Workflow

PostTue Apr 21, 2015 4:55 pm

Hi all

I have a workflow question. How do you guys actually work with the new color checker feature in Resolve?

Here's why I ask:

If I have an XML/EDL that I ingest, once I relink the footage, I can start grading. So far, so good. The color checker is usually at the clapper stage of the footage, which is to say in the first few frames of the clips. These frames are never in the edit, so I can't see or access them on the ingested timeline.

Now, I can of course take each clip on a separate/new time line, look for the color checker there and then copy the correction node over to the real timeline. This is however a very sucky workflow. It would be easier if I could scrub for the frame to get the color checker info from in the "real edit" directly, but that doesn't seem possible.

What am I missing?
Director | Line Producer | https://grayeminence.ch
Offline

Walter Cavatoi

  • Posts: 72
  • Joined: Fri Jun 21, 2013 9:55 am
  • Location: ITALY / QATAR

Re: Xrite Color Checker Workflow

PostWed Apr 22, 2015 8:07 am

I would create a different timeline before starting grading the xml. A Master timeline or any kind of timleine where you drag in 1-click all the shots randomly from your media pool using their full length.
I would use "remote grading" then, so you can quickly go shot by shot using the match color and all the changes will be applied to you xml based timeline. Then you can start grading.
Could that work for you?
Walter Cavatoi
Colorist / Online Editor
www.waltercavatoi.com
Offline

Sam Steti

  • Posts: 2501
  • Joined: Tue Jun 17, 2014 7:29 am
  • Location: France

Re: Xrite Color Checker Workflow

PostWed Apr 22, 2015 2:14 pm

Hi there,
You may want to have a look there ;) :
viewtopic.php?f=21&t=33727&p=200310&hilit=x+rite#p200310
Offline
User avatar

Remo Pini

  • Posts: 176
  • Joined: Tue Dec 18, 2012 4:33 pm

Re: Xrite Color Checker Workflow

PostThu Apr 23, 2015 7:06 pm

Walter Cavatoi wrote:I would create a different timeline before starting grading the xml. A Master timeline or any kind of timleine where you drag in 1-click all the shots randomly from your media pool using their full length.
I would use "remote grading" then, so you can quickly go shot by shot using the match color and all the changes will be applied to you xml based timeline. Then you can start grading.
Could that work for you?


Thx! That's pretty much what I'm doing now (but the remote grading tip is great).
Director | Line Producer | https://grayeminence.ch
Offline
User avatar

Marc Wielage

  • Posts: 11017
  • Joined: Fri Oct 18, 2013 2:46 am
  • Location: Hollywood, USA

Re: Xrite Color Checker Workflow

PostFri Apr 24, 2015 5:42 am

Remo Pini wrote:If I have an XML/EDL that I ingest, once I relink the footage, I can start grading. So far, so good. The color checker is usually at the clapper stage of the footage, which is to say in the first few frames of the clips. These frames are never in the edit, so I can't see or access them on the ingested timeline.

If the original camera files are used for the final color correction, in theory the final colorist could check the color chart on the unedited camera files and use them as a general guide. In truth, it's not necessary if the colorist understands what camera was used and knows from the filmmakers what the shots are supposed to look like.

It's for this reason that I always ask for an edited reference file of the locked picture edit so I know what the editor and director have been staring at for the past few weeks or months. If I see a ballpark of what they expect, I can get there in the final. If this is a sophisticated production with specific LUTs and complex looks, that will take more time but can still be done provided the post sups have done all their homework and coordinated the CDLs.
marc wielage, csi • VP/color & workflow • chroma | hollywood

Return to DaVinci Resolve

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: LennyL, Mixolydian, panos_mts and 182 guests