DaVinci Resolve Tutorial: Achieve a Clean Look for Music Video Color Grading Without LUTs
Summary:
- Learn to achieve a clean look color grade for music videos in DaVinci Resolve without LUTs.
- The tutorial demonstrates a before-and-after transformation of Blackmagic RAW footage shot with a BMPCC 6K and Sigma Art 50mm f/1.4 lens. [Image 0 at 0:00]
- Project setup involves DaVinci Wide Gamut color management and Rec.709 output.
- Initial color conversion is performed using Color Space Transform (CST) and a custom DCTL effect, applied to the raw footage visible in the DaVinci Resolve interface. [Image 1 at 0:26]
- Primary adjustments include fine-tuning global contrast, gamma, and highlights, along with white balance correction using Chromatic Adaptation.
- Secondary corrections utilize Qualifiers and Magic Mask for targeted enhancements to skin tones, faces, eyes, sky, and foliage.
- Specific focus is given to enhancing the red dress, where a qualifier is used to isolate and enrich its color. [Image 3 at 16:41]
- Final steps include subtle background defocus and overall aesthetic refinements using curves and global contrast.
Introduction and Project Setup [0:00]
- Tutorial Overview [0:00]
- Andi Jaff introduces a tutorial on achieving a "clean look" color grade for music videos in DaVinci Resolve without using LUTs.
- A before-and-after split screen highlights the transformation from flat log footage to a vibrant, polished look. [Image 0 at 0:00]
- Footage Specifications [0:13]
- The footage originates from a Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera 6K (BMPCC 6K).
- It was shot with a Sigma Art 50mm f/1.4 lens.
- The codec used is Blackmagic RAW (BRAW) 12-bit.
- A note is made that shared practice files are 10-bit Apple ProRes HQ due to BRAW's large size, meaning raw settings won't be directly editable for practice footage.
- The DaVinci Resolve interface shows the initial flat footage and node tree setup. [Image 1 at 0:26]
- DaVinci Resolve Color Management [0:47]
- Access project settings and navigate to "Color Management."
- Set the "Color science" to "DaVinci YRGB Color Managed."
- Choose "Color space" as "DaVinci Wide Gamut" and "Gamma" as "DaVinci Intermediate."
- For "Output color space," select "Rec.709" (for updated DaVinci Resolve versions).
- For "Output gamma," Windows users should choose "Gamma 2.2" or "Gamma 2.4" based on their monitor calibration.
Initial Color Space Transformation [1:08]
- Input Device Transform (IDT) Node [1:08]
- Create a new serial node and label it "IDT."
- Go to Effects Library, search for "Color Space Transform," and drag it onto the "IDT" node.
- Configure the CST settings:
- "Input Color Space": "Blackmagic Design Wide Gamut Gen 4/5."
- "Input Gamma": "Blackmagic Design Film Gen 5."
- "Output Color Space": "DaVinci Wide Gamut."
- "Output Gamma": "DaVinci Intermediate."
- Disable "Tone Mapping."
- Output Device Transform (ODT) Node [1:42]
- Create another serial node and label it "ODT."
- Apply a "DCTL" (Digital Color Transform Language) effect to this node.
- Select "JP_LUTS_DCTL" (available for download) as the DCTL.
- Set the DCTL's "Output" to "Rec.709 Power 2.2" (or "Gamma 2.2" based on monitor calibration for Windows users).
Primary Color Correction [2:09]
- Global Adjustments (Primary Node) [2:09]
- Create a new serial node labeled "Primary" before the ODT node.
- Slightly increase "Contrast" and adjust "Gamma" and "Highlights" for overall image balance.
- Chromatic Adaptation for White Balance [2:59]
- Add a "Chromatic Adaptation" effect to a new node, placed before the Primary node.
- Set "Target Luminous" to "Color Temperature" and set the value to "5600."
- Set "Source Luminous" to "Color Temperature" and adjust its temperature and tint values to achieve the desired white balance.
Secondary Adjustments: Key Elements [3:51]
- Skin Tone Refinement [3:51]
- Initial Skin Selection (Qualifier) [4:04]
- Create a new serial node labeled "Skin."
- Use the Qualifier (eyedropper) to select the skin tones in the image.
- Refine the qualifier selection using the Hue, Saturation, and Luminance curves to isolate skin tones as precisely as possible.
- Magic Mask Application (Alternative/Refinement) [5:01]
- Create a new serial node labeled "Subject."
- Use the Magic Mask tool to automatically select the person in the footage and track the mask.
- Connect the alpha output from the "Subject" node to the alpha input of the "Skin" node for more precise skin tone isolation.
- Apply slight gamma adjustments to the skin and slightly reduce saturation.
- Decrease "Midtone Details" for a smoother skin appearance.
- Initial Skin Selection (Qualifier) [4:04]
- Face and Eyes Enhancement [7:17]
- Face Enhancement [7:29]
- Create a new serial node labeled "Face" after the "Skin" node.
- Use a Power Window (oval mask) to isolate the face and track it throughout the clip.
- Connect the alpha output of the "Skin" node to the "Face" node's alpha input.
- Increase gamma and contrast slightly for the face area.
- Reduce midtone details for smoother skin on the face.
- Eyes Brightening [8:32]
- Create two additional serial nodes after the "Face" node, one for each eye.
- Use a custom Power Window mask (e.g., polygon) to isolate each eye. Track the masks.
- Increase the gamma for each eye to brighten them slightly.
- Face Enhancement [7:29]
- Sky Enhancement [10:42]
- Create a new serial node labeled "Sky" before the ODT node.
- Use the Qualifier to select the sky region.
- Refine the qualifier mask using luminance.
- Add a Gradient Power Window from the top of the frame, blending downwards, to create a natural sky effect.
- Adjust the "Cyan" and "Blue" channels in the "Color Wheels" or "Color Mixer" to achieve a desired blue tone.
- Increase saturation and contrast for the sky.
- Background Elements Correction (Trees, Violin, Clothes, Teeth) [15:00]
- Trees/Foliage Correction [15:15]
- Create a new serial node labeled "Plant."
- Use the Qualifier to select green foliage areas.
- Adjust Hue, Saturation, and Luminance curves to enhance the green color and vibrancy.
- Clothes (Red Dress) Correction [16:41]
- Create a new serial node labeled "Baju" (Clothes).
- Use the Qualifier to select the red dress. [Image 3 at 16:41]
- Adjust Hue, Saturation, and Luminance curves to make the red richer and more vibrant.
- Violin Correction [19:27]
- Create a new serial node labeled "Biola" (Violin).
- Use the Qualifier to select the blue violin.
- Adjust Hue, Saturation, and Luminance curves to enhance the blue color.
- Teeth Whitening [26:26]
- Create a new serial node after the "Face" node for teeth.
- Use a Qualifier to select the teeth.
- Adjust the Luminance/Gamma and reduce saturation slightly to whiten the teeth, carefully avoiding an unnatural look.
- Trees/Foliage Correction [15:15]
- Overall Look and Final Touches [22:26]
- Global Curve Adjustments [33:30]
- Create a new serial node (e.g., "Look 1" or "Look 2") for overall aesthetic adjustments.
- Utilize the RGB and individual color curves (e.g., Luma vs. Sat, Hue vs. Sat, Sat vs. Sat) for fine-tuning contrast, color shifts, and vibrance across the entire image.
- Reduce red bias in highlights and subtly increase blue in shadows if desired.
- Background Defocus [24:26]
- Create a new serial node labeled "Bg."
- Use the alpha channel from the "Subject" Magic Mask node, invert it to select the background.
- Apply a "Defocus Background" effect or a "Gaussian Blur" effect to the background, adjusting the blur radius for a subtle depth-of-field effect, ensuring the subject remains sharp.
- Final Contrast and Exposure [31:34]
- Add a final serial node labeled "Final" or "Contrast."
- Make subtle adjustments to global contrast, lift, gamma, and gain to finalize the overall exposure and visual punch of the image, keeping scopes in check.
- Global Curve Adjustments [33:30]