Quick Cinematic Color Grading in DaVinci Resolve 19

Summary:

This tutorial demonstrates a 10-minute color grading process in DaVinci Resolve 19 to achieve a film-like, cinematic look. The first step involves setting up the Master Project Settings, specifically configuring Color Management with "DaVinci Wide Gamut Intermediate" for Timeline Color Space and "Rec.709 Gamma 2.4" for Output Color Space. Next, Color Space Transform (CST) nodes are added for input and output, using Sony S-Gamut3.Cine/S-Log3 as input and DaVinci Wide Gamut/Intermediate as output for the first node, and then reversing for the second node to Rec.709/Gamma 2.4. Contrast and exposure are adjusted using Gain, Lift, and Gamma controls in the Primary Color Wheels to balance highlights and shadows, providing a good base. For hue and skin tone correction, the HDR Wheels are utilized, particularly the "Global" control, to gently warm up the overall image and restore natural skin tones. The Color Slice tool is used to slightly boost blue and red saturation, refining the color palette. Finally, the "Film Look Creator" effect is applied. The "Core Look" is set to "Vintage," and the "Film Look Blend" is adjusted to 0.5 for a nuanced filmic quality. A "Vignette" is also added to darken the edges, enhancing the cinematic feel. This entire process is designed to be efficient and user-friendly for quick results.

Introduction [0:19] [Image 1]

This video tutorial aims to teach viewers how to quickly achieve a cinematic film look using DaVinci Resolve 19 in just 10 minutes. [Image 15]
The method is designed for those who want efficient and effective color grading without needing extensive professional colorist skills.
See the final cinematic result [Image 0].

Master Project Settings Configuration [1:31]

Access Project Settings:
- Click the cogwheel icon located at the bottom right of the DaVinci Resolve interface to open Project Settings.
Navigate to Color Management:
- Select the Color Management tab from the left-hand menu within the Project Settings window.
Configure Color Spaces:
- Set the Timeline Color Space dropdown menu to DaVinci Wide Gamut Intermediate. This setting expands the color processing range available within DaVinci Resolve, allowing for more robust grading.
- Set the Output Color Space dropdown menu to Rec.709 Gamma 2.4. This is the standard color space for most consumer displays and ensures that the final graded video will be accurately represented on typical viewing devices.
Example footage before grading adjustments [Image 22].

Color Space Transformation (CST) Setup [2:21]

Adding CST Nodes:
- In the Color page, add two Color Space Transform (CST) nodes to your node tree. One will serve as the input transformation (CST In) and the other as the output transformation (CST Out). (A quick way to add serial nodes is Option+S on Mac or Alt+S on Windows, then apply the CST effect from the Effects Library). [Image 21]
Configuring CST In (Node 1):
- This node converts the original footage's camera-specific color space and gamma into DaVinci Wide Gamut.
- Set Input Color Space to Sony S-Gamut3.Cine (adjust this to match your camera's specific log profile, as the example footage was shot with Sony).
- Set Input Gamma to Sony S-Log3 (again, match your camera's log gamma).
- Set Output Color Space to DaVinci Wide Gamut.
- Set Output Gamma to DaVinci Intermediate.
Configuring CST Out (Node 2):
- This node reverses the process, converting the DaVinci Wide Gamut back to the standard display output.
- Set Input Color Space to DaVinci Wide Gamut.
- Set Input Gamma to DaVinci Intermediate.
- Set Output Color Space to Rec.709.
- Set Output Gamma to Gamma 2.4.

Contrast and Exposure Adjustment [3:45]

Adding a Contrast Node:
- Create a new Serial Node and rename it CON for clarity.
Adjusting Primary Wheels:
- Use the Gain color wheel (located at the top right) to subtly darken the highlights in the image. This helps to recover detail in overly bright areas. [Image 17]
- Use the Lift color wheel (located at the bottom left) to gently raise the darker areas of the image, preventing crushed blacks and improving shadow detail.
- Use the Gamma color wheel (located in the middle) to lower the midtones. This helps in balancing the overall contrast and exposure.
- The overall aim of these adjustments is to bring the image to a good base exposure with balanced contrast, ensuring that no details are lost in either the highlights or shadows. [Image 18]

Hue Adjustment and Skin Tone Correction [6:53]

Introducing HDR Wheels:
- Add another new Serial Node and label it HDR.
- Switch to the HDR Primary Controls (HDR Wheels) for more granular and localized tonal and color adjustments within different luminosity zones. [Image 19]
Global Color Adjustment for Skin Tones:
- Adjust the Global control within the HDR Wheels by subtly moving the wheel towards the orange/yellow tones. This gently warms the overall image, which can effectively correct any slight blue cast and enhance natural skin tones, making them appear healthier.
Color Slice for Specific Hues (DaVinci Resolve Studio Only): [7:20]
- Navigate to the Color Slice tab (available in DaVinci Resolve Studio).
- Slightly increase the Hue for the Blue channel.
- Slightly increase the Hue for the Red channel. These subtle boosts in saturation for specific colors help in refining the overall color palette and can further improve skin tone representation.

Applying a Film Look with Film Look Creator [8:18]

Adding Film Look Creator Node:
- Create a new Parallel Node (Option+P on Mac or Alt+P on Windows) and rename it FC (Film Creator) for organization.
- From the Effects Library, drag and apply the Film Look Creator effect to this FC node. [Image 25]
Customizing the Film Look:
- In the Film Look Creator settings, change the Core Look dropdown from Cinema to Vintage. This applies a classic, more stylized film aesthetic to your footage.
- Adjust the Film Look Blend (Mix) parameter to 0.5. This reduces the intensity of the effect, allowing for a more subtle and integrated filmic quality rather than an overly strong or artificial look.
Enhancing with Vignette:
- Enable the Vignette option within the Film Look Creator. This will subtly darken the edges of the frame, a common characteristic of vintage lenses and film stocks, which helps to draw the viewer's focus to the center of the image and enhances the cinematic feel.
Final Exposure Refinement:
- If the overall brightness of the image needs further adjustment after applying the film look, use the Exposure control in the Film Look Creator to fine-tune the image to your desired level.

Conclusion and Final Thoughts [11:19]

The video concludes by showcasing the dramatic yet polished transformation achieved using these six simple nodes and adjustments.
The speaker emphasizes that this method provides a quick, easy, and effective way to achieve a professional film look, making it accessible even for those with limited time for extensive color grading. [Image 29]