DaVinci Resolve: 5 Professional Color Grading Techniques for Filmmakers

Dante Pascarella

1. White Balance Adjustment with Linear Gamma [0:25]

• Instead of using the offset wheel for white balance, professional colorists switch the node's gamma to linear.
  • Right-click on the node and select "Gamma" > "Linear" [0:41].
  • Use the gain wheel to adjust the white balance, which provides a more accurate and camera-like effect on the image [0:46].
  • This ensures that white balance adjustments affect the image similarly to changing white balance in-camera [0:50].

2. Precise Color Selection using the Qualifier Tool [0:58]

• The qualifier tool allows for selecting specific colors in an image, commonly used for skin tones.
  • Activate the dropper tool and click-and-drag over the desired color area, for example, the subject's skin [1:02].
  • Press Shift+H to visualize the keyed-out selection in grayscale, highlighting the isolated color [1:16].
  • Refine the selection using the hue, saturation, and luminance sliders for greater precision, especially when other colors might be picked up [1:40].
  • Clean up the selection with "Clean Black" and "Clean White" adjustments and add a slight blur for smoother transitions during adjustments [2:07].
  • Once keyed out, adjustments (e.g., contrast, midtone detail) only affect the selected area.
    • Reducing midtone detail can soften and smooth out skin blemishes [2:29].
  • The "invert" button can be used to select everything but the keyed-out color, allowing for isolated adjustments to the background or other elements [2:52].

    

3. Ensuring Natural Skin Tones with the Vectorscope Indicator [3:02]

• The vectorscope, with the skin tone indicator, helps achieve natural-looking skin tones.
  • Access the vectorscope by clicking the three lines and enabling "Show Skin Tone Indicator" [3:08].
  • The skin tone indicator is a line between orange and red on the vectorscope, representing where natural skin tones typically sit [3:15].
  • Adjust colors using the color wheels to align the skin tone data (represented by the cluster on the vectorscope) with this indicator line [3:47].
  • This ensures skin tones appear natural, preventing them from looking "sick" or unnatural [3:36].
  • The dropper tool can also be hovered over skin tones in the image to see where their color data falls on the vectorscope, providing a secondary visual check [4:13].

    

4. Accurate Exposure Assessment with False Color [4:55]

• False color is a powerful tool for visually checking image exposure.
  • Find "False Color" in the effects library (free in DaVinci Resolve) and apply it to a node [5:01].
  • This effect color-codes different exposure levels:
    • Yellow/Red indicates overexposed areas (crushed or blown-out highlights) [5:13].
    • Dark Blue/Purple indicates underexposed areas (crushed shadows) [5:22].
    • Green represents properly exposed midtones [5:30].
    • Pinkish/White-Gray colors indicate acceptable highlight levels [5:34].
  • While a technical guide, it's important to also use one's eye, as some dark areas might not appear "crushed" despite the false color indicator [6:34].

    

5. Achieving a Film Look with the Film Look Creator [7:00]

• The "Film Look Creator" effect offers a quick way to impart a cinematic aesthetic.
  • Add a new node after your LUT or CST (Color Space Transform) [7:07].
  • Apply the "Film Look Creator" effect (free in DaVinci Resolve) to this node [7:16].
  • This effect instantly transforms the image into a stylized film look, often adding grain and other filmic qualities [7:21].
  • The effect offers various preset "Film Emulations" and adjustable parameters for exposure, contrast, halation, bloom, and grain [7:35].
  • Although not actual film profiles, DaVinci Resolve's built-in options provide effective and customizable film looks [7:43].