Mastering Split Toning in DaVinci Resolve: Eliminating Color Casts from Blacks and Whites

Summary:

The most common mistake in split toning is a global color wash over the entire image, including pure blacks and whites.
The video demonstrates three methods to perform split toning while maintaining clean blacks and whites:
1. Manual adjustment in DaVinci Resolve Free: Use custom curves after establishing an 18% middle gray reference point to prevent color spill in shadows and highlights.
2. Using a free DCTL in DaVinci Resolve Studio: Leverage a dedicated gray card DCTL to set the middle gray and then apply split tones with more precise controls over the clean black/white areas.
3. Utilizing a commercial DCTL (e.g., Demystify Color) in DaVinci Resolve Studio: This offers a streamlined approach with built-in clean white and clean black controls for quick and effective split toning.
The video also shows how to permanently save your custom 18% middle gray reference point as a gallery still for consistent future use.

Comparison of three split toning methods [ 00:10:37 ]

Understanding the Split Toning Mistake [0:00]

The video addresses a common mistake in split toning, where users unintentionally apply a color wash across the entire image, including the pure black and white areas. This results in an undesirable tinted look rather than a refined split tone that preserves the integrity of shadows and highlights. The goal is to apply color shifts specifically to the dark and bright regions while keeping true blacks and whites clean.

Method 1: Manual Split Toning in DaVinci Resolve (Free Version) [0:45]

This method outlines how to achieve effective split toning in the free version of DaVinci Resolve by manually adjusting curves and referencing a middle gray point.

Setting 18% Middle Gray Reference [1:08]
- To accurately identify the 18% middle gray in your footage, download a gray reference chart (like the one from Mononodes).
- Place the reference chart into your DaVinci Resolve timeline.
- On the color page, select the specific 18% middle gray patch corresponding to your footage's color space (e.g., DaVinci Intermediate).
- Make a point on the RGB curve at this middle gray value to serve as a visual anchor.
- Copy this node to your working footage to establish the reference point.
Applying Initial Split Tones [2:45]
- Introduce colors into the darker areas (below 18% gray) and brighter areas (above 18% gray) using the color wheels or RGB mixer.
- For example, subtracting red and green from shadows for a teal look, and adding red and green to highlights for a golden look.
Refining Blacks and Whites to Prevent Color Wash [3:53]
- The key to avoiding the color wash mistake is to use the custom curves for each color channel (Red, Green, Blue).
- Identify the points on the curves that correspond to your desired clean black and white points (often the extremes of the histogram).
- Drag these points back to the central line for each color channel, effectively "nullifying" the color shift in the deepest shadows and brightest highlights.
- This ensures that pure blacks remain black and pure whites remain white, without any unwanted color cast.

Method 2: Split Toning with a Free DCTL in DaVinci Resolve Studio [5:50]

This method utilizes a free DCTL (DaVinci Color Transform Language) plugin, which requires the paid DaVinci Resolve Studio version, to simplify the process of setting middle gray and applying split tones.

Setting Middle Gray with Paul Henderson DCTL [6:09]
- Download and apply Paul Henderson's free gray card DCTL.
- This DCTL provides a simple gray card that automatically registers the 18% middle gray.
- Make a point on this DCTL's gray card to set your middle gray reference.
Applying Split Tones and Refining with DCTL Controls [6:39]
- With the DCTL active, apply desired color shifts to the shadows and highlights.
- The DCTL often includes built-in controls (like "clean white" and "clean black" sliders) that automatically pull the extreme highlights and shadows back to neutral, preventing color wash without manual curve adjustments.

Method 3: Professional Split Toning with Demystify Color DCTL [7:52]

This section showcases a commercial DCTL, specifically from Demystify Color, for an even more advanced and efficient split toning workflow.

Introduction to Demystify Color DCTL [7:52]
- This DCTL is a paid plugin designed for precise color grading tasks, including split toning.
- It offers a highly intuitive interface and advanced features for colorists.
Applying Split Tones with Clean Black/White Options [9:31]
- After applying a basic contrast curve, activate the split tone curve within the Demystify Color DCTL.
- Apply desired color shifts to the darker and brighter areas using the DCTL's controls.
- The DCTL inherently provides "clean white" and "clean black" functionality, automatically preventing color from bleeding into the extreme ends of the tonal range, similar to Method 2 but with potentially more refined results.

Saving and Reusing Your Middle Gray Reference [11:00]

To streamline your workflow, you can save your customized 18% middle gray reference for future projects.

Create a solid color generator clip in the edit page.
Make it a compound clip and open it in the color page.
Apply your previously created 18% middle gray point to this compound clip.
Save this corrected middle gray as a gallery still.
In future projects, you can drag this gallery still onto a node to instantly apply the correct 18% middle gray reference point for accurate color grading and split toning.

Advanced Color Grading Tips [13:17]

Beyond split toning, the video briefly touches on other elements to enhance a graded image:

Adjusting saturation and contrast.
Playing with hue for specific colors (e.g., making blues more teal, reds more saturated).
Enhancing specific elements, like pushing wheat towards yellow for a golden sunset effect, to further sell the desired mood or time of day.