5 Colour Grading Pitfalls to Avoid (and How to Fix Them)
Colour grading powerfully influences the mood and visual impact of your videos or photos. It plays a significant role in turning ordinary footage into cinematic masterpieces. However, even experienced filmmakers can stumble. Here's how to refine your colour grading process and unlock its full potential.
5 Colour Grading Pitfalls to Avoid (and How to Fix Them)
Pitfall 1: The Over saturation Temptation
Yes, vibrant colours are attractive, but resist the urge to go overboard. Over saturation creates artificial, eye-straining visuals.
The Fix: Prioritise subtlety. Use tools like saturation sliders in your editing software to incrementally enhance colours. Aim for vibrancy that leans towards naturalism.
Pitfall 2: The Dreaded Colour Banding
Notice streaks or bands within smooth colour gradients, especially with 8bit footage? It's a sign of too many shades of colour being pushed on the sensor. Skies and skin tones are especially vulnerable to this effect.
The Fix: Using the affected area with a luminance key add deband OFX and the bands will disappear
Pitfall 3: Where's the Contrast?
Flat images disappoint! Poorly graded images frequently lack sufficient contrast, making them dull.
The Fix: Consciously deepen your blacks and brighten targeted highlights. Doing so injects depth and visual interest.
Pitfall 4: Skin Tones Gone Rogue
Achieving believable skin tones in colour grading is a common struggle. Skin that appears off immediately signals an amateurish look.
The Fix: Start with a solid white balance. Use the skin tone line in the vector scope. To dial it in always be mindful of the incredible diversity in human skin tones and the lighting on set that is used!
Pitfall 5: The Jarring Scene Shift
Inconsistent colour grading across scenes disrupts the flow for your audience.
The Fix: Establish your film or project's central colour palette early on. Maintain it across scenes, allowing for subtle variations within that tonal framework.
Bonus Tip: You Need Calibration!
Using an uncalibrated monitor makes accurate colour grading near impossible. Get access to a professional calibration setup or invest in your own calibration tools.
Level Up Your Colour Grading Skills
Masterful colour grading requires both finesse and technical knowledge. By understanding and avoiding these common hurdles, you'll guarantee that your visuals are always on point. Practice consistently, push your creative boundaries, and watch your colour grading abilities reach new heights!
