Color and Brightness Correction in Final Cut Pro
- 12-22-2009
- Categorized in: Preprocessing your video, Streaming production, Video tutorials
Of all the skills necessary to successfully edit video, one of the most important is brightness and color correction. To understand how to adjust brightness and color optimally, you have to know how to read a waveform monitor.
In this tutorial, first we'll learn how to enter Final Cut Pro's color correction mode and read the waveform monitor. Then we'll learn how to diagnose and correct a range of brightness and color related problems Using Final cut Pro's Color Corrector effect.
Enjoy!
Nice explanation of the waveform monitor along with using the Color Correction filter.
What do you use for screen capturing as that was nice too? Thanks for the tips.
Ken;
Thanks - glad you found it useful.
I captured with SnapZ Pro. I use Camtasia on Windows, and ow there's a Mac version - wish I had thought to use it for this project. I edited in Adobe Premiere Pro on the Mac. Here's an article that I wrote on the process.
http://www.streaminglearningcenter.com/articles/pr...
Thanks again!
Jan
To reset all the Color Corrector values Shift/Click either of the reset buttons.
You might also warn against using an object that is blown out for your white target.
Mike:
Thanks for the tip on the reset buttons - found 'em.
You referring to the color correction aspect, where you can't click on a blown out white target because FCP sees this as white and doens't color correct? Always found this tough to explain - as you've stated, if you click a pixel that has a value of 100 IRE or higher, FCP sees this as pure white, and sees no need to color correct. you have to click a white pixel that's close to 100% IRE, but not quite there. Basically, if you see a tinge in the video, but clicking a white pixel doesn't make the color chip turn to a different color, click a slightly less bright white pixel.
That cover it?
thanks again for writing in.
Jan
If you hit Ctrl Z the Excess Luma function is actived in the Canvas. Any areas that are too hot, 100 or higher, will be marked with zebras.
You don't need to select pixels close to 100, just something that should be white. A white dress may only be 60 IRE but it is still white.
Good stuff, thanks for weighing in.
Best.
Jan
Daughter is studying electronic media at Kutztown U.
Having difficulty with outdoor night footage shot with lights, but evidently not enough.
We knew that Final Cut Studio (Pro) had a facility to correct, but color generator was not intuitive.
Your tutorial seems fantastically simply to me.
Hope it is as well for my daughter - sending her a link.
Thank you so much for sharing your insights.
I think in this case, they will help a struggling student.
Hey Ken:
Thanks for your kind note; I hope your daughter finds this useful.
Thanks again.
Jan