posted Jan 19, 2012, 8:33 AM by fmaggi@eusd.org
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updated Jan 24, 2012, 10:50 AM
]
Color Correcting in FCP X
There are 3 different approaches available for correcting color:
- Engage "Balance" if the clip has been analyzed; if not choose Clip > Reveal in Event Browser [⌘-] and then Contol-click on the Event version and choose Analyze and Fix
- Match, where it attempts to get the same color balance as another clip of your choosing
- Manual, where you have the most control and can target that control:
- Exposure
- Saturation
- Color
- Each of those can be applied globally or just in the shadows, mids, or highlights
Use any or a combination of those techniques
Recommended Procedure for Manual Correction
- Show Video Scopes (Window > Show Video Scopes or ⌘-7)
- Set it to Waveform for measuring luminance values (light/dark).
- Fix Exposure
- Click on Exposure tab
- Move the Shadow slider until the darkest parts just hit "0"
- Move the Highlights slider until the brightest levels just hit 100
- Adjust the Midtone slider to taste
- Fix Color
- Click on the Color tab.
- Use the Global slider if it's obvious the image needs more/less of a certain color
- Move the Global slider to the color you want to increase/decrease
- Move the slider up/down in tiny increments by selecting the slider and then using Up and Down arrows to add/subtract that color. Often, just 2 or 3 clicks is enough. Don't overdo it.
- Alternatively, you have the option to use the Shadow, Midtone, and Highlight slider instead (any or all of them; often Midtones is the one you most need). This gives you more targeted control.
- If you want, change the Waveform scope to the Vectorscope to check
- Oversaturation (don't go beyond the Saturation Limit Boxes; see picture below; if necessary, you can fix in the Saturation tab)
- Skin Tones—the northwest dividing line represents skin tones for all humans. Tip: temporarily crop your image so only skin tones are present and then
- Fix Saturation
- Click on the Saturation tab.
- Again, you have a choice of using the Global slider or any/all of the Shadow, Midtone, and Highlight sliders. Or a combination (e.g. globally add blue to the image, but reduce the blue in just the shadows if it looks too strong).
- Also, a little goes a long way; use the Up/Down arrows to go in tiny steps to get what you like. Here, too, don't overdo it.
- If you want, change the Scopes to Vectorscope. Two important things:
- The saturation level for any color should never go beyond the Saturation Limit Boxes; usually it won't even be close
- Skin tones are important; they should always be along the northwest vector line, regardless of race or ethnicity. This is sometimes called the Skin Tone Reference Line. Tip: temporarily crop an image so that all (or most) of what's visible is skin. Check it against the skin tone vector.
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