Color User Manual K Apple Inc. Copyright © 2007 Apple Inc. All rights reserved. Your rights to the software are governed by the accompanying software license agreement. The owner or authorized user of a valid copy of Final Cut Studio software may reproduce this publication for the purpose of learning to use such software. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted for commercial purposes, such as selling copies of this publication or for providing paid for support services. The Apple logo is a trademark of Apple Inc., registered in the U.S. and other countries. Use of the "keyboard" Apple logo (Shift-Option-K) for commercial purposes without the prior written consent of Apple may constitute trademark infringement and unfair competition in violation of federal and state laws. Every effort has been made to ensure that the information in this manual is accurate. Apple is not responsible for printing or clerical errors. Note: Because Apple frequently releases new versions and updates to its system software, applications, and Internet sites, images shown in this book may be slightly different from what you see on your screen. Apple Inc. 1 Infinite Loop Cupertino, CA 95014­2084 408-996-1010 www.apple.com Apple, the Apple logo, DVD Studio Pro, Final Cut, Final Cut Pro, FireWire, LiveType, Mac, Macintosh, Mac OS, QuickTime, and Shake are trademarks of Apple Inc., registered in the U.S. and other countries. Cinema Tools and Finder are trademarks of Apple Inc. Other company and product names mentioned herein are trademarks of their respective companies. Mention of third-party products is for informational purposes only and constitutes neither an endorsement nor a recommendation. Apple assumes no responsibility with regard to the performance or use of these products. 1 Contents Preface 9 9 10 10 11 13 13 16 22 24 27 35 35 37 39 47 49 56 Color Documentation and Resources What Is Color? Using the Color Documentation Color Websites Apple Service and Support Website Color Correction Basics What Is Color Correction? When Does Color Correction Happen? Color Correction in Color Image Encoding Standards Basic Color and Imaging Concepts Color Correction Workflows An Overview of the Color Workflow Limitations in Color Video Finishing Workflows Using Final Cut Pro Importing Projects from Other Video Editing Applications Using Color in a Digital Intermediate Workflow Using EDLs, Timecode, and Frame Numbers to Conform Projects Using the Color Interface Setting Up a Control Surface Using the Onscreen Controls Organizational Browsers and Bins Using Color with One or Two Monitors Importing and Managing Projects and Media Creating and Opening Projects Saving Projects and Archives Moving Projects Between Final Cut Pro and Color Reconforming Projects Importing EDLs Chapter 1 Chapter 2 Chapter 3 59 60 60 64 70 71 72 72 75 79 80 Chapter 4 3 82 82 83 84 88 89 89 Chapter 5 91 91 92 97 98 102 102 111 111 113 115 120 121 122 123 125 126 126 128 129 131 132 133 141 141 144 145 163 163 166 168 179 Exporting EDLs Relinking QuickTime Media Importing Media Directly into The Timeline Compatible Media Formats Converting Cineon and DPX Image Sequences to QuickTime Importing Color Corrections Exporting JPEG Images Setup The File Browser The Shots Browser Grades Bin Project Settings Tab Messages Tab User Preferences Tab Monitoring The Scopes Window Monitoring Broadcast Video Output Using Display LUTs Monitoring the Still Store Timeline Playback, Navigation, and Editing Basic Timeline UI Elements Customizing the Timeline Interface Working with Tracks Selecting the Current Shot Timeline Playback Timeline Navigation Selecting Shots in the Timeline Working with Grades in the Timeline The Settings Tabs Editing Controls and Procedures Video Scopes What Scopes Are Available? Video Scope Options Analyzing Images Using the Video Scopes Primary In What Is the Primary In Room Used For? Using the Primary Contrast Controls Adjusting Contrast in the Shadows, Midtones, and Highlights Using Color Balance Controls Chapter 6 Chapter 7 Chapter 8 Chapter 9 4 Contents 183 189 201 204 206 Chapter 10 209 209 211 212 219 221 228 229 234 235 235 236 238 239 241 242 247 248 249 259 259 260 260 261 263 263 264 268 269 272 273 274 274 Understanding Shadow, Midtone, and Highlight Adjustments Curves Controls Basic Tab Advanced Tab Auto Balance Secondaries What Is the Secondaries Room Used For? Where to Start? Choosing a Region to Correct Using the HSL Qualifiers Previews Tab Isolating a Region Using the Vignette Controls Adjusting the Inside and Outside of the Selection Using the Secondary Curves Reset Controls Color FX The Color FX Interface How to Make Color FX Creating and Connecting Nodes Adjusting Node Parameters Bypassing Nodes Creating Effects in the Color FX Room Using Color FX with Interlaced Shots Saving Favorite Effects in the Color FX Bin Node Reference Guide Primary Out Using the Primary Out Room Making Extra Corrections Using the Primary In Room Understanding the Image Processing Pipeline Using the Ceiling Controls Managing Corrections and Grades The Difference Between Corrections and Grades Saving and Using Corrections and Grades Applying Saved Corrections and Grades to Shots Managing Grades in the Timeline Using the "Copy to" Buttons in the Primary Rooms Using the Copy Grade and Paste Grade Memory Banks Setting a Beauty Grade in the Timeline Disabling All Grades Chapter 11 Chapter 12 Chapter 13 Contents 5 274 281 Managing Grades in the Shots Browser Using the Primary, Secondary, and Color FX Rooms Together to Manage Each Shot's Corrections Keyframing Why Keyframe an Effect? How Keyframing Works in Different Rooms Working with Keyframes in the Timeline Keyframe Interpolation Geometry Navigating Within the Image Preview The Pan & Scan Tab Shapes Tab Tracking Tab Still Store Saving Images to the Still Store Saving Still Store Images in Subdirectories Removing Images from the Still Store Recalling Images from the Still Store Customizing the Still Store View Controls in the Still Store Bin Render Queue About Rendering in Color Which Effects Does Color Render? The Render Queue Interface How to Render Shots in Your Project Rendering Multiple Grades for Each Shot Gather Rendered Media Calibrating Your Monitor About Color Bars Calibrating Video Monitors With Color Bars Keyboard Shortcuts Project Shortcuts Switching Rooms and Windows Playback and Navigation Grade Shortcuts Timeline Specific Shortcuts Editing Shortcuts Keyframing Shortcuts Chapter 14 285 285 286 288 290 293 293 294 298 306 315 315 317 317 318 318 319 321 321 322 323 324 326 328 329 329 329 333 333 334 334 335 335 335 336 Chapter 15 Chapter 16 Chapter 17 Appendix A Appendix B 6 Contents 336 336 337 337 Appendix C 339 339 344 346 351 353 Shortcuts in the Shots Browser Shortcuts in the Geometry Room Still Store Shortcuts Render Queue Shortcuts Setting Up a Control Surface JLCooper MCS-3000, MCS-Spectrum, MCS-3400, and MCS-3800 Control Surfaces Tangent Devices CP100 Control Surface Tangent Devices CP200 Series Control Surface Customizing Control Surface Sensitivity Index Contents 7 Color Documentation and Resources Welcome to the world of professional video and film grading and manipulation using Color. What Is Color? Color has been designed from the ground up as a feature-rich color correction environment that complements a wide variety of post-production workflows, whether your project is standard definition, high definition, or a 2K digital intermediate. If you've edited a program using Final Cut Pro, it's easy to send your program to Color for grading, and then send it back to Final Cut Pro for final output. However, it's also easy to reconform projects that originate as EDLs from other editing environments. Color has the tools that professional colorists demand, including:  Primary color correction using three-way color balance and contrast controls with individual shadow, midtone, and highlight control  Curve controls for detailed color and luma channel adjustments  Up to eight secondary color correction operations per shot with HSL qualifiers, vignettes, user shapes, and separate adjustments for the inside and outside of each secondary  Color FX node-based effects for creating custom color effects  Pan & Scan effects  Motion tracking that can be used to animate vignettes, user shapes, and other effects  Broadcast legal settings to guarantee adherence to quality control standards  Support for color-correction-specific control surfaces  And much, much more All of these tools are divided among eight individual "rooms" of the Color interface, logically arranged in an order that matches the workflow of most colorists. You'll use Color to correct, balance, and create stylized "looks" for each shot in your program as the last step in the post-production workflow, giving your programs a final polish previously available only to high-end facilities. Preface 9 Using the Color Documentation The documentation that accompanies Color consists of a printed setup Guide and an onscreen user manual. Color Setup Guide The Color Setup Guide provides excerpts from the onscreen user manual that are designed to show you how Color fits into each of a variety of post-production workflows, and help you to configure the project settings and user preferences in Color to best suit your needs. If you've just installed Color and want to figure out how to set up your system to work most efficiently, this is the place to start. Color Onscreen User Manual The Color User Manual, available from the Help menu, provides comprehensive information about the application, and is written for users of all levels of experience.  Editors and post-production professionals from other disciplines who are new to the color correction process will find information on how to get started, with detailed explanations of how all controls work, and why they function the way they do.  Colorists coming to Color from other grading environments can skip ahead to find detailed information about Color's inner workings, and exhaustive parameter-byparameter explanations for every room of the Color interface. Note: The onscreen user manual provides all of the information contained in the Color Setup Guide, in an easily searchable form with full-color illustrations. Tutorials A collection of onscreen video tutorials on DVD-ROM is available to help you quickly get started using Color. These tutorials walk you through every major area of the interface, and are a good way to get an overview of where everything is prior to diving into the user manual. Color Websites The following websites provide general information, updates, and support information about Color, as well as the latest news, resources, and training materials. For more information about Color, go to:  http://www.apple.com/finalcutstudio/color For more information on the Apple Pro Training Program, go to:  http://www.apple.com/software/pro/training To provide comments and feedback about Color, go to:  http://www.apple.com/feedback/color.html 10 Preface Color Documentation and Resources Apple Service and Support Website The Apple Service and Support website provides software updates and answers to the most frequently asked questions for all Apple products, including Color. You'll also have access to product specifications, reference documentation, and Apple product technical articles:  http://www.apple.com/support For support information that's specific to Color, go to:  http://www.apple.com/support/color Preface Color Documentation and Resources 11 1 Color Correction Basics 1 To better learn how Color works, it's important to understand the overall color correction process and how images work their way through post-production in SD, HD, and film workflows. If you're new to color correction, the first part of this chapter provides a background in color correction workflows to help you better understand why Color works the way it does. The second part goes on to explain important color and imaging concepts that are important to the operation of the Color interface. This chapter covers the following:      What Is Color Correction? (p. 13) When Does Color Correction Happen? (p. 16) Color Correction in Color (p. 22) Image Encoding Standards (p. 24) Basic Color and Imaging Concepts (p. 27) What Is Color Correction? In any post-production workflow, color correction is generally one of the last steps taken to finish an edited program. Color has been created to give you precise control over the look of every shot in your project by providing flexible tools and an efficient workspace with which to manipulate the contrast, color, and geometry of each shot in your program. The Goals of Color Correction? When color correcting a given program, you'll be called upon to perform many, if not all, of the tasks described in this section. Color gives you ...