Color Grading Music Video | Aistè – You’ve Got the Feeling
Color Grading Music Video | Aistè – You’ve Got the Feeling
Color grading music videos can be a challenging task as you have limited time to create an impactful visual story. With fast cuts and dynamic camera movements, music videos typically run for only 3-4 minutes. To ensure the best results, planning is key. It’s essential to consider the wardrobe and set design, keeping in mind the desired final look. Working with a professional like Aistè, who has a keen eye for detail and experience in pre-planning, makes the job of the colorist much more manageable. With well-designed looks and sets, the colorist can focus on enhancing the visual storytelling and bring the music video to life.
Color Grading Music Video
Color grading a music video presents its own set of unique challenges and opportunities for creativity. The fast-paced nature of music videos, with their quick cuts and dynamic camera movements, demands a thorough and well-planned approach from the start. At the beginning of each project, our team engages in a collaborative discussion to gather important information such as camera specifications, desired visual aesthetics, and the overall direction of the music video. To streamline our color grading process, we utilize Skype for online sessions. We have found that Skype provides a high-quality and reliable connection, making it possible for us to conduct effective color grading sessions without relying on costly equipment or setups. By leveraging technology and prioritizing collaboration, we are able to achieve stunning results that bring the music video to life.
Davinci Resolve
As a seasoned color grader, I have found that DaVinci Resolve is the ultimate tool for my craft. Its robust feature set and ability to integrate external plugins through the OFX system make it a versatile and powerful solution for all my color grading needs. Over the past decade, I have honed my skills on this platform and developed a deep appreciation for its versatility and ease of use. Whether you’re working on a feature film or a music video, DaVinci Resolve is the perfect tool to bring your creative vision to life. Let’s load up our footage and begin the color grading process!
In this project, Aistè aimed to achieve a sophisticated and organic look with a touch of nostalgia. The choice was inspired by the style of the cinematography and wardrobe, creating a harmonious aesthetic that was effortless to execute with the use of Davinci Resolve. The color grading process was aimed at enhancing the natural beauty of the footage while adding a hint of vintage charm to the final result.
The Look
I felt very strongly about keeping skin tones as natural and healthy looking as possible. To me, it was a no-brainer to use Origami LUT for that task. Developed specifically to keep natural skin tones preserved, Origami LUT performed beautifully!
The initial conversion was crucial in establishing a natural foundation for the image. By carefully adjusting the color temperature, I was able to achieve a harmonious balance in the overall look. In particular, some shots had an undesired warm tint, so I used the temperature slider to effectively cool them down, resulting in a more balanced and visually pleasing final product. By paying attention to these subtle details and making precise adjustments, I was able to bring the image to life and ensure that it was visually appealing and true to life.
To create a unique look that was both natural and vintage, I meticulously controlled the blacks and saturation levels. This allowed me to maintain the integrity of the image while still infusing it with a touch of timelessness. To further enhance this vintage aesthetic, I carefully added a hint of purple to the shadows, giving the final product a beautiful retro film feel. This careful attention to detail and expert use of color was the key to elevating the image and making it truly stand out. The result was a stunning piece that was both beautiful and evocative, perfectly capturing the essence of the project and delivering a truly unforgettable visual experience.
For the interior shots, I employed strategic masking to shape the light in a more desirable way, further enhancing the visual impact of the scene. I also added a touch of purple to the shadows, lending the image an even greater sense of depth and dimension. The grading process was streamlined and uncomplicated, allowing me to focus on the finer details and perfecting the overall look of the image.
To finalize the project and ensure a pristine master, I utilized Near Video to clean up any imperfections and give the image a polished and professional finish. This final touch was essential in elevating the image to its full potential and presenting it in its best light. By combining technical expertise with a keen eye for detail, I was able to create a stunning piece that truly embodied the vision and intent of the project.
