Film Color Grading in Davinci Resolve A step by Step Guide

Color grading is a critical step in the post-production process that can significantly affect the final look and feel of a film. Davinci Resolve is a powerful and professional color grading software that provides a wide range of tools for color correction and grading. Here are the steps you can follow to color grade a film in Davinci Resolve:

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Step 1: Organize Your Footage Import your footage into the media pool and organize it into bins based on different shots and scenes. This will make it easier to find the clips you need when you start color grading.

Step 2: Create a New Project Create a new project in Davinci Resolve and set the project settings according to the specifications of your footage. This includes resolution, frame rate, and color space.

Step 3: Balance the Shots The first step in the color grading process is to balance the shots. This means adjusting the exposure, white balance, and contrast of each clip to ensure consistency across all shots. Use the color wheels, curves, and other grading tools to adjust the levels of the footage.

Step 4: Create a Look Once you have balanced the shots, you can start creating a look for the film. A look is a particular color and tone that you apply to the entire film to create a specific mood or aesthetic. Use the grading tools in Davinci Resolve to adjust the colors, saturation, and contrast of the footage to achieve the desired look.

Step 5: Refine the Look After you have created a look, you can refine it further by adjusting the highlights and shadows, applying sharpening or softening effects, and tweaking the colors to fine-tune the overall look.

Step 6: Apply Secondary Corrections Once you have a basic look, you can apply secondary corrections to specific parts of the footage. This includes adjusting skin tones, removing blemishes or imperfections, and isolating specific colors to create a more dynamic image.

Step 7: Finishing Touches Finally, add finishing touches to the film, including noise reduction, grain, and sharpening. You can also add a final color grading pass to fine-tune the colors and contrast.

Step 8: Export the Final Film Once you are satisfied with the color grading, you can export the final film. Choose the appropriate settings based on the intended use of the film, such as web, broadcast, or cinema.

Finished shot Color Graded using Origami LUTs for Red Digital

Correct Order of Nodes

The correct node order in Davinci Resolve for color grading can vary depending on the specific needs of the project, but a general guideline for a typical node order is as follows:

Node 1: Log Conversion – Convert the camera’s log or raw footage to a linear color space for easier grading.
Node 2: Primary Correction – Adjust the overall balance of the image by adjusting the exposure, contrast, and color temperature.
Node 3: Secondary Correction – Isolate and adjust specific areas of the image using shapes, keys, or masks.
Node 4: Creative Look – Apply a creative grade, such as a film emulation or color grading style.
Node 5: Color Effects – Add any additional color effects, such as grain or flares.
Node 6: Output – Apply any final adjustments, such as adding a LUT for specific delivery requirements.

It is important to note that the node order can be adjusted based on the specific needs of the project, and additional nodes can be added as needed for more complex grading tasks.

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