{"id":85972,"date":"2017-01-31T12:11:00","date_gmt":"2017-01-31T18:11:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.premiumbeat.com\/blog\/?p=85972"},"modified":"2017-01-31T12:11:47","modified_gmt":"2017-01-31T18:11:47","slug":"best-color-grading-software-and-plugins-for-video-editors","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.premiumbeat.com\/blog\/best-color-grading-software-and-plugins-for-video-editors\/","title":{"rendered":"The Best Color Grading Software and Plugins for Video Editors"},"content":{"rendered":"

Color grading doesn’t have to be a mystery. These\u00a0programs and plugins make the process faster and easier than ever.<\/h2>\n

Top image via Lee Campbell<\/em><\/p>\n

If you aren’t a full-time colorist,<\/strong> odds are you won’t be diving into the likes of FilmLight’s Baselight<\/a>, AutoDesk Flame’s Lustre<\/a>, or specific programs like\u00a0REDCINE-X<\/a>. You’re probably just looking for a quick way to get results\u00a0that make your client happy.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Here are some of the best programs<\/strong> and plugins<\/strong> for video editors<\/strong> to make\u00a0a quick color grade.<\/strong><\/p>\n

DaVinci Resolve<\/a><\/h3>\n

\"The
\nImage via Blackmagic Design<\/em><\/p>\n

Blackmagic’s DaVinci Resolve<\/a> is one of the industry standards for color work. The reason it makes the list for video editors<\/strong> \u2014 the latest version (12.5) includes a built-in NLE<\/strong>. Blackmagic wants to become the go-to place for all things post-production, and they are well on their way to making DaVinci Resolve<\/strong>\u00a0a major program outside of color circles.<\/p>\n

DaVinci Resolve<\/strong> can be intimidating, as the color work is node-based \u2014 but there are a ton of tutorials online<\/a>, and the amount is growing. Diving into all the specific tools requires an article much more in-depth than this, but here are a few tools for basic color grading<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

\"The<\/p>\n

In the Color<\/strong> tab, you will be presented with a variety of tools. This includes Color Match, Color Wheels, RGB Mixer, Curves, Windows,<\/strong> and more. The Color Match tool works great with color charts<\/a> to instantly match the environment the footage was shot in. It will give you true color results<\/strong> at the click of a button.<\/p>\n

\"The<\/p>\n

Next to the Color Match<\/strong> icon, you will see the traditional Color Wheels<\/strong> tab. There you will see three workspace options \u2014 Primaries\u00a0Wheels, Primaries\u00a0Bars, <\/strong>and Log<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

The Primaries Wheels are the Color Wheels you will see in nearly every color grading program. DaVinci Resolve<\/strong> uses Lift<\/strong> (shadows), Gamma<\/strong> (midtones), Gain<\/strong> (highlights), and Offset<\/strong>. Offset is used to raise or lower everything in each channel. To control each wheel, just drag the circle toward the color you want. (You can reset the tool by double clicking on the circle.)<\/p>\n

Quick note \u2014 DaVinci Resolve<\/strong> was designed to be used with a color\u00a0grading\u00a0surface.<\/strong> If you’re like me and don’t have $30,000 for the Advanced Panel, check out these more affordable color grading tools<\/a>.<\/p>\n

DaVinci Resolve 12.5<\/strong> is available for free in the lite version<\/a> of the software. The full Studio suite goes for\u00a0$995<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\n

Adobe Premiere Pro CC (Lumetri)<\/h3>\n

\"The<\/p>\n

The Lumetri panel<\/strong> has grown tremendously in the past few iterations of Premiere Pro.<\/strong> Originally a drag-on effect, Premiere Pro CC 2017<\/strong> has a full-on color grading tab<\/strong>. When entering the Color<\/strong> panel, you will be met with all the traditional Lumetri effects,<\/strong> as well as more traditional tools like color wheels.<\/strong><\/p>\n

The side panels are split into six default menus\u00a0\u2014 Basic Correction, Creative, Curves, Color Wheels, HSL Secondary, <\/strong>and Vignette<\/strong>. Each tool works independently of each other, so changing the Creative color wheels<\/strong> is not the same as changing the actual Color Wheels.<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"The<\/p>\n

The Basic Correction<\/strong> panel allows you to use an Input LUT<\/strong> (look up table<\/a>), adjust White Balance<\/strong>, Tone<\/strong> (exposure, contrast, etc), and Saturation<\/strong>. These are each controlled with sliders. (If you don’t like an adjustment, just double-click the slider circle to reset.)<\/p>\n

\"The<\/p>\n

The Creative<\/strong> menu allows to to use .Look<\/strong> files, which are specific to working in Lumetri.<\/strong> If you like a “look” you are working on, you can save the adjustments as a preset. You can also download free look files to apply<\/a>. Additionally, you can adjust the Intensity of the applied look<\/strong>. Within the Adjustments<\/strong> drop-down, you will see options to, well, adjust<\/strong> things like Faded Film, Sharpness, Vibrance, Saturation, <\/strong>and Tint Balance<\/strong>. (Note that this is not the same Saturation slider mentioned in the Basic Correction panel.)<\/p>\n

\"The<\/p>\n

For the sake of brevity, the rest of the panels are rather self explanatory. Curves<\/strong> allows you to adjust RGB Curves<\/strong> and Hue Saturation<\/strong>. The Color Wheels<\/strong> act as traditional controls for Shadows, Midtones, <\/strong>and Highlights<\/strong>. The HSL Secondary<\/strong> will allow you to select color ranges and adjust the Hue, Saturation, and Lightness. You can also refine the image with the Denoise<\/strong> and Blur<\/strong> options. Under Correction,<\/strong> you will see the original color correction tool from Premiere, controlled by a single color wheel and basic color sliders. Finally, Vignette<\/strong> adjusts the vignette.<\/p>\n

Lumetri is included with Premiere Pro.<\/strong> You will need an Adobe Creative Cloud subscription<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\n

Final Cut Pro X (Color Board)<\/h3>\n

\"The<\/p>\n

With the latest overhaul of Final Cut Pro 10.3<\/strong>, Apple made an overhaul to the entire face of the NLE \u2014 but the color grading<\/strong> remains similar. You will need to apply a Color Correction<\/strong> effect to a clip, and then use the\u00a0Color Board<\/strong> to adjust the look of the footage. You will adjust four\u00a0pucks<\/strong> on the board \u2014 one each for Shadows<\/strong>,\u00a0Midtones<\/strong>,\u00a0Highlights, <\/strong>and Global.<\/strong><\/p>\n

I’m personally not a fan of this, but I understand its theory of simple adjustments. I’d much rather use an FCPX plugin<\/strong> for color \u2014 which I’ll cover next.<\/p>\n

The Color Board is included with FCPX.<\/strong> FCPX is available for $299<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\n

Color Finale<\/h3>\n

What FCPX lacks in color grading, Color Finale<\/a> makes up for. This plugin is specific to FCPX<\/strong>, so if you aren’t a Final Cut Pro X user \u2014 skip ahead. Color Finale is a product of Color Grading Central, which has a great community\u00a0for all things color grading<\/a> related.<\/p>\n

Color Finale adds\u00a0a free floating window to FCPX. Inside the window are Color Wheels, Color Sliders, Auto White Balance <\/strong>controls, and\u00a0the Secondaries Vector <\/strong>tool. The Pro version of Color Finale features some workflow management tools for those working in ACES<\/a>. Here’s a look at the plugin in action.<\/p>\n

https:\/\/vimeo.com\/119422039<\/p>\n

Color Finale requires FCPX 10.2.3 or higher.<\/strong> It’s available as a FREE 7-day trial, $99 Standard version, and $149 Pro version<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\n

FilmConvert<\/h3>\n

FilmConvert is an emulation software that gives digital footage a film feel<\/strong> with grain and color effects. It\u00a0works on a multitude of NLEs and platforms<\/strong>, including Premiere Pro, FCPX, Avid Media Composer, DaVinci Resolve, After Effects, Sony Vegas Pro, and as a standalone platform. There are also camera profiles for a variety of cameras,\u00a0<\/strong>likes ARRI, Canon, Sony, Blackmagic, GoPro, and DJI.<\/p>\n