Dude, this is the most straightforward color grading video I've ever seen. Color grading has always been my weakest point in filmmaking. Now I'm stoked to get in there and give it another try. Thanks brotha. You got another sub! 🔔
Nice insights Aidin. It's a matter of personal preference at the end of the day. Using a LUT does not make someone any less of a professional than someone who doesn't use them, provided that they use them for a reason within their workflow and understand what they're doing. For example, speed and convenience. Many creators individually colour CORRECT their footage manually, but then stylise their clips with an overall look by colour GRADING with LUTs to keep a consistent look throughout. Being able to understand colour science and manually colour grade without a LUT is an essential skill - no doubt. But using a LUT to save time, especially when you have a tonne of clips and videos to pump out is perfectly fine in my opinion. LUTs are never meant to be a one-click solution, they're supposed to be used as a starting point and then customised to work on the footage you've shot. In the end, the person watching the footage won't care if it was a LUT or not, so long as it looks amazing. This is also why I don't care much for "hardcore rules" in film making. Like, who cares if you followed a textbook and used precise shutter speed / frame rate ratios, when in the end, your video looks exactly the same after getting creative and breaking some rules? There are 100 ways to achieve the same solution. What matters is having fun and making the end product look dope :-)
If you don't shoot LOG footage there is no reason to use a LUT. It isn't just a preset or filter for your image. It is actually math, bringing your LOG footage into REC709 colorspace. Sure people misuse it like an Instagram filter, but it is very useful for many cameras.
color grading is the fun part for me as well, glad I'm not alone. I love getting a good shot, but not so much the act of shooting. I like working with a good shot in post.
Already knew the techniques but still enjoyed the video haha. Just to add something: You can also pull down saturation of highlights and shadows for a more realistic look. (luminance vs saturation and then the very left and very right end of the line)
Hey man, loving the videos recently and I think I've definitely seen an improvement in quality. Not that I have any place to say this but for any advice I'd give it would be show a little more enthusiasm/lighter mood. This and provoking a personality is really what can pull an audience to not only show interest in your videos but interest in you. Not saying you should change or anything but I just wish the best for you and your channel because I can see the work you put in. PS. Cheers for another banger!
I prefer his very neutral, clear tone. As a scientist, it may just speak to me more as to others, but all this over theatralic/fake emotional people make me click the video away in seconds. Especially if they really fake it and its not their personality.
Workflow could be better (like balancing the shot, giving it some contrast, choosing the pivot point, then work on the look with the closest you can get to a 100% balanced shot), but the general point of "make your own looks and don't rely on fucking LUTs" is spot on. Colour means something, and you should have a handle on it if you want control over what you're making.
@@AidinRobbins I think there's an objectively more structured and consistent way to grade. Right and wrong is by definition subjective, order and consistency aren't. Also, by sharing your way of doing X you're indirectly saying that you think it's the best you've found, so you are making a point even if you're not aware of it.
0:26 opposite for me. I have OCD, so if the grade is even slightly off, I don't get sleep.. And I don't like turning the grade on and off coz my OCD gets worse when I look at the unedited shot.
1. There's about 18 months between those 2 videos- my process can change :) 2. The Varicam LUT is an example of a conversion LUT- it converts LOG footage to a "normal-looking" color profile to prepare it for grading. It's the base for color correction, not grading. The footage I use in this video is from a different camera and wasn't shot in LOG, so a conversion LUT isn't necessary
I generally don't use LUTs either (specifically, LUTs created by others), but that's typically because I like to have total control over the process from start to finish. and when I use LUTs, I feel like I'm "cheating." Totally not knocking anyone who uses LUTs if they work for you-it's just the way I look at it, for better or for worse.
I'm a bit confused that you call this fooling someone into thinking it's a Lut. When I create a Lut, I would take a photo, do all the adjustments you just mentioned and then save it. For the future and can change some things when I want. So it's just a preset right? I'd still have to adjust some things but don't have to fiddle around with other stuff too muchg. It's less time consuming but still good fun as I make them myself. But I also understand if this is to your liking, like you said at the beginning.
@@AidinRobbins definitely. It#s always better understanding and knowing what goes into it and how it works rather than just putting a LUT on top. But once you have your Luts you know exactly what settings in camera will give you what output. Or even with a NInja V you are able to see the footage with a Lut overlay if I'm not mistaken. I wish I had all of this hahaha. Good work as always mate.
Yes and no. A LUT differs from a preset in that a LUT contains a set of fixed values that can be destructive to your image if not used properly. A preset, however, does save the values you input, but you have the ability to tweak the values in a non-destructive way. For example. I take a log or raw clip of the sky. Then, I apply a LUT that adds more contrast to the image and effectively clips the clouds in the sky. If I try to reduce the brightness value in a layer AFTER the LUT, I will not be able to recover the highlights in the clouds, because the LUT is telling my clip that any value above X becomes Y. Its destructive. However, if you bring the brightness value down in a layer BEFORE the LUT is applied, then you can bring back the information in the highlights. The order of operations is important when you apply a LUT. With a preset, however, you can just change the values when you want in a non-destructive manner. Hopefully this clarifies the distinction between the two!
@@migueldelgadillo9673 Thanks a lot for your very detailed answer! Sounds like I don't mean it, but I do. Most probably one of the reasons why it's "best" not to use a LUT at a 100% right? meaning that if you don't use it to a 100 you can still be able to tweak some things with a lut overlay? Just curious. And thanks again for the answer. Will just save presets in Final Cut now I guess ;)
@@erikdoose6558 No problem! I always appreciate passing along what little pieces of knowledge I know! As for your assertion, you are on the right path. It's best not to use a LUT @ 100% because that LUT was not 100% made with the clip you are applying it to in mind. People mistakenly think they can apply a blockbuster (teal & orange) LUT to their film and it will automatically make their film look like a blockbuster, but that's just not the case. There are many things that affect the way a film can look, including production and costume design. In terms of LUT workflow, no matter whether you use it at 50% or 100%, it's sound advice to follow this pipeline: RAW/Log clip -> Color Correction -> LUT -The benefit of this pipeline is that if you lose information (ex: the white cloud example above) after you apply the LUT, you can always adjust the color correction layer BEFORE, thus, bringing back the information. The key is that the color correction layer must be before the LUT. Now, let's consider reversing the workflow: RAW/Log clip -> LUT -> Color Correction -The drawback of this pipeline is that you apply the LUT first, and then you try to color correct. However, if the LUT clips information (ex: the white cloud example), you will probably NOT be able to recover that information with the color correction layer that follows the LUT, because the LUT is a fixed set of values. Use presets and LUTS, just learn the workflow of each. Once you gain enough confidence, try watching movies whose colors really stand out to you and see if you can re-create them yourself. It's the best way you can start becoming a better colorist =) Have an A1 day!
Are you talking about only looks lut or overall? pardon me if thats very basic missing knowledge kind of question but im new to this work. Is a log footage not supposed to be converted to rec709 first and then grade? and to convert log to 709 u use lut? could u please clearify, thanks.
Firstly, thank you very much for the tutorial. If I am not wrong you shoot with G7, do you set everything to - 5? I use G85 and set everything to same except shadows and highlights to - 3
Is it just me or do these curves work from bottom to top as layers? Looks like when you changed the hue and the greens turned blue they weren't affected by the sat vs. sat curve anymore cause now they are blue and outside of your selection. You can see it especially in the grass.
@@uruy337 Well I got the G80/85 but you are right the G7 is still a lot cheaper. The G 85 has in body stabilisation tho. It always depends on what you are going for and want to do. If you want to vlog and need to rely on autofocus. The G7 isn't the best. (don't know about sl2) But Lumix does a great Job in the video game. I mean Aidin is using the G7 himself ...
yikes premiere looks so weird with how used i am to resolve at this point haha i know this kind of stuff isnt really needed / expected from the gaming content that i do, but i love editing, so anything that i could learn that could even remotely apply to resolve is so cool :D
Good video as usual Aidan. Two questions, will this technique work if I purchase Photoshop Elements or do you need the full Photoshop version? Second do you have to do that for EVERY frame in your video? Love your channel, the tips, and I look forward to new videos weekly. PEACE from ATL 😊📸📽
I fully agree, using luts always make me feel like I’m coping out and just dropping an instagram filter instead of giving it a personal touch. Great video!
You can only costumize that LUT a number of ways and even each clip. LUTs are an excelent tool to colorize your film uniformly. I never put a LUT on and leave it there like it is... you just need to see them as a great tool and not as a IG filter.
"You're killing my LUT sales!" 😂
absolutely murdering once again my man. your 2019 style is distinct and literally the best i’ve seen in the filmmaking community on this platform
This is the best Filmmaking RUclips Channel !
Color grade and chill is a good example of having fun color grading!
Dude, this is the most straightforward color grading video I've ever seen. Color grading has always been my weakest point in filmmaking. Now I'm stoked to get in there and give it another try. Thanks brotha. You got another sub! 🔔
Nice insights Aidin.
It's a matter of personal preference at the end of the day. Using a LUT does not make someone any less of a professional than someone who doesn't use them, provided that they use them for a reason within their workflow and understand what they're doing. For example, speed and convenience.
Many creators individually colour CORRECT their footage manually, but then stylise their clips with an overall look by colour GRADING with LUTs to keep a consistent look throughout. Being able to understand colour science and manually colour grade without a LUT is an essential skill - no doubt. But using a LUT to save time, especially when you have a tonne of clips and videos to pump out is perfectly fine in my opinion.
LUTs are never meant to be a one-click solution, they're supposed to be used as a starting point and then customised to work on the footage you've shot.
In the end, the person watching the footage won't care if it was a LUT or not, so long as it looks amazing. This is also why I don't care much for "hardcore rules" in film making. Like, who cares if you followed a textbook and used precise shutter speed / frame rate ratios, when in the end, your video looks exactly the same after getting creative and breaking some rules?
There are 100 ways to achieve the same solution. What matters is having fun and making the end product look dope :-)
If you don't shoot LOG footage there is no reason to use a LUT. It isn't just a preset or filter for your image. It is actually math, bringing your LOG footage into REC709 colorspace. Sure people misuse it like an Instagram filter, but it is very useful for many cameras.
color grading is the fun part for me as well, glad I'm not alone. I love getting a good shot, but not so much the act of shooting. I like working with a good shot in post.
You make very good tutorials
Already knew the techniques but still enjoyed the video haha. Just to add something: You can also pull down saturation of highlights and shadows for a more realistic look. (luminance vs saturation and then the very left and very right end of the line)
Most helpful and short color grading tutorial I have seen. Thank.
very informational I love it!
I agree so much! Half the enjoyment of editing is the color grading!
Great tutorial! Color grading is definitely one of those you have to sit down and take your time with.
EXCELLENT sound. Like it.
And thx for this insight, sir.
couldn't agree with this method more, it makes the color grading look so nice, great tutorial !
I love it I've really started getting more into color grading and it gets more and more fun
Woo! Glad to hear it 🤙
I use luts on video that's got a really tight deadline usually, but I agree the turning on and off of the grading layers is satisfying
You’re fast becoming my most watched creator! So good!
Thank you!! Appreciate the support 🙏
Great video - thanks for sharing your knowledge.
Been following you for awhile and I just want to let you know I appreciate your videos. :)
I love the before and after on a color grade :)
Bro? Each and every single thing I want to learn what I’m looking for all the time. You’re uploading the exact same things ❤️ BOOM 💥
very interesting mate, worth the watch!
Love your stuff!!
Man I never knew how it easy was to color grade your shots without LUTS, definitely gonna try this one out!
Go for it!
Hey man, loving the videos recently and I think I've definitely seen an improvement in quality. Not that I have any place to say this but for any advice I'd give it would be show a little more enthusiasm/lighter mood. This and provoking a personality is really what can pull an audience to not only show interest in your videos but interest in you. Not saying you should change or anything but I just wish the best for you and your channel because I can see the work you put in.
PS. Cheers for another banger!
I prefer his very neutral, clear tone. As a scientist, it may just speak to me more as to others, but all this over theatralic/fake emotional people make me click the video away in seconds. Especially if they really fake it and its not their personality.
Nice. Yeah I think those curves can seem a bit intimidating, but a good teacher can make them seem easy and fun to use! Thanks
Always enjoying your vid man! Thank you for sharing this info on the color grading!
Your my new favorite youtuber. Awesome videos! First video i saw was about how how to hyperlapse. Keep it up.
Nice Video Bru I think using Adjustments it's greater than Using Luts !! Keep up the Good Content Bru !!
I've been ruining my footage using LUTs I feel now. Thank you man, will try this on the next project!
Does it become pixely? Blurry'ish when you use luts? Happened to mine
@aidin Nice! I feel a little more confident now. Ima have to try this!
Very helpful man. thanks
Thank you very much for this kind of videos, they are really helpfully, greetings from Colombia.
Thanks man, this video helped me so much with my colour grading so thx
Bro you got me feeling some type of way with color grading!
This is great, thanks!
Thanks man!
I always use LUTS. (I have specialized LUTS for different color spaces ect) I always use them as a starting point and go from there.
Cool, keep doing that
Great video!
Thank you sir for this great tip !!
this is new premiere pro tutorial!! thanks men
Excellent
Totally agree with you
great job bro 👍
Just recently started watching your videos. keep it up!
Workflow could be better (like balancing the shot, giving it some contrast, choosing the pivot point, then work on the look with the closest you can get to a 100% balanced shot), but the general point of "make your own looks and don't rely on fucking LUTs" is spot on. Colour means something, and you should have a handle on it if you want control over what you're making.
Not making a point just sharing my own process. If you think there's an objectively right and wrong way to grade this video wasn't for you 🤙
@@AidinRobbins I think there's an objectively more structured and consistent way to grade. Right and wrong is by definition subjective, order and consistency aren't. Also, by sharing your way of doing X you're indirectly saying that you think it's the best you've found, so you are making a point even if you're not aware of it.
Awesome video dude. I love that feeling of turning off and on the color grade too :)
👌👌
I'll watch every video of yours.
Thanks for your tip cheers!
Super cool, I don't use LUTs leader.
Awesome video. ! You should do more hitfilm tutorial !
Thank you
Does CC 2018 lack some of the Curves? :)
i cant find them neither
So, do you still shoot flat?
Man you are crazy - LOVE IT
Do you ever use the sliders on the basic correction tab?
great channel bro ! Can you tell us which color profile do you use ? Thanks
Thanks! :)
Well said man!
Love these vids. They’re so LU-I mean LIT....
Good save man 😤 I appreciate it!
How to match it with other footages? That’s the hardest part to be consistent. Is there any meter to rely on?
do u have a video on speedramp? Love ur videos, Watching from Ghana
Interesting perspective man, I've spent too many hours staring at skin tones that don't fit right not to use LUTs 😂
Fair enough man hahaha
If it's not fun it's not worth doing 😁 Colorize the hell out of it Aidin
🤟🤟
No I think its fun because it shows how good your shot can be
Amazing
0:26 opposite for me. I have OCD, so if the grade is even slightly off, I don't get sleep..
And I don't like turning the grade on and off coz my OCD gets worse when I look at the unedited shot.
But you said in the comments at make of photos are memories that varicam vlog lut was the base for your grading process??
1. There's about 18 months between those 2 videos- my process can change :)
2. The Varicam LUT is an example of a conversion LUT- it converts LOG footage to a "normal-looking" color profile to prepare it for grading. It's the base for color correction, not grading. The footage I use in this video is from a different camera and wasn't shot in LOG, so a conversion LUT isn't necessary
@@AidinRobbins Thanks ;) It would be great to see your today's workflow with vlog footage, u do good job
I like the message, but one thing you should use is a De-esser.
Keep in mind this is from years ago haha
Do you shoot in Log ? Great video.
👍, you are creating great contains. Keep it up.
what are your picture profile settings? do you use cine-d or standard?
Cine-d....
always should shoot in raw? but my samsung i didnt see that
200likes 0 dislikes? Good job! Keep producing quality content👌
Pretty cool Video Aidin! ^^ Thanks for this awesome ,, Tutorial ,,^^ :D
Thank you!
your videos are so clean I now realize how dirty my screen is
thanks 4 d lesson ...
I generally don't use LUTs either (specifically, LUTs created by others), but that's typically because I like to have total control over the process from start to finish. and when I use LUTs, I feel like I'm "cheating." Totally not knocking anyone who uses LUTs if they work for you-it's just the way I look at it, for better or for worse.
I'm a bit confused that you call this fooling someone into thinking it's a Lut.
When I create a Lut, I would take a photo, do all the adjustments you just mentioned and then save it. For the future and can change some things when I want. So it's just a preset right?
I'd still have to adjust some things but don't have to fiddle around with other stuff too muchg. It's less time consuming but still good fun as I make them myself.
But I also understand if this is to your liking, like you said at the beginning.
I'm talking more about using other people's LUTs but regardless it's a personal preference 🤷♂️
@@AidinRobbins definitely. It#s always better understanding and knowing what goes into it and how it works rather than just putting a LUT on top.
But once you have your Luts you know exactly what settings in camera will give you what output.
Or even with a NInja V you are able to see the footage with a Lut overlay if I'm not mistaken.
I wish I had all of this hahaha. Good work as always mate.
Yes and no. A LUT differs from a preset in that a LUT contains a set of fixed values that can be destructive to your image if not used properly. A preset, however, does save the values you input, but you have the ability to tweak the values in a non-destructive way. For example. I take a log or raw clip of the sky. Then, I apply a LUT that adds more contrast to the image and effectively clips the clouds in the sky. If I try to reduce the brightness value in a layer AFTER the LUT, I will not be able to recover the highlights in the clouds, because the LUT is telling my clip that any value above X becomes Y. Its destructive. However, if you bring the brightness value down in a layer BEFORE the LUT is applied, then you can bring back the information in the highlights. The order of operations is important when you apply a LUT. With a preset, however, you can just change the values when you want in a non-destructive manner. Hopefully this clarifies the distinction between the two!
@@migueldelgadillo9673 Thanks a lot for your very detailed answer!
Sounds like I don't mean it, but I do.
Most probably one of the reasons why it's "best" not to use a LUT at a 100% right? meaning that if you don't use it to a 100 you can still be able to tweak some things with a lut overlay?
Just curious. And thanks again for the answer. Will just save presets in Final Cut now I guess ;)
@@erikdoose6558 No problem! I always appreciate passing along what little pieces of knowledge I know!
As for your assertion, you are on the right path. It's best not to use a LUT @ 100% because that LUT was not 100% made with the clip you are applying it to in mind. People mistakenly think they can apply a blockbuster (teal & orange) LUT to their film and it will automatically make their film look like a blockbuster, but that's just not the case. There are many things that affect the way a film can look, including production and costume design.
In terms of LUT workflow, no matter whether you use it at 50% or 100%, it's sound advice to follow this pipeline:
RAW/Log clip -> Color Correction -> LUT
-The benefit of this pipeline is that if you lose information (ex: the white cloud example above) after you apply the LUT, you can always adjust the color correction layer BEFORE, thus, bringing back the information. The key is that the color correction layer must be before the LUT.
Now, let's consider reversing the workflow:
RAW/Log clip -> LUT -> Color Correction
-The drawback of this pipeline is that you apply the LUT first, and then you try to color correct. However, if the LUT clips information (ex: the white cloud example), you will probably NOT be able to recover that information with the color correction layer that follows the LUT, because the LUT is a fixed set of values.
Use presets and LUTS, just learn the workflow of each. Once you gain enough confidence, try watching movies whose colors really stand out to you and see if you can re-create them yourself. It's the best way you can start becoming a better colorist =)
Have an A1 day!
Are you talking about only looks lut or overall? pardon me if thats very basic missing knowledge kind of question but im new to this work. Is a log footage not supposed to be converted to rec709 first and then grade? and to convert log to 709 u use lut? could u please clearify, thanks.
Subtitles are russian. nice.
Salute, comrade! 🤘
Really helpful video! Can you get a similar effect using Final Cut?
Would you start from fresh on every single clip?
Or would you copy paste the attributes onto other clips and make minor adjustments ?
Hello, Aidin! Do you make Basic Correction in Lumetri Color Panel or you use only curves to control the exposure?
Thanks for your work!
Waoow great work, simple, effective and you helped me a lot.
Thank you and i subscribed to your channel 😃👍👍
Firstly, thank you very much for the tutorial. If I am not wrong you shoot with G7, do you set everything to - 5? I use G85 and set everything to same except shadows and highlights to - 3
Is it just me or do these curves work from bottom to top as layers? Looks like when you changed the hue and the greens turned blue they weren't affected by the sat vs. sat curve anymore cause now they are blue and outside of your selection. You can see it especially in the grass.
Do you record in RAW?
Hell nah chief no time for that
*plzz tell lumix g7 or canon sl2 for vlogging and cinematography*
what about g80/85?
@@branpod a6400 bt my budget is low so g7 vs sl2
@@uruy337 Well I got the G80/85 but you are right the G7 is still a lot cheaper. The G 85 has in body stabilisation tho. It always depends on what you are going for and want to do.
If you want to vlog and need to rely on autofocus. The G7 isn't the best. (don't know about sl2)
But Lumix does a great Job in the video game. I mean Aidin is using the G7 himself ...
I downloaded lots of LUTS but haven't used any of them.
lots will empoverish your color grading skills.
yikes premiere looks so weird with how used i am to resolve at this point haha
i know this kind of stuff isnt really needed / expected from the gaming content that i do, but i love editing, so anything that i could learn that could even remotely apply to resolve is so cool :D
Good video as usual Aidan. Two questions, will this technique work if I purchase Photoshop Elements or do you need the full Photoshop version? Second do you have to do that for EVERY frame in your video? Love your channel, the tips, and I look forward to new videos weekly. PEACE from ATL 😊📸📽
I know next to nothing about Photoshop but there's no video editing software that would make you edit every frame individually haha
Appreciate cha Big Dawg!! I just hit u up on your vid!
I thought you were using hitfilm and not premiere. I‘m confused.
Switched over about a month ago 🤙
Aidin Robbins cool, is there any reason for that? I had the feeling that u were very pleased with hitfilm.
I never use Luts. I Don't even want to know how to use a lot.
thank you, for reminding me to be less lazy.
agreeeeeeee👍🏻
I fully agree, using luts always make me feel like I’m coping out and just dropping an instagram filter instead of giving it a personal touch. Great video!
I agree
You can only costumize that LUT a number of ways and even each clip.
LUTs are an excelent tool to colorize your film uniformly. I never put a LUT on and leave it there like it is... you just need to see them as a great tool and not as a IG filter.
Sandro Garcia I get that but I would rather just start from the ground up.
Love you bro (sir)