Color Correction Handbook: Professional Techniques for Video and Cinema

by Alexis Van Hurkman

The colorist is responsible for the critical final stage of refinement of the film and broadcast image. Using all of the controls modern color correction software provides, colorists refine the mood, create style, add polish to scenes, and breathe life into the visuals. The craft of color correction can take considerable trial and error to learn, while the art of color grading takes years to perfect. Alexis Van Hurkman draws on his wealth of industry experience to provide a thoroughly updated edition of what has become the standard guide to color correction. Using a friendly, clear teaching style and a slew of real-world examples and anecdotes, Alexis demonstrates how to achieve professional results for any project, using any number of dedicated grading applications, or even an editing program’s built-in color correction tools.

From the most basic methods for evaluating and correcting an overall image to the most advanced targeted corrections and creative stylizations, Color Correction Handbook, Second Edition, is your one-stop guide. Among many valuable concepts and techniques, you’ll learn

• Set up a professional color correction environment using the latest technologies and adhere to the most up-to-date standards

• Work with log-encoded media and LUTs

• Analyze shots quickly and correct errors of color and exposure

• Create idealized adjustments for key features such as skin tone, skies, and product shots

• Develop strategies for balancing clips in a scene to match one another for continuity, and grading greenscreen clips destined for visual effects

• Master a variety of stylistic techniques used to set a scene’s mood

• Apply principles of color and contrast to add depth and visual interest

• Browse valuable research about memory colors, audience preferences, and critical corrections for achieving appealing skin tones and controlled environments

• Follow along with the downloadable files that accompany this book, including HD footage, cross-platform exercises, and project files.

Genres: Film, Nonfiction, Photography, Textbooks, Technology, Art, Reference

672 pages, Paperback

First published November 10, 2010

About the author

Alexis Van Hurkman is a writer, director, and colorist. His award-winning movie "Carry My Heart to the Yellow River” has played over fifty festivals worldwide in 2020, his science-fiction short “The Place Where You Live” screened in 2015, and his gritty desert survival feature “Four Weeks, Four Hours” screened in 2006. Alexis is best known through his work as a colorist, having graded programs that have aired on The History Channel, The Learning Channel, A&E, and the BBC, features and shorts that have played at Telluride and Sundance, and video art installations exhibited at the NYC MOMA and Whitney Museum of American Art. As an author specializing in video postproduction, he’s written the industry-acclaimed “Color Correction Handbook” (now in its second edition) which has taught color grading to new generations of post professionals, and eight editions of the DaVinci Resolve User Manual. Alexis also consults for Blackmagic Design as part of the product design team for DaVinci Resolve.

Reviews

[Ben Scott · Rating 5 out of 5]

this is a collection of all the information you need to do this subject

he has researched beyond that which is needed and into what it really entails

fantastic

[coolwind · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an excellent book on post production of videos and movies. Especially the author gives a lot of practical cases as examples. Many of these techniques can be used in photography as well. Previously I have learned some techniques of Lightroom for processing of photo. However, sometimes it is not so clear when those functions are applied to achieve what kind of effect, especially if the function need to be used by combining with others. This book is very helpful for me to gain a deeper understanding.

[Xristos Kaburis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very comprehensive in establishing a solid base knowledge for color grading, still relevant to this day.

[Christopher Holbrook]

This is a HAVE to own book if you want to adjust any color in video/film.

[Koushik Tamilmaran · Rating 4 out of 5]

A complete guide for beginner colorists.