Color Grading Animation with Seasoned Colorist John Daro

The Dark Art of Color Grading Animation vs Live-Action

Seasoned lead digital intermediate colorist John Daro joins me for this episode of The Color Timer Podcast. Our deep-dive conversation gets into the nitty-gritty of the art and craft of color grading animation, and John shares a ton of practical details for polishing animated projects.

“My father was in animation. So growing up, the very first thing I did in this business was he brought home a cell, and we painted it together.

And I remember him taking me to a telecine session, where they would get the film back to tweak the color because you have a bunch of animators, and nothing exactly matches.

Walking in to the telecine bay, looking at that. It looks like the Starship Enterprise and thinking: That’s what I want to do.“

John Daro, Senior Digital Colorist

Selected Recent Credits

John Daro is known for his work on both live-action and animated films. His keen eye for color enables him to deliver stunning visuals that enhance the storytelling.

He is also a skilled technician who enjoys using the latest technology to create the perfect look for each project. He pushes the boundaries of where creativity and technology overlap with the use of FilmLight’s Baselight and BMD’s DaVinci Resolve systems.

John Daro is part of the Visual Effect Society, the Motion Picture Editors Guild, and the Colorist Society in Hollywood.

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I hope you enjoy my conversation with John Daro. What should I have asked him? Let me know in the comments. I love to get your feedback and ideas, so please don’t be shy!

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