Feature Inspired Color Grading Looks – Blade Runner 2049

“First, hire Roger Deakins.” Yep, that helps a lot — as do the production designer, costume people, and make up artists.

“First, hire Roger Deakins.” Yep, that helps a lot — as do the production designer, costume people, and make up artists.

Thanks Dan for this inside…
I recently saw the trailer of King Kong – Skull of Island in an Imax Theater. I was struck by the “warm yellowish-greenish” look. Even though this must be created with light, production design and costume design first, Grading is not less important I think.
I’d really like to see a re-made attempt by you.

https://uploads.disquscdn.com

Thanks Dan for this inside…
I recently saw the trailer of King Kong – Skull of Island in an Imax Theater. I was struck by the “warm yellowish-greenish” look. Even though this must be created with light, production design and costume design first, Grading is not less important I think.
I’d really like to see a re-made attempt by you.

https://uploads.disquscdn.com/

Thats a great idea! Seems like a difficult look so I’d love to try that myself, if I can make it work I’ll post it up as an insight very soon!

Thats a great idea! Seems like a difficult look so I’d love to try that myself, if I can make it work I’ll post it up as an insight very soon!

Since you mentioned Photoshop at the beginning, this look actually reminds me quite a bit of a gradient map.

The Sapphire OFX suite has a set of duo/tri/quad tone effects that allow the emulation of a gradient map by selecting 2, 3, or 4 separate colors, mapping their luma ranges and adjust softness for the transition.

Using such an effect vs. just primaries is a question of taste 🙂

A more standard effect would be a luma key at 50 with a very high softness, the standard color generator applied for color 1 and then an outside node with a color generator of the 2nd color applied.

Both of those methods make it easier to select and play with the two gradient map colors.

Since you mentioned Photoshop at the beginning, this look actually reminds me quite a bit of a gradient map.

The Sapphire OFX suite has a set of duo/tri/quad tone effects that allow the emulation of a gradient map by selecting 2, 3, or 4 separate colors, mapping their luma ranges and adjust softness for the transition.

Using such an effect vs. just primaries is a question of taste 🙂

A more standard effect would be a luma key at 50 with a very high softness, the standard color generator applied for color 1 and then an outside node with a color generator of the 2nd color applied.

Both of those methods make it easier to select and play with the two gradient map colors.

That’s entirely not what I expected. Blade Runner is from 1982. Now I’m irritated and confused.

That’s entirely not what I expected. Blade Runner is from 1982. Now I’m irritated and confused.

Hey Simon, Is there anything I can help with to clear up your confusion from the insight? Or was it more the fact that there is a new Blade Runner film coming out this year?

Hey Simon, Is there anything I can help with to clear up your confusion from the insight? Or was it more the fact that there is a new Blade Runner film coming out this year?

The latter 🙂 didn’t read the number. Was expecting reference to what is arguably one of my all time favorite films.

The latter 🙂 didn’t read the number. Was expecting reference to what is arguably one of my all time favorite films.

Me too! I was worried until Rodger Deacons took the helm. He’s amazing and I trust him to honor Jordan Cronenweth’s original cinematography