Secondary Corrections in DaVinci Resolve

Secondary Corrections in DaVinci Resolve

September 20, 2013

'Secondary corrections' are isolations to areas of an image to make specific color corrections. Here are tips on getting quick results.


Secondary Corrections are a huge part of how we grade. The term ‘Secondary Corrections’ is any kind of color correction that’s done to an isolated part of the image. You can create those isolations in several ways: Creating masks with shapes, pulling keys based on Hue, Saturation or Luminance (or any combination of those three elements).

I noticed recently that I had subliminally been using rules for how I perform my secondary corrections so I thought it would be informative to share my approach and explain why I select each secondary in the way I do.

This Insight assumes that you know the basics of pulling a key and using Power Windows. It is focused on getting the best possible results with the least amount of unnecessary work and also to make sure you get 100% of your footage.

I have to say that this is not a bible on the ultimate way to get the best secondary corrections but what works for me, quickly. I’m very interested to see how my techniques and approach compares to how you all do it!

– Dan

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Comments

Homepage Forums Secondary Corrections in DaVinci Resolve


  • Razvan
    Guest

    AHA! This is the best one so far!
    It’s really easy, especially for us beginning colorists, to jump straight at the color picker and ruin DSLR footage. And if your monitor is not big enough, you may think that it’s OK.
    I love that you did a tutorial that focuses on “why”, not “how”. It’s a lifesaver!


  • Casey Faris
    Guest

    Wow. This was super good. Thanks a lot!

  • I couldn’t agree more with simplifying things. Pulling a quality key requires more time and finessing, especially when you lack a lot of experience, like I do, and time is of essence. On the example you showed with increasing green sat in the shop exterior, one could also use a combination of power window and Hue vs Sat curve to only affect the green.

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