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Trouble reading this newsletter? Read it online: The Tao Colorist Curated links of news, reviews, thoughts, career advice, and humor for professional Video / Film Colorists & Finishers. Delivered Sunday. Issue CCXXiV A TaoOfColor.com Publication Publisher: Pat Inhofer
Managing Editor: Jim Wicks
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- Happy 2015 from the Tao Colorist Newsletter staff!
- Twice a year we
look at the logs of this Newsletter to figure out what stories are you, our readers, are finding most interesting.
- We then take the Top 3 Most Read Articles from each newsletter of the past six months and compile them into a
retrospective.
- That's this Newsletter... we're looking back at the last six months of 2014.
- What did I learn about all of you when looking over this list?
- You all LOVE the Craft stories.
(no surprises) - You also
love the Tools stories
(again, no surprises) - And as the years roll on, it's becoming very clear these categories of stories are the Most Read Stories in this Newsletter.
- In the coming weeks you're going to find some changes in this Newsletter as we refocus and shorten... but without losing the more general interest categories that have worked their way into this Newsletter.
- But since this Edition is about looking back... we'll save the looking forward
commentary for later.
- Enjoy this, your last Sunday before work kicks back into high gear.
Happy Grading! |
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- Black is the old black - "Did you know that black enhances the fine lines (read: wrinkles) and bags under your eyes? It doesn't enhance any eye colour, your most important communicative tool." If you think you've got black working for you, think again. Great blog post. (thedailydagny.com)
- [video] Keepin' it Consistent - why is it important to maintain the color consistency of a film from start to finish? Colorist Chris Hall continues his excellent Anatomy of a Grade series with some things to think about BEFORE you grade. (vimeo.com)
- 5 Lessons from EditFest London - editor
Jonny Elwyn, and friend of the Tao, says he got 5 takeaways from the recent meetup. Our favorite is number 2: Networking. It's the ABC (always bring cards) of our craft. (premiumbeat.com)
- Color Management - RED dives into color management for cinema and broadcast. This post is chock full of the key technologies
and best practices for achieving more predictable and consistent color. (red.com)
- Working with a Colorist - check out this pithy blog piece by a filmmaker who posted his top 19 tips for working with a color professional. We cannot say enough how much the first one is so right on... (chrisjonesblog.com)
- Top 5 Life Skills - no, this isn't a story that belongs in the career section. This has to do with learning your craft. Editor Brady Betzel opens up about the 5 valuable skills he learned as an Assistant Editor. (postperspective.com)
- Colorful Explanations - Enjoy learning how 15 things got their colors. Our favorite: number 12 the color psychology behind... fast food logos. (mentalfloss.com)
- Color and Storytelling - filmmaker Robert Mills dives into a wondrous article of hues and saturation in which he explores the importance of color in storytelling in films. Read what inspired his blog post and what he discovered along the way. (robertmills.me)
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- [forum] Resolve and GPUs - Peter Chamberlain, DaVinci Resolve Product Manager, mentions the new recommendations for the number of GPUs supported on Mac and Windows. (blackmagicdesign.com)
- What Is ProRes 444 XQ? - A summary of the White Paper as it relates to ProRes 444 XQ. And the difference between codecs and color spaces. (larryjordan.biz)
- Download LUTs - for Blackmagic, Canon EOS, GoPro moving those images to Rec709. (divisiontv.com)
- How to get vibrant color from your flat footage - with links to a video and additional reading. (nofilmschool.com)
- [video] Who needs the colorist anymore? - researchers have created a new algorithm that changes the weather, time of day and other attributes of photos with a simple click. Check out the video demonstration and start feeling insecure about your job. (news.brown.edu via Gray Marshall)
- [videos] How to be a DIT - editor Jonny Elwyn continues his blog series on how to be a Digital Imaging Technician. Click through for a detailed post with lots o'videos and info. (jonnyelwyn.co.uk)
- [video] Chroma Dark in DaVinci Resolve - so, your client gives you a piece of video to grade and the shadows are messy. watch this tutorial on a hidden feature in DaVinci Resolve that can help you in a pinch. (premiumbeat.com)
- Kodachrome
LUT - award-winning Cinematographer Frank Glencairn created a 3D LUT that mimics (as good as possible) the look of vintage Kodachrome film. Free to download. (frankglencairn.wordpress.com)
- Updated: DaVinci Resolve
11.1 - click through for the full details of new features. And some instant reactions. (liftgammagain.com)
- [Forum] Getting Started With Fusion - Fusion is the VFX software that Blackmagic Design acquired last week. Jason Myers has put
together a great post with a dozen links to help you get started with it. (liftgammagain.com)
- Useful Tools: The Denoise Edition - a post aimed at editors but also useful tools for color graders. (provideocoalition.com)
- Please Don't Overdo Digital Touchup - "you want performers to look as they normally would on their best, most well-rested and relaxed day . . . If the requirement is for an idealized grade, you don’t want them to look like a
blurry-skinned sparkle-zombie." Includes tips for executing on that advice. (vanhurkman.com)
- Which is more color accurate? Apple vs Samsung vs Surface - The iPhone 6+ and iPad Air 2 is pitted against the Galaxy and
Microsoft Surface 3. This article summarizes (and links to) a DisplayMate detailed analysis. One of these is *definitely* a big loser. (9to5mac.com)
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- The Peril of 4K - Wes Anderson's DP, Barry Braverman, weighs in on the darker side of 4K. He poses the question: who's in control of the image? (redsharknews.com)
- [video] F* You. Pay Me. - Creatives often find themselves getting pushed around by their clients. Here's how to end that. We featured this two years ago when it first appeared. It's been making the rounds again. Worth there-share. (youtube.com)
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Current Colorist Control Surface Drivers |
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- Color Grading Breaking Bad - shot in New Mexico, graded in Los Angeles. Colorist Tom
Sartori recounts his experience on Breaking Bad. (fotokem.com)
- What is Blue Light from our screens doing to our eyes? - "We've known for a while that excessive screen time is not good for your sleep schedule, but the latest findings are
overwhelmingly gloomy - and extend well beyond insomnia." Bad news not only for colorists but the entire post-production industry. (gigaom.com)
- [video] Clean your computer screens - after all this talk about computer screens and your eyes how do you clean your screens as
fast as possible? In less than 3 minutes you'll know how. (youtube.com)
- [video] Putting Post First - the craft of filmmaking often leaves post-production as an afterthought. Dive into this
3-part series by friend of the Tao, Walter Biscardi, who shows you how to involve Post from the get-go. (walterbiscardi.com)
- [video] How to decide between DaVinci Resolve and DaVinci Resolve Lite? - if you're unsure if you'd benefit from upgrading from the free to the paid version DaVinci Resolve, here's a 7-minute video
explaining the differences. Includes 5 questions to ask yourself. It's one of the videos from my new Resolve 11 Insights training. (mixinglight.com)
- The Many Colors of A Modern Family - Colorist Aidan Stanford opens up about season five
of Modern Family. Aidan talks about utilizing his film skills in the digital world, turning around episodes in a day, and using his favorite tools in DaVinci Resolve. (library.creativecow.net)
- [video] David Fincher - director David Fincher describes his own craftsmanship as "'not what I do, but what I don't do.'
Great exploration of his work with excellent examples of strong use of light, shadow and color showing what he does. (youtube.com)
- [videos] DaVinci Resolve v11.1 tutorials - check out editor Jonny Elwyn's site for some good video tips and tutorials. He has also put together a number of very good links that will take you further down the Color Grading rabbit hole for several days.
(jonnyelwyn.co.uk)
- [video] Why Do We Need Color Correction? - Friend of the Tao, Terence Curren does a nice promo piece explaining to your
uninitiated client the value of color correction-in simplified terms. (avidblogs.com via @michaelkammes)
- How to Navigate the Color Wheel - Learn simple color wheel rules for selecting color schemes. (blog.canva.com)
- White Balance - if you’re new to photography (or video too, for that matter) here's what you should know about white balance: Do It! Your Colorist will thank you for it. Why? Click through and learn about one of the most important things you can do. (creativemarket.com)
- Looking Back on Pleasantville - the 1998 motion picture was an early pioneer of today's Digital
Intermediate process. The film has an iconic look that cost people their jobs. What? Click through for the full story courtesy the film’s DP. (theasc.com)
- The Most Important Colour Lesson - It takes a while for this article to get to its point. When it
arrives, it's a great writeup about why filmmakers need to pay attention to their artificial light sources. It turns out, white light isn't always white—which can have consequences. (redsharknews.com)
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- [video] It's a Wrap - here's how to use duct tape to wrap cords without leaving behind the sticky residue. Too bad the movers we used to relocate to Orlando didn't use this tip. (lifehacker.com)
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- Film Editing Mouse, Controllers, & Keyboards - Check out editor Jonny Elwyn's post for a rundown on some of the best interfaces for post professionals. (jonnyelwyn.co.uk)
- The Retina iMac vs. MacPro, on Paper - Apple announced a new iMac, with specs that beat the MacPro. Or does it? At the end of article, 'Who is the MacPro for'? (marco.org)
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- [video] Is Color Grading Killing You? - the term ‘fix it in post’ takes on a whole new meaning when it’s YOU that you should be fixing in post. Take some time to watch Editor Zack Arnold walk you through some tips on how
to stay healthy while working on your craft. (youtube.com)
- [Forum] Why Is Grading H.264 So Bad? - The question is a good one. The answer
seems obvious... until you start having to write it out. An interesting thread. (liftgammagain.com)
- [tutorial] Popular Fashion Looks In Resolve - If you're un-confident about skin tones... there's greatadvice in here on how to communicate with your client to 'dial it in'. Plus nice tips on adjust skin tones. I like this tutorial. (premiumbeat.com)
- [videos] How To Be a DIT - hard to believe that we’re up to part 11 in this on-going series, but quick as wink and Bob’s your uncle. UK-based editor Jonny Elwyn has done a yeoman’s job of compiling an encyclopedia of resources for this part of the story. (jonnyelwyn.co.uk)
- DaVinci Resolve 11 Shortcut Cheat Sheet - download as a file or desktop wallpaper. (ilovehue.net via Christophe Delaunay)
- David Fincher Feast: Behind the Scenes - an orgy of Fincher commentaries, including many about his color timing strategies. There's a lot in here - you may want to save this until next
Sunday... when this Newsletter is on hiatus. (premiumbeat.com via Tom
Parish)
- Lighting Like Leo - Leonardo DaVinci that is. A terrific breakdown of DaVinci's use of lighting on the Mona Lisa in
preparation of recreating it as a photograph. (strobist.blogspot.com)
- Color of the Year - Pantone has named the 2015 Color of the Year. Find out what this color is and why
New Yorker magazine says, "It's a color that makes you want to go to Olive Garden or order Tampax in bulk," (adweek.com)
- What is 'Finishing'? - from New Zealand’s famed Park Road Post to New
York City and LIght Iron, Finishing Artist Katie Hinsen is profiled.(postperspective.com)
- The Cinematographer Asks: Who Killed The Color? - A DP goes public with his displeasure at the final color grade. Next? Screenwriters start
attacking film editors. (variety.com via
Marc Wielage)
- (Color) Rules For Creating Gorgeous User Interfaces - It starts knowing with how light works, then moves to
grayscale before finally adding color. Good read. (medium.com via Joe Stern)
- Grading Gravity - "we had to complete two entirely separate 3D grades: one at 3 foot-lamberts and another at 6 foot-lamberts. Essentially, these
were separate projects with totally different data sets". Why, you ask? Click through... the read is well worth it! (splicecommunity.com)
- Color, Coffee, and Your Mug - the Tao Colorist Newsletter staff are coffee aficionados. So when we read about a study that found the color of
your coffee mug can change the way your coffee tastes? Hello, Craft. Now, pour yourself a cup of Joe, and click through to discover if you’re using the 'right' colored mug. (washingtonpost.com)
- Artisan Color - "Squeezing colour data to the point of no return has become a primary tool in compression which maybe needs questioning . . . Are we throwing out the baby of creative colour with the bathwater of technology?" A great question the industry should be asking. (redsharknews.com)
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- DaVinci Resolve Glitch Art - "Some beautiful examples of what happens when your GPU memory runs low . . . Just for fun. Updated daily." (davinciglitches.tumblr.com)
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Th- Th- That's ALL Folks! See you next week. Happy Grading!
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The Book Shelf
- Color Correction Handbook, Updated - Alexis Van Hurkman has updated his Color Correction Handbook, which has set the standard for learning all things color correction. (amazon.com)
- Color Correction Look Book - This is the second part of the Color Correction Handbook, exploring the creative techniques for over 200 different visual looks. A sort-of recipe book for colorists.
(amazon.com)
- The Art and Technique of Digital Color Correction - Read how a dozen different colorists grade the same footage with the same gear, differently. A fantastic approach to learning the craft of color grading by Steve Hullfish. (amazon.com)
- Autodesk Smoke Essentials - Walk through grading a short sci-fi film (with downloadable ProRes4444 source material) while learning the ultimate online finishing app... Autodesk Smoke. (amazon.com)
- Color Grading with Avid and Symphony - Written for version 6. Fully applicable to version 7. I was a contributor. (amazon.com)
- Adobe Speedgrade CC: Classroom in a Book - A solid book for a solid grading app. (amazon.com)
- Digital Cinematography: Fundamentals, Tools, Techniques and Workflows - Don't let the title fool you. I'm only a third way through this book and its explanations of how digital images are recorded, sampled and viewed is essential knowledge for anyone who's craft intersects with digital images. Not light reading. But not filled with math either. I highly recommend this book. (amazon.com)
Have a book you think should be in this list? Reply to this email and let me know! FCC Disclaimer: Links in this email to Amazon.com, B&H Photo, or ToolFarm are Affiliate links that help support the TaoOfColor.com. FSI is a paid sponsor and BlackMagic Design is a current client. We thank you for your support.
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Managing Editor:
jim@jimwicks.com
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Published by:
Patrick Inhofer: Photon-Wrangler, Fini.tv | TaoOfColor.com | MixingLight.com
patrick@taoofcolor.com
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