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Display Calibration Workflows With Industry Expert David Abrams

Mixing Light members & Contributors are joined by display calibration expert David Abrams, talking workflows, colorimeters, & best practices.

Python 101: Scripting Media Management Operations

In Part 3 of his series, Kaur Hendrikson dives into the deep end and teaches you to script a Media Management operation for copying files.

Python 101 - Dealing With Input Errors, Loops, Lists, & Debugging

Kaur Hendrikson fixes the errors from Part 1. Then he adds complexity, teaching more foundational Python concepts, as we skill up.

Color Management With Log, The Elusive "Filmic" Look, & Clients

Mixing Light's panel of Colorists answers questions on color management with log footage, the "filmic" look, and choosing your clients.

Writing Legally Protective Bids & Quotes For Post Production Pros

Mixing Light's Attorney Seth Polanski Esq. shares how you can set fair legal Terms and Conditions when quoting and bidding jobs.

Interview: Oscar-Winning International Colorist Hootan Hagshenas

Senior Colorist Hootan Hagshenas CSI discusses his career, scene-referred workflows, Baselight / Resolve, & colour styles across cultures.

Python 101 For Post Production Professionals - Getting Started

Workflow specialist & developer Kaur Hendrikson is teaching coding for post production! A skill that may help you break into the business.

Paul Harrison: Winning Awards on both sides of the Atlantic

Season 1 of The Color Timer Podcast wraps: We chat with Paul Harrison, a colorist renowned for his award-winning short-form work and films.

Are You Earning What Your Skills Are Worth? Discover The Answer.

Join Mixing Light contributor Katie Hinsen as she walks through the Annual Post Production Salary Survey - helping us understand fair wages.

Calibration and Color Management: An Interview with Steve Shaw

Light Illusion founder Steve Shaw talks about his journey through our industry and how he became a color workflow specialist.

What's The Role of VFX Colorist? With Christian Ganea Reitmeier

What does a VFX Colorist do? Christian Ganea shares his views and workflows on some of Hollywood's biggest movies & shows at DNEG.

Michael Murdoch: A Non-linear Career Path To Color Science

The Color Timer Podcast chats with RIT Professor Michael Murdoch. Delve into a career spanning film stocks, HDR displays, and more.

Leaning In: Handling the mental pressure of Post-Production

Mixing Light Contributor and Clinical Psychologist Scott Stacy, CSI shares tactics for dealing with intense emotions and difficult clients.

Filmmaker Michael Henry - Being color blind in a visual industry

The Color Timer learns to turn a limited visual color palette into creative strength with professional insights from a color-blind filmmaker.

How To Actively Manage Your Post Production Career

Mixing Light contributors answer questions on practical ways to handle career choices, find enjoyable work and take side steps to get ahead.

15 minutes with Color Scientist Matthew Tomlinson

The Color Timer podcast discovers what a color scientist actually does, why they are a colorist's best friend and how to shepherd a show look.

From Freelancer to Facility Owner with Colorist CJ Dobson, CSI

Colorist CJ Dobson shares her journey from freelancing to owning a boutique Color shop, offering unique solutions for modern post workflows.

15 Minutes With Legendary Colorist Peter Doyle

The Color Timer Podcast speaks with legendary colorist Peter Doyle on the nature of color, metameric failure, and the 'why' of every grade.

15 Minutes With Award-Winning Colorist Ana Escorse

The Color Timer speaks with award-winning colorist Ana Escorse about; her unlikely career path, love of Brazillian Baroque art, and judging.

15 Minutes with Nina Ashby - International Color Aura Spiritualist

The Color Timer speaks with a spiritualist who has spent 40 years learning to interpret the color auras she's been seeing since childhood.

15 Minutes With Colorist Eric Weidt - The Color Timer Podcast

Freelance colorist Eric Weidt has worked exclusively with director David Fincher since 2015. Tune in for a talk about ‘Mank' and his career.

Office Hours - NAB 2023, Sony HX-3110, Resolve 18.5, Virtual Sets

Team Mixing Light discusses Sony's prototype 4,000nit display, Resolve 18.5 Beta new features, and colorist opportunities on Virtual Sets.

The Color Timer Interview With High-End Colorist - Rory Gordon

In the first episode of a new podcast, colorist Vincent Taylor chats with Colorist Rory Gordon about painting, color clocks, & color science.

Runway AI - What Can It Do And Will It Take Over Our Jobs?

Are AI tools taking over our world? Tour some of RunwayML’s 'AI Magic Tools' and see if the results match the hype and can replace a pro.

Color Grading 'Avatar: The Way of Water' With Colorist Tashi Trieu

Get a detailed look at Colorist Tashi Trieu's work color grading 'Avatar: The Way of Water'. His background, gear, workflow & deliverables.

A Conversation With Senior Colourist Vincent Taylor CSI

We're happy to introduce our newest Contributor, colorist Kali Bateman. She's relaunching our interview series. Starting with Vincent Taylor.

How To Edit Successfully With A Client In The Room

We welcome freelance editor Jonny Elwyn to Mixing Light! His first Insight shares his strategies for successful client-attended sessions.

Color Grading Docs, HDR Trims, NVMe Disks for Cache, and more!

In this Office Hours, a team of Mixing Light Contributors tackles member questions about estimating time for HDR trim passes - and much more!

Delivery Tips for Remote Sessions and DaVinci Resolve Trainers

When it’s time to share your Resolve User Interface with a remote client or classroom, a few simple tips and optimizations can win the day!

The Care And Feeding Of A Post Production YouTube Channel

Why do professionals create and maintain a YouTube channel? How do they use it to support their business, and what is the payoff?

Remote Media Sharing & Collaboration - Featuring Hedge's Postlab

Mixing Light Contributors talk with Hedge.video's Isaac Terronez about affordable remote collaboration using Postlab and Postlab Drive.

Streaming Dolby Vision, REC-709a, And Consumer OLED Displays

Team Mixing Light, and members, discuss streaming Dolby Vision mp4s; Rec. 709a (what is to be done); and consumer displays for grading.

How Do You Succeed Running A Color Grading Business?

The team is joined by our newest Contributor, Zeb Chadfield, answering business-related questions on being a colorist and getting paid.

Using Parsec and VirtualHere For Remote, Secure Color Grading Sessions

Learn how to control a remote DaVinci Resolve workstation using Parsec with VirtualHere to virtualize locally-attached USB devices.

The HDR Palette One Year Later & Selling Your Project Files: Good Ideas?

Team Mixing Light, in a live conference call, takes member questions on Resolve's HDR palette and the practice of handing over project files.

NAS, Security, Archival Footage, and HDR - An Office Hours Discussion

Team Mixing Light discusses member questions including: TrueNAS storage, archival footage artifacts, budget HDR monitoring, and security.

Looking Forward To 2022 - Improving Myself, My Grading, My Business

Colorist Robbie Carman looks forward to 2022 and the steps he's to improve his color grading skills, business, and personal well-being.

Elsewhere On The Web: Netflix Recommended Displays (and more)

This series returns with stories on Netflix recommended displays; being a better colorist; color harmonies; and note-taking.

Grading HDR & Dolby Vision: Patrick & Dan Join The Fun

In this installment of 'From The Mailbag' Team Mixing Light discusses Patrick & Dan's newest HDR projects &the challenges they faced.

Milestones: 1,000 Insights, New Pricing, and More!

1,000 Insights are now in our Insights Library! In this article Team Mixing Light has new announcements and a look back at our favorites.

Getting Back To The Studio (Facility)

It's been a challening past year and half. In this episode we discuss getting back to the studio/office/facility and what that means these days.

Better Streaming Sessions Part 3: The ATEM Streaming Bridge

Learn how to set up and use an ATEM Streaming Bridge to create a high quality, color accurate and low latency video link over the internet

Using A Blackmagic Color Panel Remotely - Resolve 17 Solves A Problem

Learn how to use Resolve 17's new remote panel capabilities for remote color grading that is secure, interactive, and color accurate.

Better Streaming Sessions Part 2: Macros and Stream Decks

In Part 2 of his series, Joey shows you how to take remote color sessions to the next level by adding macros & remote control to your ATEM switcher setup

Better Streaming Sessions With ATEM Mini Switchers

Learn how to add serious production value to live-streamed color sessions with Blackmagic ATEM Mini switchers.

Building A Dynamic Demo Reel With Dávid Láposi - Mailbag LIVE!

Team Mixing Light hosts Hungarian colorist Dávid Láposi to discuss creating a personal, story-based demo reel to help advance your career.

Good Grades: Color Grading at NFL Films with Chris Pepperman

In this installment of Good Grades we sit down with Sr. Managing Colorist at NFL Films, Chris Pepperman.

Getting Out Of The Red - Finance Fundamentals For Creative Pros

How much should a post production artist charge for their work? Learn an easy step-by-step process that gives you confidence in your rates.

3D Printing For Post-Production: An Introduction

Learn the basics of 3D printing, and how you can use it to improve your post production environment with custom upgrades.

Good Grades: Documentary Masterclass with Evan Anthony

In this installment of Good Grades we sit down with renowned documentary colorist Evan Anthony and talk about his start, work and more!

Color Management The 'Right' Way?

In this episode, we discuss if project-wide or more custom approaches to color management are the 'right' way to do things.

Finding Success Within Failure: How Can We Change the Conversation?

In this Insight, I'd like to start a conversation about something we seldom discuss in post-production; failure.

Colorist Inspiration – January 2021

Dan looks back at a rollercoaster 2020 and his most memorable moments. Then he looks forward to a new color grading suite he's building.

A Beginners Journey Using Instagram For Marketing & Brand Awareness

In this Insight follow Robbie's start into using Instagram for marketing, sales & brand awareness of his color correction buisness.

Good Grades: Talking Color & Suite Design With Shawn King

We welcome new contributor Jason Druss to Team Mixing Light as he kicks off his new 'Good Grades' series talking to top colorists. First up Shawn King

Getting To Know SetStream.io: A Chat With Thatcher Kelley

SetStream.io is a powerful new remote streaming tool. In this Insight, we sit down to chat with Thatcher Kelley to learn more about SetStream.io

Help Matching These Shots, Please!

A member asked for some advice on matching two shots that had distinctly different looks. In this Mailbag, we discuss strategies for matching these shots.

Webinar: End Titles Made Easy Using Endcrawl.com

Learn how to painlessly create end titles, how they can go wrong, and the new Endcrawl.com interface allowing for custom looks and layouts.

Color Correction Gear Head: The Stocking Stuffer Edition (November 2020)

With the holidays nearly upon us, in this installment of Color Correction Gear head discover several 'stocking stuffer' pieces of gear to add to your list!

Mailbag Live & Revisiting Why Does It Look Different On Export?

Team Mixing Light announces an upcoming new website feature & the Team revisits the issue of exports looking 'wrong'.

What's Tone Mapping?

In this installment of From The Mailbag we sit down to talk about tone mapping and how's used in software and on consumer displays.

Color & Finishing In A Global Pandemic

In this From The Mailbag, we discuss the current and the possible future of work from home & remote workflows + concerns that we might not be consindering.

Creative Professionals, Contracts, Force Majeure in the Age of Covid-19

Attorney Seth Polansky, Esq, discusses the rights of creative pros if clients start pulling your jobs (and you've turned away other work).

Resolve Remote Workflow: Hawaii To LA & Back

In this From The Mailbag we revisit some key aspects of a Resolve remote workflow as we try to answer questions from a member on the same subject.

Revisiting RCM, ACES & CST Workflow

In this installment of From The Mailbag, a member's question about using the CST OFX within a color-managed project got us into revisiting these workflows

Colorist Inspiration - January 2020

Dan kicks off January 2020 by looking back on 2019 and speaks about his personal favourite grades & experiences of the past year.

Running A Stronger Color Correction Business in 2020

In this Insight, Robbie reflects on 2019 and shares some of his goals for 2020 to help run a stronger color correction buisness

Color Grading Success 101 - Displays, Colorimeters, and Scopes

In Part 2 of this foundational series, learn about the physical considerations of a color grading suite that impact taking paying work.

Pay Transparency - What Are Current Rates for US Colorists and DITs?

Are you wondering how much colorists, DITs, or one of their assistants charge per-hour in your city? Katie shares the findings from a survey.

Color Correction Gear Head: January 2020 Edition

In this installment of Color Correction Gear Head, Robbie shares some essential items that went into the building of his new facility.

Looking Back On The Past Decade & Forward To The Next One

In this episode, we discuss the past decade and speculate on the next 10 years in the world of color grading.

Is the Disney + Series 'The Mandalorian' Fake HDR?

In this installment of From The Mailbag, we tackle a hot topic from the world of color grading this past week - is there such as thing as FAKE HDR?

What's Up With Supplemental IMFs?

In this installment of From the MailBag, we're once again joined by Mixing Light contributor Joey D'Anna who gives us the skinny on supplemental IMF packages for delivery to broadcasters and OTT providers.

Are You Punching Below Your Weight? Is There Anything To Be Done?

In this episode of From The Mailbag we discuss a member's email about how he feels he should be landing bigger projects but isn't.

Am I ready for client supervised color grading sessions?

A Mixing Light member has color graded for an internal team for years. But how does he know if he's ready for outside client color sessions?

How to Protect Your Company and Clients from Email Spoofing

As media professionals we need to protect our digital identities from being used to spear-phish our clients. Learn how DMARC does this.

Don't Hate: Tips For Not Resenting Projects Or Clients

In this Insight learn several strategies for not resenting projects and clients & getting totally burned out.

Understanding the Future of Color Grading - Part 4

The film and television production and distribution pipeline is quickly evolving to support wide color gamuts. What's pushing this change?

A DCP Problem & A Refresh On Troubleshooting

Team Mixing Light tackles two problems creating a DCP. We also discuss proper troubleshooting techniques for any post production problem.

$5000 For A Monitor. What Should I Get?

We get a lot of questions about picking a color-accurate monitor for grading. In this episode listen to our thoughts on things to consider.

Advanced vs. Mini Control Surface - Should I Sell The Advanced Panel?

Team Mixing Light discusses the Resolve Advanced Panel, compares it to the less costly Mini, and asks if the larger panel is worth keeping?

Simplifying DCP Drive Delivery With Cinematiq's DCP Transfer

Learn about Cinematiq's DCP Transfer application for streamlining EXT2 DCP driver deliveries - without having to jump in the Terminal!

Working On The Road - Taking Vacation As A Freelance Colourist

Working as a freelance colorist seems like freedom and flexibility. But what do you do on vacation - and the client has urgent revisions?

Our Initial Thoughts On The Apple Pro Display XDR - Is It Truly XDR?

The XDR looks like an impressive display from Apple but - is it a reference monitor? It sure is priced like one!

Our Initial Thoughts On The 2019 Apple Mac Pro Announcement

At WWDC 2019 Apple took the wraps off a brand new Mac Pro & a new HDR display. In this Mailbag, Team Mixing Light discusses the new Mac Pro.

The Game Of Thrones 'Too Dark' Kerfuffle

We take a look at Game Of Thrones Season 8, Episode 3 and ask, as creative professionals, was it too dark and where did it go wrong?

What to do if your client doesn't trust any of your reference displays?

Team Mixing Light tackles a member's question on how to handle a DP who doesn't trust any monitor in a facility?

You Failed...Now What?

Failure is a part of any business, but how you process and recover from failure can make a big difference on how you succeed next time.

Clients Unhappy With Your Downstream SDR Tone Mapped Color Grade?

High Dynamic Range color grading is challenging. Listen as we discuss a question about HDR > SDR tone mapping and how to handle expectations?

What I Learned (and Surprised Me) in 5 Hours at NAB 2019 - Part 1

At NAB 2019 with 5 hours of 'me time', in Part 1 learn what I though was significant in Resolve 16 and Mistika Boutique.

New Dolby Vision Training & Looking Forward to NAB 2019

The Team discusses a new training title we produced for Dolby about creating Dolby Vision content. Plus, Our thoughts about NAB 2019.

Understanding The Future Of Color Grading - HDR and 'Presence'

In Part 3 of this series, you learn about the evolution of digital video from Standard- to High- Dynamic Range. Why is it here to stay?

Revisiting Strategies For Getting Paid (on time and without hassle)

Getting paid quickly is a key part to running your own business. In this Mailbag we discuss strategies for getting paid on-time.

Beyond Crypto-Kitties - Blockchain technology in post production

Maybe you've heard of blockchain? Learn how this new technology is going to impact the post production industry (and what's holding it back).

Revisiting Using A Single Large Format Monitor

Team Mixing Light revisits the idea of using a single large format monitor in a color suite. Is it a viable solution?

From Commercial Colorist to Dailies - How Does the Job Change?

A successful commercials colorist color grades dailies. He shares his challenges, mistakes, and how it's different than commercials.

Get Out There! - Updating Your 2019 Showreel

Dan shares the reasoning behind his new showreel and also gives some tips on when and where to share it for maximum views

Looking Back At 2018 & Forward To 2019

In this installment of From The Mailbag, we take a look at trends and thoughts about 2018 and discuss what 2019 will hold for colorists.

Essential Post Production Utility Software Round-Up - 2019 Edition

My list of key software utilities for post production professionals may help you a solve annoying (or critical) problems. For Mac & Windows.

Color Correction Gear Head: January 2019 Edition

In this installment of Color Correction Gear Head we look at new GPUs, storage, GUI monitoring and HDMI routing and more!

Elsewhere On The Web: The Fall 2018 Edition

These 'don't miss' color grading related articles and videos are culled from 2018's 4th quarter of the weekly curated Tao Colorist Newsletter.

Is High Dynamic Range (HDR) Video Legit? Should I Invest In HDR Tech?

Team Mixing Light discusses a member question about HDR: Is here to stay and should they be investing in HDR tech?

How Do I Color Grade 1,500 Shot Timelines (on a deadline)?

Color grading 1,500 shots in a single timeline is daunting. We discuss a question about how to gain efficiency grading really long timelines.

How To Fight Periods Of Not Feeling Creative (and still be creative)?

Robbie, Joey, and Pat answer a member's question about how to handle periods of feeling creatively empty in the color grading suite?

Is It Your Responsibility to Archive a Color Grading Project?

Multiple members have recently written asking the same question: Is it a colorists' responsibility to archive media and project files?

Advice For Dan’s (Or Anyone’s) Color Correction Business

Team Mixing Light discusses color correction business issues. Mixing Light's Dan Moran (who recently went independent) is our subject.

Understanding The Future Of Post Production and Color Grading: Part 2

The 5 'pillars' of the digital video revolution evolve at a different paces - but are driven by the same force. We covers two more pillars.

Integrating Graphics & Text Into A Dobly Vision HDR Project

Team Mixing Light is once again joined by Joey D'Anna to discuss integrating graphics and text into Dobly Vision HDR projects.

Before The Grade: 5 Pre-Grade Tips To Improve Session Speed

In this Insight, Robbie looks at 5 pre-grade tips that can help you increase your overall session speed when it comes time to grade a project.

Understanding The Future Of Post Production and Color Grading: Part 1

Digital video post production and color grading is rapidly advancing. Which technologies do you need to prepare for? And why?

Color Grading HDR For The First Time - In A Live Competition!

Dan & Robbie describe watching colorists grade HDR for the first time, while competing! Plus, Mixing Light's partnership in China.

What Can DPs Do To Make Final Color Easier?

Pat, Robbie and Mixing Light Contributor Joey D'Anna discuss what can DPs and onset staff do to make the final color grade easier?

How Do You Find A Mentor As A Solo Artist In A Small Market?

In this podcast, Team Mixing Light tackles a member question about how to find a mentor for color grading - in a small city.

Should I Standardize Every Project Using A Color Management System?

We discuss if professional colorists should be standardizing every project around color management systems like RCM & ACES?

LG 8 Series Or FSI XM650U - Which Large Format Display To Buy?

The Team discusses a question we've been getting a lot: Is it worth getting the FSI XM650U over a 65" LG OLED?

The 3000 NIT FSI XM310K: Talking HDR With Bram Desmet

Flanders Scientific is shipping it's highly anticipated XM310K - a 31 inch DCI 4k 3000 NIT HDR mastering monitor with 12G connectivity. I talk to FSI CEO Bram Desmet about HDR & the XM310K.

A Career As A Colorist: The Best Advice We've Received

We discuss the best advice we've received for our color grading careers. From attitude to technical to creative, we share what's worked.

How To Network Professionally (without leaving the house)

Learn some of my best tips and tricks for self-promotion and building a strong personal brand online, without feeling weird or insincere - even if you're socially awkward and aren't good at 'networking'.

A Month Later: Team Mixing Light's Take On NAB 2018

It's been a little over a month since NAB 2018. We discuss what we saw including Resolve 15, new HDR monitoring, control surfaces and more.

Getting Started As A Colorist & What's Changed In Grading?

We've got lots of questions from members asking how to get started as a professional colorist and how has grading changed over the years?

Color Correction Gear Head: May 2018 Edition

In this installment of the Color Correction Gear Head series, Robbie takes a look at the 2018 LG OLEDs (C8), the HD Fury Integral 4k, Aja 1616 12G Router, OWC Mercury HeliosFX and remote control application Splashtop.

Practical Beauty Work - Why You Need To Be Offering It

Beauty work and re-touching can be a great additional source of income as a freelance colourist. Dan shares his thoughts and kicks off a new series on getting involved in retouching.

Talking LGs, OLEDs, and Calibration With Portrait Display's Tyler Pruitt

In this special edition Mixing Light Podcast, Technical Evangelist Tyler Pruitt joins Robbie to discuss LG's 2018 OLED monitors and various calibration issues like metamerism, colorimeter matrices and more!

Colorist Podcast EP 23: NAB 2018

In this special installment of the Colorist Podcast Josh sits down with Jason Myers and discusses NAB 2018. The duo shares their thoughts on Blackmagic, Autodesk, & Film Light announcements as well as new grading monitors.

NAB 2018 Plans & Is My Harris DL860 Working Properly?

We discuss our 2018 NAB teaching plans and where to find Patrick on the show floor? We answer a member's question about the Harris DL860.

Colorist Challenge: Moving From A Direct View Monitor To The Cinema

A member asks about grading on a direct view monitor vs. the cinema. We discuss the differences and why overcomplicating it is a bad idea!

Colorist Podcast EP 022: Dado Valentic

In this installment of the Colorist Podcast, Josh sits down with colorist, trainer and industry visionary Dado Valentic to discuss his much talked about presentation on color grading and AI, HDR workflow, on tools for colorists and more!

Handling A Rejected Grade, As A Freelance Colorist

Dan Moran recently joined the freelance world. He's curious how Pat and Robbie handle a client who rejects a grade - fix it or charge more?

How To Back Up Your Resolve Databases And Your Computer

One of our members asks about backing up Resolve databases and computers. This is an essential skill for colorists, listen to how we do it.

Colorist Podcast EP 021:Shane Mario Ruggieri

In this episode, Josh talks to Shane Mario Ruggieri, C.S.I. from Dolby. Learn about HDR from the colorists perspective, Dolby Vision, HDR 10, grading HDR and SDR and more! If you're interested in HDR this episode is a must listen!

How To Color Grade Full Range for Data Level Broadcast Delivery?

A member asks a question about working in Full Range but delivering a video rendered to legal/broadcast levels. We work through the thinking.

From The Grading Suite: From Short Form To Reality

Dan shares the tale of his attempt at grading long-form reality television after spending 10 years being a pampered commercial colorist.

Revisiting The Judd Modification When Calibrating OLED Displays

Team Mixing Light answers a member question about using the Judd Modification for an OLED reference monitor. What is it? When to use it?

Getting Sh*t Done: How To Do More And Have It All

Do you want to cram a ton of productivity into your life? Get insight into how to do that from a highly productive post professional.Get tips and strategies to maximize your down time or add something to your life you never had time for.

Telestream Switch: A Media Player For Pros?

QC and media inspection are an essential part of 'finishing' process. In this Insight, Robbie shares his experience with Telestream Switch which is a full featured media player, inspector and QC tool.

Colorist Podcast EP 020: Ian Vertovec

In the first installment of the Colorist Podcast for 2018, Josh sits down with well-known colorist Ian Vertovec from Light Iron. They discuss Ian's work, ACES, HDR, VFX workflow and much more!

Talking About and Understanding Dolby Vision Color Grading

Building on Robbie's recent articles, Pat and Dan ask questions about workflow and Robbie's recent trip to Dolby in Burbank, CA.

On The Road: How to Work Internationally As A Colorist

As post production becomes increasingly decentralized, there are growing opportunities for us to take our talents and work abroad. This Insight offers first-hand wisdom from editors and colorists all over the world, working internationally.

Hollywood Restoration and Remastering: Colorist Marc Wielage

Film restoration and remastering is a specialty in the craft of color grading. Learn how a Hollywood colorist handles its unique challenges?

About the New Blackmagic Design Conference, The New iMac Pro

Team Mixing Light discusses the first ever Blackmagic Design Conference & Expo as well as our thoughts on Apple's latest - the iMac Pro.

Failing Gracefully, or How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love to Bomb

We all fail. The trick is to learn how to learn from our failures; by setting up a system for honest evaluation that serves you, years into the future.

Colorist Podcast Episode 019: 2017 Year In Review

In the last installment for 2017, the Colorist Podcast looks back at some key moments from the series this year with a year in review highlights episode

The 12 Days Of Running A Better Color Correction Business

Getting into the holiday spirit, in this Insight Robbie shares 12 strategies to improving your color correction business in 2018

Colorist Podcast Episode 18: Patrick Woodard

In this installment, Josh talks to Digital Film Tree lead colorist Patrick Woodard about color correcting high-end TV, remote sessions, ACES and more!

Inside the Color Grade Of A Furniture Brand - Series Overview

In a new series Dan shares a look behind the curtain at a real world grading project. From quoting to delivery he dives deep on his process.

Colorist Podcast Episode 17: Bob Festa

In this episode, Josh talks to legendary colorist Bob Festa about his gigantic body of work, grading techniques and much more!

Surviving (And Finishing) A 1000 Shot Project In 2 Days Or Less

Coloring long form projects with very quick turn arounds can be very challenging. In this article, learn techniques for surviving & finishing big projects

Colorist Podcast Episode 16: Alexis Van Hurkman Part 2

In this episode, Josh continues his conversation with director, author and colorist Alexis Van Hurkman. they talk HDR, ACES and more!

When To Sell Yourself Short?

When is it ok to "sell myself short"? Katie Hinsen suggests taking a more holistic approach to value when considering an opportunity, job or client.

Colorist Podcast Episode 15: Alexis Van Hurkman

In this installment of the Colorist Podcast Josh talks to well known author, director, and colorist Alexis Van Hurkman about a wide variety of color topics

A Modern Approach To Cold-Calls

In this Insight, ML contributor Katie Hinsen shares her thoughts about cold calling as well as several practical tips on making contact more effective.

Colorist Inspiration – August 2017

Dan is turning 30 and shares his work from across the years to show how his grading has evolved and improved year after year

Choosing Between ACES Or RCM? Plus, Control Surface Sensitivity.

The Team fields a member question about how we set up the sensitivity of our colorist control surfaces? How do we decide?

Colorist Podcast Episode 014: Juan Ignacio Cabrera, CSI

in this installment of the Colorist Podcast, Josh talk to colorist Juan Ignacio Cabrera about his work on cutting edge projects & many other subjects.

How to Design an Ergonomic Desk for Editing and Color Correction

As creative professionals working in post production, you are tied to your chair and desk. This Insight shares the fundamentals of healthy workspace design.

Easily Create A Branded Before & After PDF Workflow

Sending before & after stills is part of our life as a colourist. Dan shares his template and thoughts behind using a branded PDF to send to his clients

Client Communication: A Short Primer For Young Colorists

The hardest part about color correction is not learning new software or pushing buttons but communication with clients. Learn more in this Insight.

Our New DaVinci Resolve14 Traning & Revisiting Remote Rendering

The Team discusses our new Resolve 14 New Features title as well as DaVinci Resolve Remote Rendering with guest Joey D'Anna.

Colorist Podcast Episode 013: Vanessa Taylor

In this installment of the Colorist Podcast, Josh is joined by colorist Vanessa Taylor. From balancing tech & art, grading HDR this is a great listen!

Colorist Podcast Episode 012: Adam Inglis

In this installment of The Colorist Podcast, Josh talks to colorist Adam Inglis about working on the BBC series Planet Earth II, & blockbuster features!

Pressure: How To Get Things Done Without Having A Breakdown

Pressure is an unavoidable part of being a professional colorist. In this Insight, learn strategies to alleviate pressure so you avoid a complete meltdown!

DaVinci Resolve 14: The Mythical Collaborative Workflow Has Arrived

Like flying cars, the 'Studio' concept of post-production was promised for generations. At NAB 2017 we have the first actual implementation in Resolve 14.

Colorist Podcast Episode 011: Dave Abrams

On this installment of the Colorist Podcast, Josh talks to famed calibrator Dave Abrams of Avical about display technology, HDR & getting great calibrations

From The Mailbag EP 37: Mixing Light 2.0 Member Changes & Benefits!

Learn about changes and new features for Mixing Light members with the newest version of our Website - Mixing Light 2.0.

Breaking Down a Heavy Duty Digital Download Kit (for DITs)

Professional DIT Rich Roddman shares his heavy duty digital download kit for on-set data wrangling,helping his buisness grow.

Colorist Podcast Episode 010

In this edition of the Colorist podcast Josh talk to the famed Warren Eagles from the International Colorist Academy.

Breaking Geographic Boundaries: Remote Grading Part 2

In part 2 of this ongoing series, Robbie explores using Streambox's Hybrid Encoder for remote sessions plus some additional gear.

From Mac to PC - What Post Pros Need To Know Building A Custom PC

Are you a Mac-based Post-Production professional moving to the PC platform? Eric Bowden, custom PC builder, talks about the differences.

Colorist Podcast Episode 09

In this episode of the colorist podcast, Josh talks to Technicolor senior colorist Peter Doyle about his amazing career & many other subjects

Is Perception Hurting Your Color Correction Business?

Client perception about you & your business plays a large role in winning work.In this Insight learn how to shape client perception

Breaking Geographic Boundaries: Remote Grading Part 1

In part 1 of a 3 part series, we explore the different methods of remote grading and how remote work can help your bottom line.

Using Reference Monitors & LG's OLEDS Together In The Color Suite

Team Mixing Light discusses choosing colorist reference monitors. Plus, using LG's consumer OLED televisions in our color suites.

Screwing Up A Flat Bid: 5 Strategies To Prevent & Fix Low Flat Bids

In this Insight, Robbie shares some hard-won tips on what to do when you screw up the pricing on a flat bid & how to prevent these mistakes.

Colorist Podcast Episode 08

In this episode of the colorist podcast, Josh talks to industry veteran/legend Dale Grahn about his storied career & many other subjects

The Look Of 'Westworld' & Look Creation Philosophies

Robbie, Pat, and Dan discusses the look of the series 'Westworld' and our look creation philosophies when color grading.

From The Mailbag EP 34:Talking GPUs & Tech We Can't/Can Live WIthout

The Team discusses GPUs for the colorist and how to select one. Plus, tech we've discovered we can live without, and tech we can't.

The Marathon Moves Into January & A Preview Of Mixing Light 2.0

We discuss our Insights Marathon moving to January and what to expect. Plus, we reveal plans for the next iteration of our website!

New Year Resolutions 2017: Improving Your Business & Color Grading

In this Insight, Robbie shares a number of new year resolutions for potentially improving your business & color grading.

An Interview with Colorist Ayumi Ashley

In this episode of the colorist podcast Josh talks to colorist Ayumi Ashley from Mission Film & Design about her work & career

Making The Move From Mac To A Windows PC, Part 1: Addressing Common Objections

In part 1 of new series on switching from the Mac to Windows, we address some common complaints often cited about moving from a Mac to a PC

An Interview with Professional Colorist Rob Bessette

In Episode 6 of the Colorist Podcast, Josh Petok talks to commercial colorist Rob Bessette about his career, grading commercials & more!

Find Your Color Correct Inspiration - British Arrows Best Colorist Nominations 2016

Dan Moran shares his thoughts on the best commercial color grade nominations 2016. Top work from excellent colorists are great sources of ideas.

The State of the Mac Desktop (after Apple's October 2016 Presentation)

Apple provided a much needed glimpse into their thinking about the Mac Desktop. But does it bode well for video post-production professionals?

Syncing Resolve's LUT Folder & Viewing HDR & SDR Simultaneously

A member asks how they can easily sync Resolve's LUT folder between suites. Plus, the pros/cons of viewing HDR & SDR simultaneously.

Colorist Podcast Episode 005

In Episode 5 of the Colorist Podcast, Josh talks to well-known online editor & colorist Terence Curren about his work & other sujbects

Showreel 2016 - Showcasing Your Creative Range To Win Clients

Are you showcasing your range of looks and grades with your showreel? Dan breaks down his latest reel and explains his approach.

You'll Get Paid, When We Get Paid - 5 Ways To Avoid This Trap

Have you ever had a client say that won't pay you until they're paid by their client? Learn 5 techniques for avoiding this issue

Colorist Inspiration - UKMVAs Best Color Nominations 2016

Dan shares his thoughts about the 2016 best color grading award nominations and asks you to predict the winner

Colorist Podcast Episode 004

In Episode 4 of the Colorist Podcast Josh talks to well-known freelance colorist Mark Todd Osborne about his work & many interesting subjects

Colorist Inspiration –  August 2016

The summer vacations are winding to a close, the kids are returning back to school and the post industry is winding up for that crazy blur that is the September…

From The Grading Room – Radiohead

Dan shares his story from the grading room on grading a short promo project for radiohead

5 Ways To Sell Clients On NOT Color Correcting In-House

In this Insight, discover 5 strategies for convincing clients to grade with you rather than color correct projects in-house.

Colorist Podcast: Episode 3

In Episode 3 of the Colorist Podcast Josh talks to well-known finishing artist & colorist Gray Marshall from Technicolor L.A. about his work.

Modulating Your Time Based On Client Budget & Needs

With constrained budgets, clients can't always afford your services. But maybe you can modulate your time and effort to meet their needs?

Delivering Project Files: Making The Choice About Your IP

You always deliver final video files but should you deliver project files to your clients too? Learn more in this Insight.

5 Strategies For Managing A Supervised Session

Supervised color grading is hard! In this Insight, Robbie shares 5 strategies for managing a supervised session.

Chasing Down Money: 6 Strategies For Overdue Payments

Running a creative business is fun until someone is long overdue paying you! Learn 6 Strategies for chasing down overdue money

How Sync & VPN Changed My Color Grading Life

In this Insight, Robbie explores how through VPN & BitTorrent sync he was able to leave the office earlier & still work!

Colorist Inspiration – What Makes A Good Colorist?

A topic that came up time and time again while meeting lots of awesome colorists at NAB this year was : How did you come up with the look for…

How To Sharpen Quick Focus Pulls? Plus, using the HP Z27x DreamColor.

The Team answers a member's question about sharpening quick focus pulls. Plus they discuss using the HP Z27x DreamColor display.

From The Grading Room: Turning A Session Around

not every session can be amazing and Dan shares his tips on turning a session around and winning over a client when things don't go your way.

Mixing Light at NAB 2016 plus Film Style Grading plus sRGB Deliverables

It's a busy day for Team Mixing Light as we discuss our NAB 2016 plans, log style color grading and handling sRGB deliverables.

Overflow: Is There A Right Time To Bring On Help?

Being a busy colorist is a good thing! But when you get too busy, you have to think about how to handle overflow work or when to just say no.

From Big Shop To One Man Show - A Workflow To Minimize Downtime

Building a one man workflow to get the maximum out of your time grading. 

Showreel 2016 – Who Is Your Target Audience?

It's time to cut your reel and Dan shares his advice on his Showreel 2016

Getting More When You're Getting Paid Less

In this Insight, learn ways that you get more benefits for your buisiness out of a project even when a client isn't paying you all that much.   

From The Mailbag EP 29: HDR Musing & Log Saturation

In this episode, Team MixingLight discusses HDR and best practices for setting saturation levels for log encoded footage

New Year's Resolutions To Strengthen Your Business

2016 is almost here!  Check out this Insight to discover some New Year's resolutions to strengthen your color grading business.

Colorist Inspiration – Dan’s Best Of 2015

Day 16: 25 Insights in 25 Days Holiday Marathon Colorist Inspiration – Dan’s Best Of 2015 As the year comes to an end I thought it would be the perfect…

Edge Sharpening & Denoise Workflow

In this installment of From The Mailbag we discuss how to isolate and sharpen edge details, and discuss a proper video noise reduction workflow

Christmas Clean Up: Refresh Your System

In this Insight Dan explores some things to think about when it comes to doing a refresh of your system.  

From The MailBag Ep 27: The Glossy Look & Edge Sharpening

In this installment of From The Mail Bag, Team Mixing Light discusses what goes into the 'glossy' look of many commericals & how to edge sharpen shots.

From The MailBag Ep 26 - Holiday Marathon & R12 Training

In the latest installment of From The MailBag learn about our annual holiday marathon & our soon to be released Resolve 12 training

Anatomy Of A Grading Suite: Additional Technical Setup

In the last installment of the 3 part series learn about computer setup, control surfaces, GPU expanders & other key accessories for a suite

How to Build a Color Correction Demo Reel, Part 2

Watch a professional colorist share his process for creating a 3-minute Color Correction Demo Reel - including missteps.

Colorist Inspiration - November

Its time for the big christmas ads to roll out and more colorist inspiration. Dan share's some of the top work and one of his own.

Fighting The Feeling Of Failure

In any creative venture including color correction the feeling of failure is always lurking. Learn how to fight the feeling of failure.

How to Build a Color Correction Demo Reel

A Demo Reel attracts clients—but is it the 'right' kind of client? Learn to build a color correction demo reel that builds your career.

Tales From The Grading Suite - Lighting The Looks

When jobs look good you wonder why your own work might not look as good. In this insight Dan shares his thoughts on Lighting The Looks.

Tales From The Grading Suite - DP Colorist Communications

Have you ever wondered what it's like to speak to a DP before a job is shot? Dan shares a real world discussion on a tricky job.

Colorist Inspiration - Best Color Grade Nominations

The 2015 Best Color Grade nominations are out and Dan wants to know who you would vote for and award best music video grade of 2015!

Anatomy Of A Grading Suite: Technical Setup

In part 2 of the series, learn about monitor and bias light setup, viewing distance, industry monitoring recommendations, routing & more

The Art Of Color Grading: Tech Versus Art

Color grading is a balance between technical knowledge and creative vision. Dan explores the issue of tech versus art colorists face today.

Anatomy Of A Grading Suite: Design

Team ML gets a lot of questions on who to build a proper grading suite. In this Insight we tackle overall room design, furniture & lighting

The Business Of Business: Partnership Essentials

Forming a business partnership with someone else can be exciting, but not done right can cause a lot of trouble. Learn more in this Insight.

Anatomy Of A Commercial Color Grade

The question of how to commercials look so good crops up constantly. Dan shares the in and outs of a grading session to show you how

Look Setting Review & Approval With Frame.io

Frame.io provides a ton of tools for collaboration including some great ways for a colorist to interact with their client. Learn more...

5 Ways To Get More Color Grading Work

No matter if you're currently slow or are looking for ways to stay busy, in this Insight learn 5 ways to get more color grading work

Using Milestone Payments to Get Paid More Reliably

Having problems getting clients to pay you in 30 days? Maybe it's time to switch to Milestone payments. For ideas on this, keep reading...

Why You Should Avoid Net 30 Billing Terms

Are you starting a company or are a freelancer and think Net 30 billing is what 'real' businesses do? It's not. Net 30 is a trap. Here's why.

From The MailBag Episode 25

A couple weeks after NAB 2015, Team Mixing Light breaks down NAB 2015 - the gear & other amazing stuff from the week.

From The Mailbag Episode 24

In this Mailbag we discuss when do you call yourself a colorist & are colorists as a group under threat?

How to Track Your Time and Invoice Your Clients, Stress-free

Learn how to track your time—and easily bill your clients, with automated integration in your Accounting package.

How to Get Faster at Color Correction by Increasing Your Daily Shot Count

Do you want to color grade more shots in a single working day? Part 3 gives you solid tips for increasing your daily shot count.

Part 2: How to Estimate Time for Color Correction

Explore the 6 'slices' of a color correction session and how we manage our time across them. This lets us bid & quote more accurately.

How to Estimate Time for a Color Correction Session

How long will it take you color correct a 10 minute timeline? In Part 1 of this series, we discuss the anatomy of a color correction session.

From The MailBag Episode 23

In this installment of From The MailBag we take a look at file naming and project organization as well as tips for sharpening footage.

From The MailBag Episode 22

In this installment of From The Mailbag, we discuss using grain as an external matte on a still & broadcast safe workflow.

From The Mailbag Episode 21

In this installment of From The Mailbag we explore the idea of a rolling conform in Davinci Resolve and using Dropbox to share databases

Color Correction Workflow: Seeing Like Your Client

What's a quick and efficient color correction workflow when collaborating with a client? Part 1 shows you, using Resolve's Grouping feature.

Rediscover The Basics - Preparing For An Important Grade

You've landed the grade of your career, what happens next? Dan shares his preparation when a big job arrives for him to grade

Dealing With Helicopter Clients

Helicopters can hover, so can helicopter clients. Learn how to deal with micro managing clients in your next grading session.

Colorist Block - When Nothing Looks Good

Sometimes you just can't make a grade look good no matter what you do! The Colorist Block is real and dangerous but defeatable.

From The Mailbag Episode 20

In this From The Mailbag, we cover two GPU questions. Should you upgrade your system or GPU & does GPU debayering for RED footage work?

From The Mailbag EP 19 Skin Corrections & The Film Look

In this episode of From The Mailbag, the team explores fixing blotchy skin and what goes into a film stock emulation.

5 Things Keeping You From Becoming A Better Colorist

Everyone wants to get better at their craft. In this Insight learn about how to overcome 5 common barriers to becoming a better colorist

From The Mail Bag Episode 17

In this installment of From The Mailbag, learn about our 25x25 Holiday Marathon & we each discuss our top 2 color related questions.

Being A Supervising Colorist - Tips For Managing Others

Managing other colorists creative work can be challenging. In this Insight, learn key ways to make that process efficient and stress free.

Have You Progressed As A Colorist? One Way To Evaluate Your Progress.

Assessing Your Progress can be hard has a colorist. How are my grades better today than a year ago or even 5 years ago? Dan shows you how.

Footage Quality Control - When To Reject Footage

Footage Quality Control in a modern file based world can be tricky. Dan shares his advice on how and when to reject source material.

Automatic Database Management

Tired of manually backing up your Resolve? Using some handy scripts Dan shows you how to fully automate the process

Throwing A Change Up - Different Tools For New Results

It's easy to be stagnant always using the same tools. In this Insight learn how different tools can help you break a creative block

Color Balance Skies and Shot Matching

Do you need to color balance every shot in your video? What are the best strategies to color balance and enhance gray skies? Listen & learn.

DaVinci Resolve 11: Broadcast Safe + Grouping LUTs

In this episode of From The MailBag, learn about Resolve 11's new broadcast safe option & how to use LUTs while Grouping.

Mixing Light From The MailBag Ep 14

In this episode of From The MailBag learn about what to do when you have no client direction & how to achieve that national spot look

Essential Skills For Assistant Colorists

Essential Skills For Assistant Colorists to help you get the job in a big facility. Being an assistant is hard work but you'll learn so much

Evaluating A Project - What Will A Grade Really Take?

Evaluating a project so you know how much time it will take is an essential part of color grading. Check out this Insight for more key tips.

How to Improve the Client Experience: A Check List

How to keep a client comfortable & productive as a key part of postproduction client services. A checklist for client happiness.

Attended Grading - Starting A Session

Attended Grading - Starting A Session is the hardest part of the grade. You need to understand what your new clients want from the grade

Sales Techniques For The Owner/Operator

Part 2 in the series The Science Of Not Selling Yourself short explores sales for owner/operators and strategies to get more sales.

The Science Of NOT Selling Yourself Short Part 1

In this Insight learn how by combining traditional sales with talent know how a facility can build an efficient sales pipeline.

Colorist Tip: How to Build a Color Correction Showreel

How do you build a colorist showreel / demo reel that condenses your whole career into 3mins? Dan shares with you his approach.

Managing A Grade – The Music Video

Grading a music video can be challenging from a time perspective. In this Insight learn about Managing A Grade for when time is tight.

Archiving and Restoring Jobs

In Part 3 of our series on the workflow for Commercial color correction projects, we discuss how we handle archiving and restoring jobs.

Mailbag: Beating A Creative Funk & Consolidating Reels

In this episode of From The Mail Bag we discuss getting out of creative funk & consolidating a multi-reel project in Resolve.

Podcast: Mixing Light In 2014 + Grading A Single-Take Film

In this episode of From The Mail Bag we discuss what's in store for Mixing Light in 2014 & discuss how to grade a film shot in one take.

How To Recharge Your Creativity (In 5 Simple Steps)

Feeling uncreative? We've all been there. Keeping your creativity at a high level is something you have to work at. Learn how in 5 steps.

How To Keep Your Clients (Using 6 Easy Strategies)

Keeping Clients Is Hard! But essential. This Article explores techniques to keep your clients happy and coming back with 6 Key Strategies.

Color Correction Time Management: Grading in Passes

It's easy to get lost in the weeds when color correcting. Learn a Color Correction Time Management technique that keeps you from missing deadlines!

Is Working For Free A No No? (Or Can It Be Good For You?)

Is working for free a huge professional mistake? Not necessarily. Learn how to handle these requests like the video professional you are.

Going Freelance As A Colorist + Using Scopes With RAW Footage

When is the right time for going freelance as a Colorist? Do scopes work with RAW? We answer Member questions in Episode 6 of our Podcast.

How to Emulate the Clarity Slider + Color Correcting in VFX Workflows

Three professional colorists discuss how to emulate LightRoom's Clarity Slider in DaVinci Resolve. Plus, where color correction fits in VFX workflows.

How To Quote Your Color Correction Jobs: Hourly Billing or Flat Bidding?

How should you quote your color correction jobs? Flat bid or bill by the hour? We map this crater-filled landscape with Do's and Do Not's.

How Do You Get Hired As A Professional Colorist?

There are common points that are useful for you to understand when trying to become a professional colorist. We share our top tips in this article.

Podcast: Keying On Black Background + Chroma Subsampling Explained

We answer two questions: Solving a problem with keying and windowing the moon on a black background + explaining technical terms to co-workers.

How to Prepare Your Timeline for Color Correction

Learn how to prepare you timeline for color correction with these useful tips and techniques from an experience editor.

New SpeedGrade CC Courses + Working With A DP + Video Displays

Podcast: Learn about a new training title for SpeedGrade CC + How to work with a DP in a color correction session + Choosing video displays for grading.

How Do You Decide Your Base Rate (For Digital Video Color Correction)?

If you're a freelancer or solo-preneur then setting your base rate of pay can be challenging. Learn how to set your rates with confidence.

Ask Me Anything: Color Correcting the Birthmark Music Video

After color correcting the music video 'Birthmark' by Cass Lowe, here's your chance to 'ask us anything' of the Colorist and Cinematographer.

How To Set Up Your Color Suite + Monitoring Video in 444

In this podcast, Team Mixing Light answers two member questions: How do we set up our color correction suites? How do you set up monitoring in 4:4:4?

Color Correcting A Music Video: Ask Me Anything

Do you have burning questions about color correcting music videos? Professional colorist Dan Moran, CSI is here to give you his answers.

Build Out Your 'Colorist Toolbox' By Building A 'Look Library'

Learn why you need to save your color corrections to build your personal 'Look Library' of skin tones, skies/grass/water and for general looks and feelings.

Podcast: Managing Difficult Clients + The Problem Of Consumer TVs

In this Podcast we're answering two questions: Managing unhappy clients + helping clients understand why their color decisions look different at home.

On Overview Of The "Pre-Conformed Workflow" In DaVinci Resolve

This workflow is an ultimate timesaver and involves getting a single flattened video clip of the project you're grading and using Resolve to slice it up.

DaVinci Resolve: Preconform or Conform Before Starting A Job?

When preparing to color correct a job in DaVinci Resolve, to Preconform or Conform is a question you need to ask yourself (and know their differences).

Respecting Time: The Hold and Will-buy System for Booking Clients

Learn a simple system you can use to protect yourself from cancelled clients. As an added bonus you can (sometimes) make money from those cancellations.

Staying Focused In The Color Correction Suite: 4 Tools To Make It Happen

Do you find yourself getting distracted as you work? Here are four simple tools you can use to keep you on-task and get you home on-time.

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