Lecture on Color Management in Da Vinci Resolve

Presenter: Jeremy from Seven Productions

Introduction

• Purpose: Matching footage between different cameras using Color Management in Da Vinci Resolve.
• Tool: Da Vinci Resolve.
• Objective: To show how to set up and use color management for matching footage.

Project Settings

1. Accessing Project Settings

   • Open Da Vinci Resolve and click on the project settings icon.
   • Go to the Color Management tab.

2. Default Settings

   • Color Science: Da Vinci YRGB Color Science.
   • Timeline Color Space: Rec 709.
   • Output Color Space: Same as Timeline.

3. Customized Settings

   • Change Color Science to: Da Vinci YRGB Color Managed.
   • Uncheck: Automatic color management.
   • Color Processing Mode: HDR Da Vinci Wide Gamut Intermediate.
   • Output: REC 709 gamma 2.4.
   • Reasoning: These settings help convert footage from various color spaces into a wider color space for matching.

Matching Footage Steps

1. Loading Footage

   • Da Vinci Resolve can automatically recognize certain cameras like Blackmagic Pocket Cinema 6K.
   • For other cameras, manual input is needed.
   • Pro Tip: Label footage folders by camera type for easier identification.

2. Setting Input Color Space

   • Example: Sony FX30 with SLog 3.
   • Go to Input Color Space and select the correct camera profile (e.g., Sony SLog 3).

3. Color Page Adjustments

   • White Balance and Exposure: Use color checker for easier matching.
   • Use the eyedropper tool in Primaries to set white balance.

Applying Grades

1. Apply Grade to All Footage

   • Use color checker clips to apply grades uniformly.
   • Right-click on clip with color checker and select Apply Grade.

2. Double Check Color Matching

   • Compare skin tones using Vectorscope with skin tone indicator line.
     • Enable this through Vectorscope settings.
   • Display Qualifier Focus: Another useful setting for checking specific parts of the image.

3. Check Exposure

   • Use waveform to verify exposure consistency, especially on key areas like the forehead.

Bonus: Drone Footage Matching

1. Include Drone Footage
   • Option+F to locate clip in media pool.
   • Set Input Color Space to DJI DLog.
   • Compare and adjust to match other footage.

Conclusion

• Summary: Using Da Vinci Resolve's built-in color management allows for easy footage matching.
• Next Steps: Future video on creating a final look for matched footage.
• Community Engagement: Like, comment, and share the video.