Color Grading with Da Vinci Resolve: Beginner to Advanced from Udemy

What's inside

Learning objectives

You will be able to take a grading project from start to finish and deliver to a professional standard
You will be able to guide others through the color grading worklfow

You will develop a sense of style and be able to examine other films to inform your own practice.
You will be able to confidently continue to develop your skills as a colorist.

You will be able to take a grading project from start to finish and deliver to a professional standard
You will be able to guide others through the color grading worklfow
You will develop a sense of style and be able to examine other films to inform your own practice.
You will be able to confidently continue to develop your skills as a colorist.

Syllabus

This section covers a basic overview of the content of this course

An intro to this course, a quick overview of where I've come from and where we're going.

A very quick overview of what we're going to be covering and the content in the course so far.

What is a "conform?" It's how we take an edit from our choice of NLE (editing program) and take it into resolve with all the editing decisions made intact. We can then grade that timeline and return that to our client.

Here we take a closer look at the Media Panel. This is where we manage our project's media files, import our material and generally keep things organized to ensure a smooth grading workflow.

A quick overview of the edit panel within Da Vinci Resolve, we're going to be taking our projects into this before we start grading.

Here, we go into how to investigate the important attributes of our footage, we need to know what we're dealing with and where to find that information!

A quick look at the master project settings within resolve. It's important that we know where these controls are, but we'll go over these in detail as they become important to real-world projects.

This is our first real look at the workings of resolve. we're going to take a "Baked Master" File, which is a single video file containing our whole edit, and cut it back up into workable cuts within Resolve using the scene cut detector utility. This is the simplest way to get a project into resolve and a real bread-and-butter workflow for anyone working on shorts or corporate video that has been shot on the likes of an ARRI Alexa/Amira, a Sony FS7/700 or any DSLR.

The first step of a slightly involved process. We're going to bring a timeline into Resolve, intact and still referencing the original rush files our editors worked with. This is the essential Workflow for anything captured in any RAW format or any high-end project as well as longer form projects such a serial-length or feature films. Here we take a look at the first step, and the first step is always organization, follow along with the Premiere pro project file provided.

Now we've got the pre-grade out of the way, we're going to prepare our project and bring the footage into resolve. We'll go over how to lead resolve to footage that has moved, this is an essential step if the project has migrated workstations.

Now we're going to go through the edit we've brought into Resolve and proof-check it using the offline reference file we made during the first lecture on the XML roundtrip. We need to be totally sure that what we've got is correct here as we have to send the footage back to our client at the end of the process!

We're going to be spending most of our time here so we'd better get well acquainted with the color panel! We'll have a quick skim through the layout first and then move on to our scopes.

A quick overview of what a primary grade actually is. An adjustment that effects the entire image.

The primary wheels are our most basic and important tools in Resolve. We go through how to make adjustments to the brightness of our image using these simple yet powerful tools.

Now we're going to move on to fixing a color cast in our image using the primary wheels. This, along with our initial contrast adjustment, is the most common task in Color grading. Time to get started!

Now onto the RGB curves. These straddle the line between primary and secondary as they can be used to target parts of our tonal range, but also the entire image at once. We'll take a look at how they work and how I like to use them.

Now for something with a little more finesse. We can control our color channels very tightly with the right use of the RGB curves and make some very accurate adjustments. We'll take a look in this lecture.

The Log Wheels are a very accurate tool that allow us to manually define our area of effect. We'll take a look at how the differ from the Primary Wheels and when we might use them instead.

Now we're going to take a look at Nodes, the building blocks of a grade in Resolve. We're going to see how we combine multiple adjustments to form a simple grade and how we keep our work organized so that we can revise our grade efficiently later on.

Now to put it all into practice, follow along as we tackle a short dialogue scene head on and make sure we get it into a good place for the secondary grade!

A quick look at secondary grading tools. Here' we'll start to see how we'll select or "qualify" parts of our image to work on and make highly targeted adjustments to our image.

Arguably the most powerful tool in Resolve. We're going to take a look at this tool and how it's used. We'll be coming back to the HSL Qualifier over and over again whilst performing advanced grades.

Power windows allow us to draw tow-dimensional shapes onto our image that we can then work inside of or outside of. this is a very powerful feature when combined with tracking and keyframing, which are covered later lectures.

We've got a shape, now we're going to make it move! We can track windows to significant features on our image and make them follow along. this is very useful for faces in particular. we'll also go over how to manually keyframe a power window and use manual keyframing to fix a partially correct track.

Alpha is a fourth channel that governs transparency, whether or not we can actually see a part of our image. In the context of resolve it allows us to combine qualifications to make highly accurate adjustments to our image, we're going to look at how to do this in this lecture.

Here's the first bit of real work. We've done a simple primary grade but now we've got to finish the job and get this sequence into top shape. We'll use everything we've learned to grade this sequence to a professional standard. Download the demo file from the Dropbox link and follow along!

A quick look at what we'll be covering in this module. This is super-important stuff, so be sure to take note!

A look at what we need to know about codecs to deliver a simple project for web.

An all-important concept in both color grading and VFX. Bit depth denotes the number of colors we have to work with n our footage. why does that matter? You're about to find out.

A quick look at compression and the effect it has on our footage. We don't want our footage to be mangled before it even reaches us, this is important stuff to know and to pass on as we work with less experienced clients.

Now we're going to look at how to deliver a project for upload to the web. We'll start with an overview of the delivery panel, then we'll go through how to get our graded project back to our client in either a single piece or as a new timeline and an XML to finish up our roundtrip.

We're going to look at the different settings available to use when we render out a project from Resolve. This is super-important, we need to be sure we're sending the right stuff back to our client or we haven;t done the job!

We're going to look at how to render out multiple timelines from a single project. Useful for when we'e got a series of shorter videos cut form a common pool of rushes or when you've got a single contract with multiple separate videos that can all be exported in rapid succession.

We're at the last hurdle. We're going to get a graded timeline back into our choice of NLE in it's separate edits ready for the online edit and final export.

We're now on to our first real-world project. But before we rush in, there's some thought about the grade we're going to perform. how do we start this creative process? Continue to find out.

We're going to move onto the first phase of a real grade. We're going to develop a number of looks that our client can feedback on and then we're going to progress with the chosen look. We'll take a look at how to find inspiration and what we might consider when looking through our project and deciding on the direction of a grade.

With the look chosen by our client we'll now go onto the first pass of our grade. We'll use everything we've learned to get a rough approximation of our chosen look on the whole timeline and we'll think about how far to go before presenting the project for feedback. Then we'll prepare to continue with the second pass.

Now we're onto the second pass. We've got feedback from our client and we're now getting the project close to a deliverable state. We're going to match our shots more closely and sign off on each one as we work. We'll then prepare for final feedback and the final, third pass.

We're right at the finish line! We'll polish off the last few lingering issues with our project and then get it ready for delivery back to the client who will take care of the online edit and final export for their delivery to their choice of web platform.

Traffic lights

Read about what's good

what should give you pause

and possible dealbreakers

Teaches grading with the free software Da Vinci Resolve, which is standard in industry

Taught by Matthew Falconer, who is recognized for their work in color grading

Suitable for beginners as it develops skills from the ground up

Taught by instructor with real-world experience in color grading for brands like Nike and Mercedes

Courses includes hands-on labs and interactive material

Develops skills in working with challenging footage

Covers some advanced use cases like keying, tracking, and rotoscoping in color panel

Reviews summary

Comprehensive davinci resolve color grading

According to learners, this course is a comprehensive guide to color grading in DaVinci Resolve, taking students from beginner to advanced levels. Many reviewers praise the instructor's clarity and expertise, finding his explanations of complex topics like nodes and scopes particularly helpful. The course is seen as having a strong practical, real-world focus, making it invaluable for those pursuing a professional career. The inclusion of project files is frequently highlighted as a major positive, enabling hands-on learning. While the course covers a vast amount of material, some absolute beginners felt the initial pace was quick, suggesting it might best suit those with some prior editing experience or who are prepared for a steep learning curve. Overall, students found it a highly valuable resource for mastering color grading workflows.

Could benefit from updates or deeper dives.

"Some sections could go a bit deeper, especially on LUTs and color management theory..."

"I would have liked more content on HDR grading or ACES workflow, but for SDR grading, it's very thorough."

"I wish there was an update to cover newer features in recent Resolve versions, but the core principles taught are timeless."

Practical files provided are very helpful.

"The project files provided are essential and really help with learning by doing. This is definitely geared towards people who want to work professionally..."

"The provided project files are a major plus."

"The practice files are invaluable. Highly recommend for anyone wanting to learn professional grading workflows."

"The project files are crucial for hands-on practice."

Covers topics from beginner to advanced.

"This course is simply outstanding. ... He breaks down complex topics in DaVinci Resolve into easy-to-understand modules."

"Good course, covers a lot of ground from beginner basics to more advanced techniques."

"Excellent, comprehensive course. It really takes you from knowing nothing about Resolve's color page to being able to tackle real-world projects. The structure is logical..."

"Very comprehensive and practical. The instructor's experience is evident throughout."

"Fantastic resource for learning color grading from scratch... The course structure is logical, starting with basics and building up."

Focus on professional practical application.

"The focus on real-world workflows is invaluable. I've already applied techniques learned here to client projects."

"...being able to tackle real-world projects. Cullen's experience shines through in the practical tips and troubleshooting advice."

"A solid introduction to professional color grading. I appreciated the focus on workflow and client delivery."

"Game changer! This course transformed my understanding... I feel much more confident taking on paid grading work now."

"Highly recommend for anyone wanting to learn professional grading workflows."

Instructor is knowledgeable and explains well.

"The instructor, Cullen, is clear, concise, and incredibly knowledgeable. He breaks down complex topics..."

"Cullen is a fantastic teacher. His explanations are crystal clear and the way he walks through the nodes and tools makes perfect sense."

"The instructor's real-world examples and practical approach demystify the process. I feel much more confident..."

"Fantastic resource for learning color grading from scratch. Cullen is a great teacher, explaining complex concepts simply."

"The instructor's experience is evident throughout. The lessons on scopes and node trees are particularly strong."

Might be fast for absolute beginners.

"While the instructor is clearly knowledgeable, I found the course jumps around a bit. It says beginner to advanced, but some 'beginner' sections assume prior knowledge."

"Disappointed. The course seems geared towards people who already know Resolve basics. The 'beginner' label is misleading. I got lost early on."

"I expected more hand-holding for absolute beginners."

"As a beginner, I felt the initial pace was a bit quick, which might be easier for someone with some prior editing experience."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Color Grading with Da Vinci Resolve: Beginner to Advanced with these activities:

Organize and review course materials

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Organising and reviewing your course materials will help you synthesise and retain information, and ensure you're prepared for the course.

Browse courses on Review

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Gather all of your course materials, including notes, handouts, and assignments.
Organise your materials into a system that makes sense to you.
Review your materials regularly to reinforce your learning.

Read the book "Color Correction Handbook" by Alexis Van Hurkman

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This book provides a comprehensive overview of color correction theory and techniques, which will complement your learning in this course.

View Color Correction Handbook Volume 2 - Specific... on Amazon

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Read the book thoroughly and take notes on the key concepts.
Apply the techniques you have learned to your own color grading projects.

Attend a color grading workshop

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Attending a workshop can provide you with hands-on experience and allow you to learn from experts in the field.

Browse courses on Color Grading

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Research and find a color grading workshop that is relevant to your interests.
Sign up for the workshop and attend all of the sessions.
Take notes and practice the techniques that you learn.

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Start a personal color grading project

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Working on a personal project will allow you to apply your skills to a real-world scenario and build your portfolio.

Browse courses on Color Grading

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Decide on a concept for your project.
Shoot the footage for your project.
Color grade the footage using the techniques you have learned.
Export the graded footage as a video file.

Practice manipulating curves and nodes in DaVinci Resolve

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Practice is essential to become proficient in using DaVinci Resolve's grading tools, and these repetitive exercises will help you reinforce your understanding and develop your skills.

Browse courses on Davinci Resolve

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Import footage into DaVinci Resolve and create a new project.
Use the Curves tool to adjust the contrast, brightness, and color balance of the footage.
Use the Nodes tool to create a color grade and apply it to the footage.
Export the graded footage as a video file.

Watch tutorials on advanced color grading techniques

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Watching tutorials can help you learn new color grading techniques and expand your knowledge of DaVinci Resolve's capabilities.

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Search for tutorials on advanced color grading techniques on websites like YouTube and Vimeo.
Watch the tutorials and take notes on the techniques that are demonstrated.
Practice the techniques on your own footage.

Create a blog post or video tutorial on a color grading topic

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Creating content will help you solidify your understanding of color grading and share your knowledge with others.

Browse courses on Color Grading

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Choose a topic that you are knowledgeable about.
Write a blog post or create a video tutorial on the topic.
Share your content with others.

Create a color-graded short film

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Creating a short film will allow you to apply your color grading skills to a real-world project and experience the entire post-production process.

Browse courses on Color Grading

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Write a script and shoot a short film.
Import the footage into DaVinci Resolve and create a new project.
Color grade the footage using the techniques you have learned.
Export the graded footage as a video file.

Career center

Learners who complete Color Grading with Da Vinci Resolve: Beginner to Advanced will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Colorist

Colorists are specialized technicians who perform color grading on film and video footage. This course can help you become a Colorist by providing you with the skills and knowledge you need to correct colors and achieve the desired look and feel for your projects.

See salaries and explore the career path for Colorist

Digital Imaging Technician

Digital Imaging Technicians work on the technical side of capturing and processing moving images. This course can help you become a Digital Imaging Technician by teaching you about color grading and how to use DaVinci Resolve, which is a powerful software tool used for color grading.

See salaries and explore the career path for Digital Imaging Technician

Motion Graphics Artist

Motion Graphics Artists create digital graphics and animations for a variety of applications, including film, television, and advertising. This course can help you become a Motion Graphics Artist by teaching you about color grading and how to use DaVinci Resolve, which is a powerful software tool used for creating and manipulating digital graphics.

See salaries and explore the career path for Motion Graphics Artist

Film and Video Editor

Film and Video Editors perform similar tasks to Video Editors, however, their focus is specifically on film and video footage. This course can provide Film and Video Editors with a strong foundation in color grading and help them advance their careers by learning how to produce professional-quality results.

See salaries and explore the career path for Film and Video Editor

Video Editor

Video Editors go through the raw footage from a film or video project, cut it together, and add special effects and music to create the final product. This course helps you become a Video Editor by teaching you the fundamentals of color grading, which is the process of correcting color in digital images to achieve the desired look and feel. This is an essential skill for Video Editors, as it can greatly improve the quality of their work.

See salaries and explore the career path for Video Editor

Art Director

Art Directors oversee the visual aspects of a production, including the design and execution of the color scheme. This course may be useful for Art Directors who are interested in learning more about color grading and how to use DaVinci Resolve, which is a powerful software tool used for creating and manipulating digital images.

See salaries and explore the career path for Art Director

Production Designer

Production Designers are responsible for the overall look and feel of a film or video production. This course may be useful for Production Designers who are interested in learning more about color grading and how to use DaVinci Resolve, which is a powerful software tool used for creating and manipulating digital images.

See salaries and explore the career path for Production Designer

Lighting Designer

Lighting Designers create the lighting for film, television, and other media. This course may be useful for Lighting Designers who are interested in learning more about color grading and how to use DaVinci Resolve, which is a powerful software tool used for creating and manipulating digital images.

See salaries and explore the career path for Lighting Designer

Set Designer

Set Designers create the physical environment for film, television, and other media productions. This course may be useful for Set Designers who are interested in learning more about color grading and how to use DaVinci Resolve, which is a powerful software tool used for creating and manipulating digital images.

See salaries and explore the career path for Set Designer

Costume Designer

Costume Designers create the costumes for film, television, and other media productions. This course may be useful for Costume Designers who are interested in learning more about color grading and how to use DaVinci Resolve, which is a powerful software tool used for creating and manipulating digital images.

See salaries and explore the career path for Costume Designer

Makeup Artist

Makeup Artists create the make-up looks for film, television, and other media productions. This course may be useful for Makeup Artists who are interested in learning more about color grading and how to use DaVinci Resolve, which is a powerful software tool used for creating and manipulating digital images.

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Video Producer

Video Producers oversee the creation of video content, from pre-production to final delivery. This course may be useful for Video Producers who are interested in learning more about color grading and how to use DaVinci Resolve, which is a powerful software tool used for producing professional-quality videos.

See salaries and explore the career path for Video Producer

Director of Photography

Directors of Photography are responsible for the visual aspects of film and video productions. This course may be useful for Directors of Photography who are interested in learning more about color grading and how to use DaVinci Resolve, which is a powerful software tool used for capturing and processing digital images.

See salaries and explore the career path for Director of Photography

Broadcast Technician

Broadcast Technicians operate and maintain equipment used in the broadcasting industry. This course may be useful for Broadcast Technicians who are interested in learning more about color grading and how to use DaVinci Resolve, which is a powerful software tool used for processing and broadcasting video content.

See salaries and explore the career path for Broadcast Technician

Visual Effects Artist

Visual Effects Artists create digital effects for film, television, and other media. This course may be useful for Visual Effects Artists who are interested in learning more about color grading and how to use DaVinci Resolve, which is a powerful software tool used for creating and manipulating digital effects.

See salaries and explore the career path for Visual Effects Artist