How to Colour Grade Video (Cinematic Film Looks)? | Pro Video Editing-Adobe Premiere - Class 6 PDF Download

Introduction

In this Adobe Premiere Pro tutorial, we will explore the basics of color grading and achieving cinematic color effects. Color grading is a crucial step in post-processing that adds the finishing touch to your video project. We will learn how to create adjustment layers, apply effects, and make adjustments to achieve the desired cinematic looks.

Setting Up the Project

Before diving into color grading, it's important to arrange your movie, edit it, and add music to create the desired atmosphere. Color grading is the final step that enhances the visual impact of your footage.

Creating Adjustment Layers

To simplify the color grading process, we'll work with adjustment layers. Adjustment layers allow you to apply color adjustments to multiple clips simultaneously without individually modifying each clip. Follow these steps to create an adjustment layer:

• Ensure the project tab is highlighted.
• Go to "File" > "New" > "Adjustment Layer" and click "OK".
• The adjustment layer will appear in your project files.
• Drag the adjustment layer onto the clips on your timeline, stretching it to cover the desired range of clips.

Applying Effects to the Adjustment Layer

Once the adjustment layer is in place, we can begin adding effects to achieve the desired cinematic look. Here's how to do it:

• Make sure you have the adjustment layer highlighted.
• In the "Lumetri Color" panel, located on the right side if you're in "All Panels" mode, you'll find various adjustment options.
• Under the "Basic Correction" tab, you'll find sliders for white balance, exposure, contrast, highlights, and other basic adjustments.
• Use these sliders to fix any overexposed areas, adjust contrast, or fine-tune the image to your liking.
• For cinematic looks, the "Creative" tab is where the real fun begins. Here, you can choose from a variety of preset looks or manually adjust the color using the available panels.
• The preset looks offer a quick and easy way to achieve different cinematic styles. You can preview and select the desired look, adjusting its intensity if necessary.
• Alternatively, you can choose "None" to manually adjust the colors using panels like "Faded Film," "Sharpness," and "Vibrance."
• The "Curves" panel is particularly powerful and allows you to manipulate the dark-to-light portions and color channels of the image. Double-clicking on any adjustment will reset it to its default value.
• Experiment with different settings to achieve the desired contrast and color effects. Manipulating individual color channels can create unique cinematic looks.

Fine-tuning and Additional Adjustments

To further refine your color grading, you can make adjustments in the "Hue Saturation Curve" panel, influencing overall saturation or specific colors. This panel provides control over the saturation of different hues.

The "Color Wheels" panel allows you to manipulate colors in the mid-tones, highlights, and shadows, similar to the "Color Balance" feature in Photoshop.

The "HSL Secondary" panel offers advanced control for selecting and modifying specific colors in the image.

You can also consider adding a vignette to your video, which helps focus the viewer's attention and adds a subtle framing effect.

Finalizing the Effect

Once you're satisfied with your color grading adjustments, you can evaluate the before-and-after effect by toggling the visibility icon. This allows you to compare the original and graded versions of your video.

If you find the effect too strong, you can lower the overall intensity of the adjustment layer by adjusting its opacity in the "Effect Controls" panel. Additionally, blending modes can be explored to create unique color interactions.

Additional Tips and Conclusion

To maintain consistency in different lighting situations or scenes, it's advisable to create separate adjustment layers for shots captured under different conditions.

This tutorial covered the basics of color grading and post-processing in Adobe Premiere Pro. By exploring and experimenting with the various adjustment options, you can master the art of color correction and achieve captivating cinematic effects.