colour matching at DVinfo.net

Mark Webb · September 20th, 2010, 04:33 PM

what is the best way of colour matching clips from two different hdv cams
im using premiere cs5

should i use the colour correct filters in cs5 or are there any decent colour matching plug ins for premire cs5?

any advice and help on how to do this would be great

Gregory Gesch · September 21st, 2010, 06:01 PM

Hi Mark. I use Premiere's Fast Color Corrector, which gives you a good selection of tools in one panel, but if that doesn't do it for you then there is Color Finesse:
Color Finesse 3 - Features
which does allow you to colour match using eyedroppers.
Also Color Finesse comes bundled with After Effects (though its plugin doesn't work with Premiere), so if you have access to AE you could check it out or, on the other hand it might be a good excuse to get AE for a bit more than you would be paying for the plugin.
If you're just starting out it can be a bit daunting but there are quite a few 'color' correction tutorials for Premiere if you google. Hope that helps.

Mark Webb · September 22nd, 2010, 02:57 PM

Thanks very much for replying Gregory i am trying colour finesse out but its hard to get the clips to match one seems more vibrant and brighter then the other I just need something that looks decent so i can start editing and hopefully complete the wedding to send out to bluray and dvd

Gregory Gesch · September 22nd, 2010, 05:28 PM

Hi, it's impossible to tell without seeing the clips but from your description I would first play with the Saturation to try to equalise the vibrancy of the colours - then look at the RGB gain if brightness is still a problem - but I'm just groping in the dark here.

Adam Gold · September 22nd, 2010, 05:45 PM

Real professionals will howl at this, but what happens if you just place the Auto Color or Auto Levels effect on both clips? It might move both more towards the middle, and that might be enough.

Mark Webb · September 22nd, 2010, 05:45 PM

hi Gregory could i email you some still frame shots if possable?

Adam Gold · September 22nd, 2010, 05:49 PM

Can you post them here so we can all see them?

Mark Webb · September 22nd, 2010, 05:52 PM

sounds like something to try Adam.
I will get some still shots and maybe you and Gregory could take a look at?

Mark Webb · September 22nd, 2010, 05:54 PM

could i email them to you?

Gregory Gesch · September 22nd, 2010, 05:57 PM

I've emailed you via the site with my address.

Adam Gold · September 22nd, 2010, 06:22 PM

It really is better if you can post them here on the site so all can lend their advice. If you're not comfortable doing that, sure, email 'em to me.

Edit: Based on the shots you sent, I think the tools in Premiere will probably work fine. Just give Auto Color a shot on clip B and see what happens. If you don't like the look, just remove the effect.

Ann Bens · September 23rd, 2010, 08:21 AM

I would advice against using auto filters.
They tend to give unpleasant side effects like flickering.

September 20th, 2010, 04:33 PM	#1
Mark Webb New Boot Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Canberra Australia Posts: 22	colour matching what is the best way of colour matching clips from two different hdv cams im using premiere cs5 should i use the colour correct filters in cs5 or are there any decent colour matching plug ins for premire cs5? any advice and help on how to do this would be great

September 22nd, 2010, 05:45 PM	#5
Adam Gold Inner Circle Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Woodinville, WA USA Posts: 3,467	Real professionals will howl at this, but what happens if you just place the Auto Color or Auto Levels effect on both clips? It might move both more towards the middle, and that might be enough. __________________ "It can only be attributable to human error... This sort of thing has cropped up before, and it has always been due to human error."

September 22nd, 2010, 05:49 PM	#7
Adam Gold Inner Circle Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Woodinville, WA USA Posts: 3,467	Can you post them here so we can all see them? __________________ "It can only be attributable to human error... This sort of thing has cropped up before, and it has always been due to human error."

September 22nd, 2010, 06:22 PM	#11
Adam Gold Inner Circle Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Woodinville, WA USA Posts: 3,467	It really is better if you can post them here on the site so all can lend their advice. If you're not comfortable doing that, sure, email 'em to me. Edit: Based on the shots you sent, I think the tools in Premiere will probably work fine. Just give Auto Color a shot on clip B and see what happens. If you don't like the look, just remove the effect. __________________ "It can only be attributable to human error... This sort of thing has cropped up before, and it has always been due to human error." Last edited by Adam Gold; September 22nd, 2010 at 08:17 PM.

September 21st, 2010, 06:01 PM	#2
Gregory Gesch Regular Crew Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Brisbane Australia Posts: 114	Hi Mark. I use Premiere's Fast Color Corrector, which gives you a good selection of tools in one panel, but if that doesn't do it for you then there is Color Finesse: Color Finesse 3 - Features which does allow you to colour match using eyedroppers. Also Color Finesse comes bundled with After Effects (though its plugin doesn't work with Premiere), so if you have access to AE you could check it out or, on the other hand it might be a good excuse to get AE for a bit more than you would be paying for the plugin. If you're just starting out it can be a bit daunting but there are quite a few 'color' correction tutorials for Premiere if you google. Hope that helps.

September 22nd, 2010, 02:57 PM	#3
Mark Webb New Boot Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Canberra Australia Posts: 22	Thanks very much for replying Gregory i am trying colour finesse out but its hard to get the clips to match one seems more vibrant and brighter then the other I just need something that looks decent so i can start editing and hopefully complete the wedding to send out to bluray and dvd

September 22nd, 2010, 05:28 PM	#4
Gregory Gesch Regular Crew Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Brisbane Australia Posts: 114	Hi, it's impossible to tell without seeing the clips but from your description I would first play with the Saturation to try to equalise the vibrancy of the colours - then look at the RGB gain if brightness is still a problem - but I'm just groping in the dark here.

September 22nd, 2010, 05:52 PM	#8
Mark Webb New Boot Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Canberra Australia Posts: 22	sounds like something to try Adam. I will get some still shots and maybe you and Gregory could take a look at?

September 22nd, 2010, 05:54 PM	#9
Mark Webb New Boot Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Canberra Australia Posts: 22	could i email them to you?

September 22nd, 2010, 05:57 PM	#10
Gregory Gesch Regular Crew Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Brisbane Australia Posts: 114	I've emailed you via the site with my address.

September 23rd, 2010, 08:21 AM	#12
Ann Bens Major Player Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: The Netherlands Posts: 710	I would advice against using auto filters. They tend to give unpleasant side effects like flickering.