Shadows & Highlights alternative?
 

I´ve tried a bunch of different alternatives and so far I´m yet to discover an effect that allows me to achieve a better latitude balance than Shadows & Highlights. I do stills 99,9% of the time but I´ve been shooting more video lately and I´d like to be able to use this effect on video, but when I boost the shadows and clip the highlights with it I get horrible horrible grain. Is there any other effect that will allow me the same flexibility? I´ve tried curves, gamma, layers, balance, etc and no luck.

P.S - I´ve tested footage from the hacked GH1 and the NEX-5N.

Re: Shadows & Highlights alternative?
 

There's only so much that you can do with 8-bit footage before the grain and posterization kick in. The best way would be to get the proper exposure in camera.

You can try duplicating the video layer, inverting the channels and setting it to overlay mode. It will have the effect of reducing contrast and bringing the shadows up and highlights down.

Re: Shadows & Highlights alternative?
 

[QUOTE=Bart Walczak;1723443
You can try duplicating the video layer, inverting the channels and setting it to overlay mode. It will have the effect of reducing contrast and bringing the shadows up and highlights down.[/QUOTE]

How do you duplicate and setting as an overlay?

Re: Shadows & Highlights alternative?
 

Copy the clip, paste it on another video layer on top, and in the effects window choose opacity->blending mode->overlay

Re: Shadows & Highlights alternative?
 

Thanks, guys. I will give it a try.

Re: Shadows & Highlights alternative?
 

How do you invert the channels?

Re: Shadows & Highlights alternative?
 

Find "invert" in your effects bin?

Re: Shadows & Highlights alternative?
 

Yes i know of the Invert effect but it gives all the wrong colours for every channel and in overlay.

Re: Shadows & Highlights alternative?
 

You can also try luma curve that looks like \ (backslash) instead of normal / - it will invert the luminance only.