Hi

As I wade through the posts, Ash Greyson has provided the settings for a Crushed black look. There is no explanation as to what this look is. I don´t have a clue. Could someone please describe what this look is?

Thks,

Gary

This is when the blacks are really black, effectively losing all the detail in the dark areas of the image. I personally think this screams video and makes the image look more cartoonish and flat. This is easily achieved in post. It's alway best to shoot with as much dynamic range (as much detail in dark and light areas of the image) as possible and achieve the look you want in post. Once you crush the blacks in camera, you can never have them back. Crushing them a bit in post is easy and you have more control over it, and it's reversible. Stay away from these extreme camera settings. You'll thank me later....

Thanks for the info!

In my opinion this is not true.

Well, you can shoot flat, and change contrast/colors/whatever in post, but you can't reach the same result that you can get using a custom preset. At least this is what i experienced, especially with night/low light situations.
Two years ago i shot a 45 min "short", the director did not trust me and wanted to shoot flat and color corrected in post. In the end, when it was screened at a theater with some other videos he was'nt happy because our work did not look good as the others.... the blacks wheren't blacks but noisy grey.

So, most of the time i use a preset. In case i'm not sure, i spoke with the director (or who hired me) and ask if he like this way.
But the best thing is that you try by yourself the diffrence and see if you can get the same result.

I have to wholeheartedly disagree. Just my opinion.

In fact... the best thing is to try and see what process give the best results.

Further, I have to say I am also against the "super flat" settings, as well – the settings, mostly popular on DSLRs, that push the image beyond a normal flat setting. I think they introduce as many problems as shooting super contrasty.