Adjusting colour saturation at DVinfo.net

Erik Norgaard · August 22nd, 2007, 04:08 AM

Hi:

I know, the Canon is famous for being very honest with colour reproduction. But, sometimes you really want these saturated colours that people have become accustomed to. I'm planning a trip to Costa Rica, 30% is national parks lots of wild wildlife and colourful birds, and I want to make sure that I get all of it first shot (because I probably won't have a second) and that it looks like "nature++".

Two questions:

- how do I boost colour saturation? I've downloaded the presets but none seem to be designed for this.

- can you do this in post production without too much noise penalty? Which way is best, to have saturated raw footage and reduce saturation in post or normal saturation in raw footage and boost in post?

(yes, as you might have guessed, I haven't worked with this before).

Chris Soucy · August 22nd, 2007, 04:40 AM

Whoooah, that's a question or three....

First off, are you unhappy with what's coming off the A1 as it stands (saturation wise)?

Have you tried boosting it in the presets (on your own) and with what effect?

I, personnaly, and I stress, this is just me, have boosted the "saturation" by maybe 20 points and just left it at that.

That's good for me - looks good coming straight off the camera, in post and everywhere else.

If you have a problem with the colour or saturation not covered here then maybe you need to be speaking to Canon before you embark on this trip!

CS

Rene Roslev · August 22nd, 2007, 04:41 AM

The preset "VIVIDRGB" does, as the name implies, just that.
http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/showpost....7&postcount=78

Brent Goodale · August 22nd, 2007, 05:12 AM

the vivid preset is great for outdoor shots. Makes the images look better than they really are. its brings the reds out a little too much but that can be adjusted.

Peter Ralph · August 22nd, 2007, 08:59 AM

open up an image and an RGB WFM - as you increase saturation in a properly exposed image you will begin to lose information in one or two of the color channels - so there is a downside to increasing saturation.

it seems to me that the milky color settings maximize effective dynamic range, with no downside for folks if color grading is part of the workflow

any thoughts?

Mats Frendahl · August 22nd, 2007, 10:12 AM

Why not pol. filter?

Eric Weiss · August 22nd, 2007, 11:18 AM

you should create your own preset based on the needs at the time.
it doesnt take long once you get the hang of it. vegas has great color correction and boosting the saturation in there may be a better idea.

i've attached some birds i filmed last month. i used only a slight boost in the "color gain" and "R Gain" and"G Gain" in-camera and used the "sun" color temp , probably between +4 and +8 to give some of those shots a warmer feeling. the shots are overexposed by 1 or 2 stops. always tweak this kind of BS in the VF, not the LCD..once you get an accurate setup in-studio.

Mats Frendahl · August 22nd, 2007, 02:05 PM

Eric, why overexpose? What is "pure" white can never be reproduced in post if needed.

Erik Norgaard · August 22nd, 2007, 02:27 PM

Thanks everyone for your suggestions, Thanks Eric W for the clip, nice!

I will try that VIVIDRGB preset. Luckily, I have a short trip to Tenerife before so I might get a chance to try. I don't consider "getting a hang of it" in the jungle an option - at least not one I'd like to rely on.

Cheers, Erik

August 22nd, 2007, 04:08 AM	#1
Erik Norgaard Major Player Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Madrid, Spain Posts: 238	Adjusting colour saturation Hi: I know, the Canon is famous for being very honest with colour reproduction. But, sometimes you really want these saturated colours that people have become accustomed to. I'm planning a trip to Costa Rica, 30% is national parks lots of wild wildlife and colourful birds, and I want to make sure that I get all of it first shot (because I probably won't have a second) and that it looks like "nature++". Two questions: - how do I boost colour saturation? I've downloaded the presets but none seem to be designed for this. - can you do this in post production without too much noise penalty? Which way is best, to have saturated raw footage and reduce saturation in post or normal saturation in raw footage and boost in post? (yes, as you might have guessed, I haven't worked with this before).

August 22nd, 2007, 04:40 AM	#2
Chris Soucy Inner Circle Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Fairfield, Dunedin, New Zealand Posts: 3,689 Images: 18	Hi Erik... Whoooah, that's a question or three.... First off, are you unhappy with what's coming off the A1 as it stands (saturation wise)? Have you tried boosting it in the presets (on your own) and with what effect? I, personnaly, and I stress, this is just me, have boosted the "saturation" by maybe 20 points and just left it at that. That's good for me - looks good coming straight off the camera, in post and everywhere else. If you have a problem with the colour or saturation not covered here then maybe you need to be speaking to Canon before you embark on this trip! CS

August 22nd, 2007, 04:41 AM	#3
Rene Roslev Regular Crew Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Copenhagen, Denmark Posts: 49	The preset "VIVIDRGB" does, as the name implies, just that. http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/showpost....7&postcount=78

August 22nd, 2007, 05:12 AM	#4
Brent Goodale Regular Crew Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Chicago IL Posts: 31	the vivid preset is great for outdoor shots. Makes the images look better than they really are. its brings the reds out a little too much but that can be adjusted.

August 22nd, 2007, 08:59 AM	#5
Peter Ralph Major Player Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Denver/Vail Colorado Posts: 254	open up an image and an RGB WFM - as you increase saturation in a properly exposed image you will begin to lose information in one or two of the color channels - so there is a downside to increasing saturation. it seems to me that the milky color settings maximize effective dynamic range, with no downside for folks if color grading is part of the workflow any thoughts?

August 22nd, 2007, 10:12 AM	#6
Mats Frendahl Regular Crew Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Sweden Posts: 126	Why not pol. filter?

August 22nd, 2007, 02:05 PM	#8
Mats Frendahl Regular Crew Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Sweden Posts: 126	Eric, why overexpose? What is "pure" white can never be reproduced in post if needed.

August 22nd, 2007, 02:27 PM	#9
Erik Norgaard Major Player Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Madrid, Spain Posts: 238	Thanks everyone for your suggestions, Thanks Eric W for the clip, nice! I will try that VIVIDRGB preset. Luckily, I have a short trip to Tenerife before so I might get a chance to try. I don't consider "getting a hang of it" in the jungle an option - at least not one I'd like to rely on. Cheers, Erik