Color Curves in FCP at DVinfo.net

Oliver Darden · January 16th, 2009, 03:52 AM

When I USE to use Sony Vegas I would always add a color curve to make my videos "pop". I am now learning how to use FCP and I cannot seem to find where something similar is. Anyone know where that might be?

Thanks

Here is a pic similar to what I'm talking about:
http://docs.gimp.org/images/toolbox/tools-curves.png

Gabe Strong · January 17th, 2009, 04:28 PM

Graeme Nattress makes some EXCELLENT third party plug ins for Final Cut Pro. Great
prices and absolutely awesome customer service.

Nattress

If you click on his 'big box of tricks' tab, you will see a bunch of plug ins, his 'G curves' plug in will do what you want I think.

Aric Mannion · January 19th, 2009, 11:09 AM

Did you try this in Final Cut?
3-Way Color Corrector - Final Cut Help : Apple Final Cut Pro Tutorial

Oliver Darden · January 22nd, 2009, 12:20 AM

Aric, I am not trying to so much "color correct" as I am trying to make the video pop with a color curve. Making an "S" curve this way really adds a lot to your video, especially videos that you put on the web that are compressed.

Photoshop has a similar color curve that I use to make photos pop.
http://www.photoshopsupport.com/tuto...sing/4-rgb.jpg

Here they just added a very slight curve and you can see how more colorful the video on the right is:
http://www.pbcentral.com/columns/hil...pse6curves.jpg

Michael Wisniewski · January 22nd, 2009, 12:49 AM

Have tried this RGB Contrast Plug-In by Dominik Seibold? It's a simple way to quickly make the video image "pop".

Oliver Darden · January 22nd, 2009, 04:42 PM

I did what he said:
http://www.dominik.ws/DominiksContrast.fxplug.zip
Just extract that zip-file to your ~/Library/Plug-Ins/FxPlug folder. If that folder doesn't exist, create it.

But I dont see it in my FCP effects. And actually I had to extract it to:
My Startup HD/Library/Application Support/Final Cut Pro System Support/Plugins

Anyone know what I am doing wrong?

Michael Wisniewski · January 22nd, 2009, 10:30 PM

Do you see it in the Effects menu under Video Filters?

Josh Bass · January 22nd, 2009, 10:44 PM

Guys, I was under the impression that though FCP doesn't have the color curves per se, you can accomplish the same thing by using the shadows/mids/highlights sliders on the three wheel color corrector. Same result, different route.

Oliver Darden · January 23rd, 2009, 01:58 AM

I got it workin Michale, but so far FCP crashes EVERY time I try to render his effect after I add it to the video. Seems to work for other people tho so maybe I am doing something wrong.

Josh, I will try that, thanks.

Josh Bass · January 23rd, 2009, 04:14 AM

You know what? I take it back. I think you can create an S-curve using those sliders, but a more sophisticated curve, with more points, would be impossible in FCP without an actual curve tool. Since an S curve could have 3 points (2 really--in Vegas I used to add one kinda near the top, add one kinda near the bottom, leave the middle alone), you can likely do it in FCP.

Oliver Darden · January 23rd, 2009, 04:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Josh Bass

(2 really--in Vegas I used to add one kinda near the top, add one kinda near the bottom, leave the middle alone)

Exactly what I use to do in Vegas and I loved what it did to my videos, I hope I can do something comparable in FCP that doesn't degrade the quality of the video (lots grain etc). I am going to try the shadows/mids/highlights sliders on the three wheel color corrector and I will post my results.

Josh Bass · January 23rd, 2009, 06:35 AM

You should be able to do the simple s-curve with those sliders. An advantage FCP has over Vegas is the way the secondary color corrector works. Vegas has one, but if you create a mask with it, you'll see that the border of the mask is jagged, ugly and pixellated. At least in Vegas 6, the last one I used (sorry if they fixed this in 8 and I don't know it). In FCP, there's an option on the secondary CC to feather the mask edge, and a slider to change the amount. So now you can do your crazy movie looks and not make your footage too monochrome in the process. For instance, tint everything in a scene a deep blue, but use secondary CC to correct the skin tones back to normal.

You can have grain issues in any NLE tweaking footage too much.

Mike Barber · January 23rd, 2009, 05:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Oliver Darden

Seems to work for other people tho so maybe I am doing something wrong.

I have to ask: why are you not doing this in Color? Everything you are looking for -- and much more -- is right there for you in the Primary room. Send your sequence to Color, make your changes in the Primary room's curve controls and then render them and send the project back to FCP. Round-trip simplicity that is hard to beat.

Oliver Darden · January 24th, 2009, 02:39 PM

Mike, I just started learning color, I was looking for an easy way to make web videos pop that's all.

Color seems great, once I learn it I am sure I can do what I am looking for with it.

Mike Barber · January 24th, 2009, 03:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Oliver Darden

Mike, I just started learning color, I was looking for an easy way to make web videos pop that's all.

Best way to learn is by doing, and on something as simple as this, it's a good project to practice with. To do what you are looking for realy is as simple as the steps in my previous post: it requires work in one room only -- the Primary.

January 16th, 2009, 03:52 AM	#1
Oliver Darden Major Player Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: USA Posts: 522	Color Curves in FCP When I USE to use Sony Vegas I would always add a color curve to make my videos "pop". I am now learning how to use FCP and I cannot seem to find where something similar is. Anyone know where that might be? Thanks Here is a pic similar to what I'm talking about: http://docs.gimp.org/images/toolbox/tools-curves.png

January 22nd, 2009, 12:49 AM	#5
Michael Wisniewski Wrangler Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Makati, Metro Manila Posts: 2,706 Images: 32	Have tried this RGB Contrast Plug-In by Dominik Seibold? It's a simple way to quickly make the video image "pop". __________________ "Ultimately, the most extraordinary thing, in a frame, is a human being." - Martin Scorsese

January 22nd, 2009, 10:30 PM	#7
Michael Wisniewski Wrangler Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Makati, Metro Manila Posts: 2,706 Images: 32	Do you see it in the Effects menu under Video Filters? __________________ "Ultimately, the most extraordinary thing, in a frame, is a human being." - Martin Scorsese

January 22nd, 2009, 10:44 PM	#8
Josh Bass Slash Rules! Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Houston, Texas Posts: 5,472	Guys, I was under the impression that though FCP doesn't have the color curves per se, you can accomplish the same thing by using the shadows/mids/highlights sliders on the three wheel color corrector. Same result, different route. __________________ The Bass' camerawork The Bass on IMDB

January 23rd, 2009, 04:14 AM	#10
Josh Bass Slash Rules! Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Houston, Texas Posts: 5,472	You know what? I take it back. I think you can create an S-curve using those sliders, but a more sophisticated curve, with more points, would be impossible in FCP without an actual curve tool. Since an S curve could have 3 points (2 really--in Vegas I used to add one kinda near the top, add one kinda near the bottom, leave the middle alone), you can likely do it in FCP. __________________ The Bass' camerawork The Bass on IMDB

January 17th, 2009, 04:28 PM	#2
Gabe Strong Major Player Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Juneau, AK Posts: 814	Graeme Nattress makes some EXCELLENT third party plug ins for Final Cut Pro. Great prices and absolutely awesome customer service. Nattress If you click on his 'big box of tricks' tab, you will see a bunch of plug ins, his 'G curves' plug in will do what you want I think.

January 19th, 2009, 11:09 AM	#3
Aric Mannion Major Player Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Boston, Massachusetts Posts: 616	Did you try this in Final Cut? 3-Way Color Corrector - Final Cut Help : Apple Final Cut Pro Tutorial

January 22nd, 2009, 12:20 AM	#4
Oliver Darden Major Player Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: USA Posts: 522	Aric, I am not trying to so much "color correct" as I am trying to make the video pop with a color curve. Making an "S" curve this way really adds a lot to your video, especially videos that you put on the web that are compressed. Photoshop has a similar color curve that I use to make photos pop. http://www.photoshopsupport.com/tuto...sing/4-rgb.jpg Here they just added a very slight curve and you can see how more colorful the video on the right is: http://www.pbcentral.com/columns/hil...pse6curves.jpg

January 22nd, 2009, 04:42 PM	#6
Oliver Darden Major Player Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: USA Posts: 522	I did what he said: http://www.dominik.ws/DominiksContrast.fxplug.zip Just extract that zip-file to your ~/Library/Plug-Ins/FxPlug folder. If that folder doesn't exist, create it. But I dont see it in my FCP effects. And actually I had to extract it to: My Startup HD/Library/Application Support/Final Cut Pro System Support/Plugins Anyone know what I am doing wrong?

January 23rd, 2009, 01:58 AM	#9
Oliver Darden Major Player Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: USA Posts: 522	I got it workin Michale, but so far FCP crashes EVERY time I try to render his effect after I add it to the video. Seems to work for other people tho so maybe I am doing something wrong. Josh, I will try that, thanks.

January 23rd, 2009, 06:35 AM	#12
Josh Bass Slash Rules! Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Houston, Texas Posts: 5,472	You should be able to do the simple s-curve with those sliders. An advantage FCP has over Vegas is the way the secondary color corrector works. Vegas has one, but if you create a mask with it, you'll see that the border of the mask is jagged, ugly and pixellated. At least in Vegas 6, the last one I used (sorry if they fixed this in 8 and I don't know it). In FCP, there's an option on the secondary CC to feather the mask edge, and a slider to change the amount. So now you can do your crazy movie looks and not make your footage too monochrome in the process. For instance, tint everything in a scene a deep blue, but use secondary CC to correct the skin tones back to normal. You can have grain issues in any NLE tweaking footage too much. __________________ The Bass' camerawork The Bass on IMDB

January 24th, 2009, 02:39 PM	#14
Oliver Darden Major Player Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: USA Posts: 522	Mike, I just started learning color, I was looking for an easy way to make web videos pop that's all. Color seems great, once I learn it I am sure I can do what I am looking for with it.