color correcting dark exposure at DVinfo.net

Zareh Tjeknavorian · February 17th, 2007, 04:55 AM

Hi,

We're trying to color correct shots that are back lit - i.e. subject's face is dark against bright outdoor background. Any tips on how to bring out the subject's face without excessive artefacts?

Thanks.

Cole McDonald · February 17th, 2007, 03:13 PM

Depends on how heavily back lit the piece is...as far as technique goes, you could use the image itself as an alpha mask, then correct the background darker and the foreground slightly lighter and hope that the lowering of the contrast of the image will help the eye itself pull out more light and detail from the dark face.

Andy Mees · February 17th, 2007, 10:42 PM

try duplicating the image on a higher track, then right clicking the higher track and change Composite Mode to Add ... use a Garbage Matte or Mask Shape combined with the Opacity of the clip on the higher track to limit the area of the effect

you might also like Marcus Herrick's Facelight plugin that you can grab for free here: http://www.haiku.com.au/2005/08/fina...-plug-ins.html

and search around ... i'm sure i saw a tutorial on exactly this topic floating about the other day

Zareh Tjeknavorian · February 18th, 2007, 02:38 PM

Andy, Cole,

Many thanks to you both for finding the time to write. I'm going to try these options - and the download - and will share my results.

Zareh

February 17th, 2007, 04:55 AM	#1
Zareh Tjeknavorian Regular Crew Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Astoria, New York Posts: 46	color correcting dark exposure Hi, We're trying to color correct shots that are back lit - i.e. subject's face is dark against bright outdoor background. Any tips on how to bring out the subject's face without excessive artefacts? Thanks.

February 17th, 2007, 03:13 PM	#2
Cole McDonald Trustee Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Sauk Rapids, MN, USA Posts: 1,675	Depends on how heavily back lit the piece is...as far as technique goes, you could use the image itself as an alpha mask, then correct the background darker and the foreground slightly lighter and hope that the lowering of the contrast of the image will help the eye itself pull out more light and detail from the dark face. __________________ Web Youtube Facebook

February 17th, 2007, 10:42 PM	#3
Andy Mees Major Player Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia Posts: 645	try duplicating the image on a higher track, then right clicking the higher track and change Composite Mode to Add ... use a Garbage Matte or Mask Shape combined with the Opacity of the clip on the higher track to limit the area of the effect you might also like Marcus Herrick's Facelight plugin that you can grab for free here: http://www.haiku.com.au/2005/08/fina...-plug-ins.html and search around ... i'm sure i saw a tutorial on exactly this topic floating about the other day

February 18th, 2007, 02:38 PM	#4
Zareh Tjeknavorian Regular Crew Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Astoria, New York Posts: 46	Andy, Cole, Many thanks to you both for finding the time to write. I'm going to try these options - and the download - and will share my results. Zareh