color vs. 3 way color correct filter
by Harry Kafka
on
Aug 12, 2009 at 2:03:53 am
Is there any significant difference in using Color vs. Final Cut's 3 way color filter when applying it
to DV footage in a Pro Res timeline, with a Natress G Nicer filter applied? I'm talking about something one can see versus a strictly technical difference. Thanks in advance.
Re: color vs. 3 way color correct filter by Noah Kadner on Aug 12, 2009 at 11:16:05 am
Well let's see, can you whittle a sailboat out of a piece of wood easier with a pitchfork or with a carving knife? Same basic concept. Sure you can get good results with one if you're really amazing on a specific tool, but then again you're sort of wasting a tool better suited for the job. Though neither will do the job any better in the hands of someone who doesn't know how to use them.
Re: color vs. 3 way color correct filter by Harry Kafka on Aug 12, 2009 at 11:45:38 am
I would have appreciated the literary touch if it was more accurate. For example "butter knife" instead of a "pitchfork." I know Color is a superior color correct tool. That's not what I was asking. I've done a whole film using the 3 way, which I'm fairly good at. But is it worth doing over and spending money because the Color processes is technically superior to the 3 way in any significant way. Thanks.
Re: color vs. 3 way color correct filter by walter biscardi on Aug 12, 2009 at 12:41:55 pm
[Harry Kafka]"But is it worth doing over and spending money because the Color processes is technically superior to the 3 way in any significant way. Thanks."
The Color process is superior in every way quite honestly. I have graded Broadcast television shows with the 3 Way CC, Colorista and Final Touch / Color. There is simply no comparing a filter with a full application that is designed solely to color grade a project.
Here's the best part for you though. Color 1.5 is supposed recognize your 3 Way CC work. I have not tried it, but I'm pretty sure I read that you can send your timeline to Color and all of your settings from the 3 Way will transfer into Color giving you a starting point.
Of course you're going to have to learn how to properly use Color before jumping in to a paying gig, but to your question of "is it worth redoing in Color" my answer is absolutely.
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Re: color vs. 3 way color correct filter by Victor Perez on Aug 12, 2009 at 3:31:57 pm
My first try with Color was with a series of 1 minute interstitials we produced last year. After pushing for time to use Color at our facility and it not being approved I Colored a version of one interstitial on my own time to see if there was difference. Yes there was. Although with the version in FCS-2 there is some prep work, to me the application well outdid what I could do with the 3 way CC. Far from what some might think Color is not just for creating drastic changes in your image, it gives you the ability to create a much more realistic look.
Re: color vs. 3 way color correct filter by Patrick Inhofer on Aug 12, 2009 at 6:06:28 pm
[Harry Kafka]" But is it worth doing over and spending money because the Color processes is technically superior to the 3 way in any significant way."
The 3WCC is 10bit aware and renders at 10bit (if the sequence is set to it).
Color can go up to float - though with SD source materials float isn't as advantageous. And with the 3WCC in FCP it's less likely there's lots of soft edged masking being used where float might help with banding.
Nattress sells his chroma smoothing plug-in for Color. I don't know if the results are any different from FCP. I suspect they're largely the same.
Don't bother going to Color if all you're doing is sending your 3WCC's to it, setting the bit depth to float, and rendering. If you're interested in taking color correction to the next level, then certainly the exercise is well worth it... but you might want to take the attitude that this project more of a learning project than something you'll deliver to the client.
Re: color vs. 3 way color correct filter by Dave Jenkins on Aug 19, 2009 at 3:48:35 am
I have color corrected large projects with FCP 3 way CC and then I tried Color. I have done several projects with Color and I am floored at what Color can do even in the primary room. I had a project last week and tried to get it done with the 3 way CC and I couldn't get what I get in Color. It's a very different look from Color, more organic. FCP 3 way CC feels more digitally processed.
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