Take a video clip of yours that you think needs colour work. Assess it using the video scopes in FCPX and masks, and go through the colour correction workflow outlined in this course. Pay particular attention to:

- Exposure: Is it in range (0-100 IRE), are shadows between 0-5 with highlights in a logical place?

- Contrast: are the shadows 'milky' making the image feel like it has a grey haze over it, or does it feel too contrasty? Adjust or experiment with the curves / mids.

- White Balance: which method is best to determine white balance- grey card / neutral colour in the scene to measure? Otherwise does the RGB Parade confirm your feeling about the warmth / coolness in the scene?

- Skin tones: Are they near the skin tone line? Mask them out to test, and adjust white balance or hue vs hue as necessary.

Then feel free to experiment with a LUT or look of your own to give it some creative flair, perhaps by lifting the shadows to make them 'matte' or faded, or introduce some colour contrast in the shadows versus the highs.

Jack Scott

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