Graphics Reference
In-Depth Information
CHAPTER 10
Creating Looks
The creation of “looks” is probably why some colorists make as much as
CEOs of Fortune 500 companies and drive around in Lamborghinis. This
is the sexy stuff. It's also the stuff that is virtually unquantifiable. It's part
of what takes color correction from craft to art.
And after a recent trip to New Hat in Los Angeles to visit Bob Festa, I got
a glimpse of how it can even be like menu writing at a good gourmet res-
taurant. As I sat with Festa, he showed me a wide range of looks that he'd
created and stored. Like a guitarist with names for each of his treasured
axes, Festa did not simply call his looks by some technically accurate name,
but with creative descriptive flair that did as much to sell the effect to the
client as it did to actually describe it. I saw Brazilian Silver, Cold Steel, Study
in Neutrality, and Pearlized Whites. Like a good description of an entrée at a
restaurant, they describe the item in a way that makes it desirable.
Pearlized Whites was little more than a simple soft, highlight glow
( Figure 10.2 ) . Any colorist can give you a highlight glow . . . but Festa gives
you Pearlized Whites. I think this is more than a mere gimmick. It brands
the entire experience and provides a handle for clients that generates cre-
ative buy-in to the looks. I doubt that Fuzzy Highlights or Blurry Brights
were contenders when he was naming this look.
Festa explains how he created the Pearlized Whites look. He adds a
little more contrast to the base shot ( Figure 10.1 ) , driving the highlights
up. He explains, “Make sure the whites are nice and strong. I'm comfort-
able with the shape of the shot, the colorimetry. I'm going to add another
layer and soften the whole shot. I'm going to isolate just the highlights
on her dress, with a nice softness. Now I'm using the 3D keyer and put a
garbage matte and a luminance isolation to get rid of the highlights in the
curtain.” With the softened shot being keyed through the highlights, the
whites of the nightgown take on a beautiful, ethereal patina: Pearlized
Whites ( Figure 10.2 ) .
Festa describes his Brazilian Silver look: “a very desaturated, sil-
very look that softens the midtones a bit, low saturation. An aggressive,
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