Graphics Reference
In-Depth Information
4.
Right-click on the newly renamed Layer Mixer node and select
Composite Mode > Add. Another mode that works for this image
is Screen. Experiment and see which you like better. You may also
have to come back and try different modes after you've completed
the next two steps, as the next two steps will drastically alter the
results of these modes.
Please
also experiment with other mode choices. Each one does
something different depending on the brightness or color of certain
parts of the two nodes feeding into the Layer Mixer.
5.
Select the second node (the blurry, bottom node) and experiment
with various highlight and midtone levels using the thumbwheels
under the color wheels in the 3-Way Color tab.
6.
Experiment in the Qualifier tab with various Luma (bottom bar)
qualifications, changing the sliders for Low, Low Soft, High, and
High Soft. If you don't add some High and Low Softness, this effect
will look really ugly. As a starting point, put Low, Low Soft, and
High Soft to about 50 and High to about 80 or 90.
Final Thoughts
I hope that this topic has inspired you and that you realize that the tech-
niques shown here are simply the starting recipes for you to create your
own amazing grades.
I created this topic because I felt that there were so many better people
to learn color correction from than me—a mere converted editor. I hope
that being exposed to the dozen or so top-tier colorists on these pages has
shown you that there is no
one
way. There is simply experience and trial
and experimentation and the thrill of discovery that can come only from
sitting in a dark room and trying things—pushing the limits and remem-
bering my favorite line from this topic:
You don't know if you don't go.