Opinions on color grading

Test shots for lighting 'vibe' on upcoming project. Shot with GL-2.

1] Shot with white balance on orange card to achieve blue hue, then color tweaking in AE:

[image=http://pic4.picturetrail.com:80/VOL755/2599102/5185719/82448792.jpg]

2] Similar shot darker:

[image=http://pic4.picturetrail.com:80/VOL755/2599102/5185719/82448803.jpg]

3] Different shot, 1st settings:

[image=http://pic4.picturetrail.com:80/VOL755/2599102/5185719/82448777.jpg]

4] White balanced to reg. white card, then darkened:

[image=http://pic4.picturetrail.com:80/VOL755/2599102/5185719/82448814.jpg]

The scenes were fairly well lit to start with; no room lights, just umbrella lights on stands. Going for a semi-lit, creepier look to the scenes....

Thoughts?

 

they look pretty good, but the highlights, seem a little bright, and orangey...In my opinion, if you want to keep them that bright, desaturate those colours, wether they're red, or orange. Other than that looks pretty coo

 

You're saying decrease the 'orange' color on my left cheek/eye area, for instance? [your right - top pic]

I didn't know if it was best to keep just a bit of warmth, or go totally 'cool'.

How 'bout this:

[image=http://pic4.picturetrail.com:80/VOL755/2599102/5185719/82460157.jpg]



Yeah.....if you toggle between the very top one and the last one, I think the bottom is better.

 

Why don't you post the original shot (or just label it) so that people can download it and show ther suggestions?

-Spiff

 

The video or the ungraded pic?

 

Just the ungraded pic - that way people could pull it into AE and send it back to you saying "like this"

-Spiff

 

Okay.....here's two original shots:

White balance to orange:

[image=http://pic4.picturetrail.com:80/VOL755/2599102/5185719/82469531.jpg]

And white balance to white:

[image=http://pic4.picturetrail.com:80/VOL755/2599102/5185719/82469546.jpg]

 

Okey dokey,

Here are two interpretations of what I thought the image should look like:

[image=http://s94963366.onlinehome.us/colourgrade.jpg]

-Spiff

 

The very first pic looks best to me !!

 

My 1st pic at the top? Which one do you mean?


Thanks Spiff. Those are a little too bright in areas for the look I'm going for......

I want a subtle light to the scenes, kind of close to a day-for-night look, but I don't want it so dark you struggle to see detail.

 

Yeah - I can appreciate the look you were going for. Not to draw comparisons, but there's a lot of DFN stuff in LOTR. While I don't think it looks entirely realistic, I do find it looks pleasant and a lot less muddy.

-Spiff

 

LOTR would be a good comparison, although some scene look too purple. But that's the idea...