Cinematic Color Grading Made EASY! | DaVinci Resolve 18 Tutorial

Introduction

This tutorial provides a step-by-step guide to achieving cinematic color grading in DaVinci Resolve 18. By following these basic techniques and tools, you can create a professional-looking cinematic style without complicated processes. Whether you're a beginner or looking to refine your skills, this guide will help you enhance your video projects effectively.

Step 1: Understand Cinematic Color Grading

• Cinematic color grading involves adjusting the colors and tones of your video to achieve a specific mood or style.
• The goal is to enhance storytelling through visual aesthetics, making your footage look more polished and engaging.

Step 2: Download Free Sample Footage

• Access ungraded clips to practice your color grading skills.
• You can find the free sample footage here.

Step 3: Set Up Color Space Transform

• Open the Color tab in DaVinci Resolve.
• Use the Color Space Transform tool to match your footage to the desired color space.
• This will help in achieving accurate colors and tones.

Step 4: Perform Basic Color Correction

• Adjust the exposure and contrast of your footage to ensure a balanced look.
• Use the following tools:
  • Lift: Adjusts the shadows.
  • Gamma: Adjusts the midtones.
  • Gain: Adjusts the highlights.

Step 5: Choose Between Color Wheels and Log Wheels

• Color Wheels offer a straightforward approach for color adjustments.
• Log Wheels provide a more nuanced control over shadows and highlights, especially for log footage.

Step 6: Utilize Curves for Fine-Tuning

• Navigate to the Curves panel to make precise adjustments to luminance and colors.
• Use the RGB curves to create contrast and adjust color balance.

Step 7: Adjust Temperature and Tint

• Use the Temperature slider to warm up or cool down your footage.
• Adjust the Tint to balance green and magenta tones, ensuring natural skin tones.

Step 8: Apply Cineon Film Log

• The Cineon Film Log setting can emulate a film-like look.
• This can enhance the depth of colors and give a more cinematic feel.

Step 9: Explore Built-in LUTs

• DaVinci Resolve offers various built-in Look-Up Tables (LUTs) to apply quick color grading styles.
• Experiment with these LUTs to see which enhances your footage best.

Step 10: Protect Skin Tones

• Pay attention to skin tones during grading to ensure they appear natural.
• Use the Qualifier tool to isolate and adjust skin tones separately from the rest of the image.

Step 11: Emphasize Teal and Orange Contrast

• A popular cinematic look emphasizes teal in the shadows and orange in the highlights.
• Adjust your color grading settings to enhance this contrast effectively.

Step 12: Final Touches

• Review your grading and make any necessary adjustments for consistency.
• Consider adding vignette effects or subtle grain for a polished look.

Conclusion

Cinematic color grading in DaVinci Resolve 18 can greatly enhance your video projects. By following these steps, you can achieve a professional finish with just a few adjustments. Practice with different footage and settings to develop your unique style. For more advanced techniques, consider exploring related tutorials on color management or node workflows. Happy editing!