[Tig] compositors doing grading

[Cem Ozkilicci]

Hey guys,

being an ex-flame artist I must say that as Rob
pointed out, most compositors feel the need to correct
aspects of a film rather than grade. This is mostly
because of the fact that compositors are usually not
given the chance to color correct or grade(unless
something drastic seeds fixing). They are usually used
as people to fix flaws and remove wires and rigs than
give films their look. So therefore the notion of
fixing something comes before the notion of grading. 

I remember from my previous days were I had come up
with an interesting look as a flame artist and the
director I was working with said something along the
lines of "why are you trying to establish a look ? I
know the one we have isn't great but we dont have time
to come up with a new one" ... so actually from that
day on I sort of decided to go into grading and felt
that was or would be my stronger side. 

But now coming to a time where compositing and grading
and compositors and colorists slowly merge it's
interesting to see the different approaches and
mentalities colorists and compositors adopt. 

Those are my two cents ...

Cem Ozkilicci
Colorist/House Engineer
Compugraf / Istanbul



--- Rob Lingelbach <rob at colorist.org> wrote:

> the TIG is supported by subscribers.
> see http://tig.colorist.org for 
> donation button interface.  Thanks to
> Scott Klein, Glenn Chan, and Hakan Toptas.
> --
> 
>  
> Fri Aug 4 2006
> 
> I have been with compositors and other editing/3d/2d
> artists for the
> last week and have come to the nonpremature
> conclusion that they
> have trouble in working with DoPs and Directors for
> color
> correction.
> I suppose I should have known this, but these folks
> need some help
> in the
> concept of grading.  Let it be known that this was
> not at the
> facility where
> I currently work.
> 
> It seems the very first thing a comp artist wants to
> do when presented
> with a raw scan is go in and construct a window to
> correct
> a flaw in the image.  There isn't a constructive
> dialog with the DoP
> about color, feel, look, presentation, continuity,
> etc.   It almost
> seems
> like a lost cause from the beginning, but I can also
> see how
> hopefully, the
> more astute among the compostiors would understand
> about color and
> density.
> But many don't have any idea.  In other words, a
> compositor
> approaches the session
> as if it's ready to be fixed, not ready to be
> orchestrated.
> 
> Regarding prints from the labs: there are certain
> tendencies the lab
> prints have that the DI shows to poor advantage.  
> Example 1,2,3:
> I've been to 3 labs with Truelight LUTs for each
> one, printing at
> each lab.  Every print looks (relatively, with some
> color problems) the
> same, except that *there is way too much contrast in
> the image*.
> Now we can assume that going "down a generation" is
> going to lose
> detail.
> 
> But:
> Take the BKSTS chart for grayscale, res, color
> chips, and
> resolution.   Ingest it into smoke. flame, whatever.
>  Output it for
> scan, record frames of neg.  Do test prints as 10
> feet loops to
> ensure lineup with the projectors you know best in
> town they seem
> realtively
> equal....  but at least we have the equality).
> Colorist uses has as first frame of every scan of
> reel the first
> frame, which is
> this chart,  as lineup.   Ensures the following: 
> video projector
> resolution,
> color rendition, grayscale separation.     THEN *Do
> DI job* with
> client.
> 
> bring loop of test chart (calibrated by eye back to
> neg, by great
> color timer or colorist) to test print stage of DI
> job.   Look at and
> check loop on projector.  Then put up the DI print. 
> it should be
> good.  This is a huge lack of understanding between
> labs and
> facilities in
> certain countries.  they don't seem to understand
> the idea of
> calibration.
> 
> I see a huge need of training comp artists on color
> grading.
> I also see, in an even greater sense, the need of
> SMPTE chapters
> more active
> in certain countries, in getting information out to
> (mainly) DoPs.
> 
> Rob
> -- 
> Rob Lingelbach    colorist, Pixion, Mumbai       
> TIG
> founder/devel/admin
> http://www.colorist.org/robhome.html
> 
> _______________________________________________
> Tig mailing list
> Tig at tig.colorist.org
> http://tig.colorist.org/mailman/listinfo/tig
> 


__________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
Tired of spam?  Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around 
http://mail.yahoo.com