[Tig] Curves for serious Color Correction

[Craig Leffel]

Steve Hullfish wrote:
>
> I know that most serious colorists I've spoken to have an aversion to 
> using Photoshop-like Curves to do tonal or even color cast 
> corrections. Obviously many color correction tools don't even have the 
> ability to correct with Curves.

> >>Is it a case that practically every colorist in the world has been 
> trained on da Vinci and da Vinci doesn't have Photoshop-like Curves, 
> therefor they can't be useful? >>
>
Allright. I will admit that I had a temper tantrum about curves a few 
years (months?) ago and I sounded like an idiot right here in this 
forum.... or at least someone who doesn't appreciate curves the way some 
Print or Photoshop artists might.

However, for this discussion, what I will say is that I think curve 
manipulation is meant for Subtlety. Finesse. Tweaks. an Umph or an RCH. 
Even tonal, or color casts are fine... when you understand what other 
limitations you might be causing...NOT a tool to be engaged to do gross 
manipulations to the image.... at least not in my space. However, I have 
to admit that I'm really talking about Master curves and not channel 
curves here. I think introducing a large manipulation into a master 
curve is just asking for unpredictable results. You can achieve the same 
results other ways. By introducing that kind of manipulation you are 
either limiting your other tools drastically, or usually creating a 
scenario of unpredictable results... like a knob or button doesn't react 
the way you expect it to when you use it. Yes, it IS important that your 
tools work the way you think they might... how  else could we color 
correct drunk all these years? Especially those of us in cow-town, I 
mean c'mon, according to some L.A. types, we're barely able to figure 
out how to turn on the lights over here, let alone do color 
correction......... we need the tools to behave responsibly.

SO, again, using it at the end of the CC process, as a very downstream 
tool, for small "bumps" or changes... all fine, and I do it quite often 
on a Davinci 2K or a Lustre. I just don't like seeing a young colorist, 
editor or graphic artist reach for it as the first approach. It doesn't 
make sense. Why, just the other day I was trying to explain "Fettle" to 
a few of our Junior Artists. They had sort of "figured out" how to use 
it, but had no idea what they were doing, or how to use it with some 
amount of predictability. It's one thing to mash buttons, twist knobs, 
and see what you get. My seven year old is actually a beautiful 
colorist. He gets it. He can spin a Davinci panel until it's a crumpled 
heap. Does he understand what he's doing? Obviously not. Did Jackson 
Pollack really understand the impact of throwing paint? Maybe not. I'll 
take the course of understanding thank you...

Maybe that's why "serious" colorists you've talked to don't think much 
of it Steve, but I have no idea what serious colorists you've talked to...

As we all know, I'm serious about being serious. Maybe I'm a serious 
colorist....                                       nah, doubt it.



**************  Subject Break **************************

Rob, did you really Ban Steve Shaw? I think that's a little heavy 
handed. The guy is doing good work and sharing his experiences. I know 
the rules, and I don't think sharing experience is the same as 
advertising, even though he runs a business. On that regard, we all run 
businesses. Our own client bases. We represent ourselves here. Steve has 
always spoken as himself, like it or not... and I have obviously taken 
issue with his frequency, attitude, colorist experience, etc... however, 
I would like it to be known publicly that I am NOT in favor of censoring 
him and banning him from posting. On the contrary, this list needs 
people of passion, with strong hearts and minds. Engineering drivel can 
only satisfy for so long. My personal vote, and I don't think I really 
get one here... is that he be re-instated.


Happy ball twisting folks ... my own personal apologies for my rash of 
postings lately. I'm sure some of you are quite sick of it.


Regards -



Craig Leffel