Stunning looks: don't fix it in post!

Fix it in-camera. People always talk about getting the most neutral or 'flat' picture profiles as possible, to be able to tweak the look of their video later on with color correction software. But there are some good arguments why you don't want to go that route. For one: you don't have time to manipulate all the shots in postproduction. Or: you don't have the skills.
Another good reason is that you can get such incredible result tweaking the camera settings that there simply is no reason to want more. This fine looking, very informative video shows you how to play around with the settings in camera so you can get that specific look you want, without any color correction after the shoot.

Superb, free tutorials on Color Correction in FCP X

This appears to be the week of the freebies: free editing software, free FCP X tutorials and now some really great free Color Correction lessons for FCP X. Color Correction and Color Grading, I should say.
This colorist, Denver Riddle (great name!), has produced an 11 part video tutorial to correct and alter the look of your footage. I watched two so far and his videos are clean, concise and attractive. The fact that they are short also really works for me. Tutorials longer than 7-8 minutes make me feel drowzy and want to 'escape the classroom'... Call me superficial or lazy but I can't help it... Denver Riddle's approach is perfect for people like me. Take a look and judge for yourself.


05. FCP X Color Grading Tutorial: Setting Exposure from Color Grading Central on Vimeo.

To color correct or not to

"We'll fix it in post", is a much heard expression and its meaning is becoming more and more prevalent in video and filmproduction. The ability to correct and manipulate (the look of) footage has become more mainstream since the advent of tools such as Magic Bullet's Look or Colorista.

I wouldn't call myself a knowledgeable color corrector at all and I feel I make too little use of it. I have used presets from 'Looks' on a few clips and the response on Vimeo was so much more enthusiastic compared to 'unmanipulated footage'... it was a great stimulus to explore more of that area.