Advanced Color Grading in Vegas Pro?

OldSmoke wrote on 1/23/2018, 6:30 AM

In such a case I use a masking.

Dexcon wrote on 1/23/2018, 6:41 AM

Try Vegas pro's included Color Corrector (Secondary) VideoFX, or trial NewBlueFX's Colorfast 2 - which I think is excellent. Blackmagic's DaVinci Resolve is well regarded for color grading, and it has a well-configured free version - use it to color grade and export back into Vegas Pro which, IMO, is much more user-friendly for editing. BorisFX also has a great range of color grading plug-ins.

fathomstory wrote on 1/23/2018, 11:01 AM

If Vegas cannot go deep into color grading, that would be a feature request. In terms of color grade plugins, I will look closer at the BorisFX one. Right now I am dealing with some bugs in my trial version of Vegas.

Marco. wrote on 1/23/2018, 11:42 AM

If I need extensive color correction I use Tiffen DFX in Vegas Pro. Imho one of the most powerful color correct OFX plug-ins with great matte control for almost every filter inside.

Grazie wrote on 1/23/2018, 10:57 PM

If I need extensive color correction I use Tiffen DFX in Vegas Pro.

Tiffen is no longer a supplier. Here’s their statement: https://tiffen.com/software/software-update/

And Digital Film Tools now supplying the range of tools: https://www.digitalfilmtools.com/index.php

Thier OFX offering is $595.

Pashi wrote on 1/24/2018, 2:22 AM

Free Resolve is the best in almost everything. The main reason I still use Vegas - very fast interface. Timeline scrolling, zooming in and out... I editing extremly fast))) Vegas was fast until VP15 but I still hope MAGIX will correct these innumerous bugs and lags) There are no masks in Vegas (only one for all FX) so we can't speak about advanced color correction. Of course you can use Magic Bullet looks but it have only rounded masks. Just try Davinci Resolve once with its 3D-tracked masks and you'll never want to make CC in another software.

NickHope wrote on 1/24/2018, 2:43 AM

..There are no masks in Vegas (only one for all FX) so we can't speak about advanced color correction...

This is not true. Natively in Vegas we have for example the Mask Generator FX, masking in the Color Corrector (Secondary) FX (which I use extensively), masking in Pan/Crop, the Chroma Keyer...

Wolfgang S. wrote on 1/24/2018, 2:45 AM

A good addition to Vegas for grading is also filmconvert

https://www.filmconvert.com/

as long as one is grading to rec709. It is fast and has a good GPU Support - and delivery really great results.

Beside that I always wonder why nobody mentions here ACES 1.0. The only issue is the poor Playback Performance if you use UHD/4K, but the results are very good.

Pashi wrote on 1/24/2018, 5:25 AM

..There are no masks in Vegas (only one for all FX) so we can't speak about advanced color correction...

This is not true. Natively in Vegas we have for example the Mask Generator FX, masking in the Color Corrector (Secondary) FX (which I use extensively), masking in Pan/Crop, the Chroma Keyer...

They're useless if you need to make one part of your image darker or warmer and another brighter/cooler etc and stabilize this event and reduce noise. When you CC SLog footage multiple masks is a must have feature.

Pashi wrote on 1/24/2018, 5:26 AM

A good addition to Vegas for grading is also filmconvert

https://www.filmconvert.com/

as long as one is grading to rec709. It is fast and has a good GPU Support - and delivery really great results.

Beside that I always wonder why nobody mentions here ACES 1.0. The only issue is the poor Playback Performance if you use UHD/4K, but the results are very good.

Agreed, FilmConvert is the best tool for CC in Vegas.

OldSmoke wrote on 1/24/2018, 8:56 AM

A good addition to Vegas for grading is also filmconvert

https://www.filmconvert.com/

as long as one is grading to rec709. It is fast and has a good GPU Support - and delivery really great results.

Beside that I always wonder why nobody mentions here ACES 1.0. The only issue is the poor Playback Performance if you use UHD/4K, but the results are very good.

Agreed, FilmConvert is the best tool for CC in Vegas.

Just checked the website and they already have a profile for my AX700 😃😃, it will give it a try.

NickHope wrote on 1/24/2018, 10:39 AM

..There are no masks in Vegas (only one for all FX) so we can't speak about advanced color correction...

This is not true. Natively in Vegas we have for example the Mask Generator FX, masking in the Color Corrector (Secondary) FX (which I use extensively), masking in Pan/Crop, the Chroma Keyer...

They're useless if you need to make one part of your image darker or warmer and another brighter/cooler etc and stabilize this event and reduce noise. When you CC SLog footage multiple masks is a must have feature.

They are not useless for me. They may not have the functionality of some other applications but I have great success with masking in the Color Corrector (Secondary) FX.

I have a license for FilmConvert and I don't actually use it as I prefer the native tools in Vegas such as Color Curves. It's fundamentally designed to be applied to footage shot with a standard camera profile. So if you deviate from that, I find it doesn't quite work as intended. But it does have a lot of sliders.

Wolfgang S. wrote on 1/24/2018, 1:11 PM

What works great with Filmconvert is the grading of log footage to rec709. I have been impressed here both for FS7 slog but also EVA1 v log footage. Great.

Even if the same result can be achieved by using ACES 1.0

Pashi wrote on 1/24/2018, 1:16 PM

I have a license for FilmConvert and I don't actually use it

I think you loosing a lot. It is a beast in CC. It is the best solution for matching different cameras. Just finished one simple project ( https://vimeo.com/252567765 ) with 3 very different cameras in it and FC saved me a lot of time since I'm not very experienced colorist. The only thing is missing in FilmConvert is HUE vs HUE (vs SAT vs LUM) control. I'm using MB Looks for it.

AVsupport wrote on 1/24/2018, 5:22 PM

+1 for Filmconvert.

What a shame Vegas doesn't have a respectable solution for this often asked for feature. +1 for native Addons.

fathomstory wrote on 1/24/2018, 7:29 PM

If Vegas Pro is lacking in a certain area, one possible solution is to 'partner up' with a company and maybe offer a bundle pack. Some other video editor software companies already do this. Sometimes it is tough to make features on-demand and it takes time to program/design/test etc..

Can't really comment on Nick Hope's "Color Corrector (Secondary) FX" until I get the Vegas Pro crash-at-start-up bug sorted on my machine, but it will.

AVsupport wrote on 1/24/2018, 9:15 PM

well the 'bundling' is already being done to fill the holes, but sadly, with every new VP version the bundles change and there's no guarantee old plugins will work..because of this lack of solid ongoing cooperation / commitment / deep integration. This is very frustrating as many Vegas users have seen this plenty of times repeatedly.

I for my part stay away from bundles now, since this is short term gain, goes nowhere, long term frustration. Better off buying multi-host multi-version 3rd party, if you can, until Magix sorts this out somewhat more future proof.

NickHope wrote on 1/25/2018, 12:14 AM

I have a license for FilmConvert and I don't actually use it

I think you loosing a lot. It is a beast in CC. It is the best solution for matching different cameras. Just finished one simple project ( https://vimeo.com/252567765 ) with 3 very different cameras in it and FC saved me a lot of time since I'm not very experienced colorist. The only thing is missing in FilmConvert is HUE vs HUE (vs SAT vs LUM) control. I'm using MB Looks for it.

@Pashi I fixed your link.

I am used to the precise control that the VEGAS Color Curves FX gives me over black and white points and the degree to which I roll-off or clip values outside those points, so it is difficult for me to use something else that doesn't give me that same precise control. I would dearly love to find something, as the Color Curves FX leaves a lot to be desired.

fathomstory wrote on 6/1/2019, 3:46 PM

After some research, the best candidate for color correction/grading plugin for Vegas Pro would probably be Boris FX CONTINUUM COLOR AND TONE UNIT, because of the video scopes. You need the scopes to do a proper job of anything. It is a shame that Vegas Pro does not have scopes (unless I missed it). Though I think early versions did have this.

Marco. wrote on 6/1/2019, 4:10 PM

Vegas Pro has scopes since almost ever. Waveform, RGB Parade, Histogram, Vectorscope.

fathomstory wrote on 6/1/2019, 4:13 PM

Where?

vkmast wrote on 6/1/2019, 4:15 PM

View > Window > Video Scopes

fathomstory wrote on 6/1/2019, 4:18 PM

Thanks, I have had Vegas Pro trials and could never locate it. Just tabs and tabs of different 'looks', but not the basic fundamental stuff. The looks should be put under 'View > Window > Looks' and the scopes need to be displayed more prominently.

aboammar wrote on 6/1/2019, 5:24 PM

No NLE ever offer as advanced color correction & grading tools as DaVinci Resolve Studio ($300) period. The second best NLE with advanced color correction I have used is Avid MediaComposer with Symphony Option (both $400/Year), yet, DaVinci Resolve Studio still superior comparing to it.

Even the best plugins available are not as good as DaVinci Resolve Studio.

If I were you, I would download the free version, DaVinci Resolve, as it still offers amazing color correction tools, which are extremely close to the paid Studio version. And the round-trip between Vegas Pro and DaVinci Resolve is quite easy.