Rich,
You may want to go through using the NewBlueFX plugin for VegasPro aka Colorfast and give us a report how you find it works as versus the built-ins.

Rich,

I've been trying to improve my color grading, too - and I have been using Cinestyle a lot with my Canon DSLRs.

I think this is very nicely done. I'm especially impressed that you did it with Vegas tools only. It isn't too agressive and the shadows and highlights generally seem be to be where they should be. The midtones are to taste, but they are pleasing to my eye.

In some cases, there might be a little more or a little less contrast, if you want. Would a little more make the cliffs pop a bit more at 0:30 to 0:42? I find when using Cinestyle that I usually don't use enough contrast in my first pass. I've rarely ended up with too much. I also wondered if a little more red in the shadows at times might warm it up. As is, it seems cool to yellow-green to me, which is a very nice look.

Beautifully done to me.

Rich, I enjoyed your work. 1:23 was my favorite scene, as I think it was nicely framed and the color was beautiful.

With such lush and flowing content, I thought a few dissolves would have been not out of place instead of straight cuts, but with your music choices, I can see why you edited it the way you did.

Cheers.

VideoTguy,

Thanks for response and taking the time to review the video.

Regarding ColorFast, when I heard about it, I got excited and thought I should try it. However, there is a thread here on the forum that was pretty negative about NewBlueFX products based on the issues with their Titler.

I have no personal experience with their Titler, although I played with it a little in VP11, but the instability in VP11 makes me continue using VP10 and the Titler is not supported in VP10.

I didn't want to consider ColorFast until I heard some good things about it. If anything, I would go with Red Giant Magic Bullet Looks, it seems to have a good following, but I didn't want to be in a position that every time I upgraded Vegas I had a dozen plug-ins to update or worse yet, plug-ins that don't work in the newer version of Vegas.

thanks again,
Rich

To Rich Parry:
Regarding your concerns.... the NewBlueFX company and it's traditional line of direct-x plug-ins through VegasPro 10.0e have been regarded as first rate. What you have been hearing all the commotion about over the web has to do with OFX type Plug-ins and in particular NEWBlue-FX Pro-Type Titler interface with GPU processing. Totally different animal. Now this is also to say most people are staying a serious distance away from productive use of SCS VegasPro11 versions -all of which have been filled with bugs.

There is a distinct possibility that SCS development cycle of VegasPro as we have come to know it henceforth could be dead.
We just don't know at this point in time.

If you are taking the future into consideration - I dare say few would predict that there is any longevity attached to Magic Bullet fo VegasPro users. In general for the future - no one really knows what will be happening to third-party tools vis-a-vis SCS VegasPro. Not looking very good at this time.

As for color grading in VegasPro through 10.0e - the serious contenders are Colorfast and more expensive Cineform Pro Studio.
So far Colorfast deserves serious consideration based on early reviews.

Rich: the tonality is really "Northwest" to a T. I've lived in Seattle for over 40 years and never cease to delight in the gray-green tone that permeates this area. You've graded for it beautifully. A very lovely piece of work!

Jack

Rich,
Great job on the color correcting. I think that there is a very unique difference between grading and correcting. Grading is pushing colors to create an emotional quotient that is not normally felt or experienced. Your great correcting and mindful use of sharpness and contrast gave the video a very sharp and pleasing look, but didn't seem to create the unique feeling many associate with grading.
I truly applaud your efforts and hope that you continue such beautiful footage. Below are two video that we recently finished. While both were worked with Vegas 11, one was "graded" the other was corrected.
http://www.icvideo.net/kentucky-wedding-video/2012/6/7/caitlin-edgar-a-speech-a-ceremony-and-a-heck-of-a-good-time.html Color Grading
https://vimeo.com/45446800 Color Correcting
Think about what emotions you can push with color and I can't wait to see your next.

Zelkien69, your video links are private or protected by password
FYI, read here how to post links etc.

Jack,

You made my day. Thanks!

Rich

Zelkien69,

Thank you for the reply and taking the time to comment on my video. I thought "grading" and "correcting" were used interchangeably. I see I was wrong.

I viewed both the video examples you sent. Superb camera work. It must be tough to get the shots you want while trying to be "invisible" at a wedding.

It was hard for me to say I saw a difference in coloring between the two examples. As a non-professional with little experience, the music and camera work overpowered my ability to concentrate on color alone. In other words, I felt an emotional difference in the two videos as you mentioned, but for me it wasn't coloring that stood out as the salient difference. Please consider that my weakest and lack of experience rather than anything else.

Seeing the exact same video "graded" and "corrected" would have helped me to understand the difference. I will continue to work my way up the coloring learning curve and take your words into account as I travel the road.

Thank you again for your response and your words of encouragement.
Rich

Zelkien69,

Just came across this definition, you were correct and thanks a million for helping a color newbie.

============================

COLOR CORRECTION is the process where every clip is manually tweaked to get a good exposure and balance of light. Each clip is adjusted to match color temperature to a predefined choice for each scene. This tedious and mechanical process is essential and in its own way, an art form. The use of SCOPES (Waveform, Vectroscope, Parade) is critical to this step and luckily most NLE’s and Grading software have them built-in. Without them you are literally flying blind and solely trusting your eyes, which have to adjust to room light ambience, fatigue, funky monitors and other factors constantly. Trust the SCOPES and let them guide you into accurate and creative decision making.

COLOR GRADING is the creative process where decisions are made to further enhance or establish a new visual tone to the project through software including: introducing new color themes, re-lighting within a frame, films stock emulations, color gradients and a slew of other choices. Being that this is purely creative, there is no wrong or right…only what the DP, director and colorist feel is appropriate for the story. It can be subtle and invisible or over-the-top and uber-stylized. Therein lies the challenge…The challenge of choices. The tools available are so numerous, powerful and often free (Davinci Resolve Lite!) that you have no excuse not to explore these options further before you embark on the Grading journey.

You welcome.

We didn't do a base correction so I don't have a side by side to give you. What we went for was a pinkish/purple push throughout that tied the colors of the day into the video. Your comment about not seeing it makes me question if I couldn't have pushed it just a little bit further for effect.

Download a demo of Magic Bullet Looks for Vegas and while I'm not suggesting just slapping a filter on, it will give you a quick idea of what grading an image can do.

https://www.redgiantsoftware.com/downloads/trial-versions/registration/magic-bullet-looks/

I'd just like to add to all that the term Color Timing. Which is what the film guys from yesteryear did to correct film color balance, exposure and tint. That has now been replaced by the term Grading although you do hear digital film guys talking about 'color timing' their footage, its the same thing and has blended in to the terminology of digital today. Just like we say - to shoot a film, even when there is no film!
But yes, the first pass is correction to get shot levels correct and matched, then, and its not always needed, grading or creating a style to add mood to the shot. And that becomes the art. Some shots do not need grading, just correction to look good. Grading is an option, but in the right hands, good grading can 'make' the shot work.

hope that helps a bit, i'm not an expert either but learning fast!

Paul.