OT: Filtering in post vs. during shooting

dand9959 wrote on 2/11/2005, 1:28 PM

I've often read that if you want to apply, say, a sepia tone to your video clip, it is far better to do it in software rather than using the fx settings on your camera. This makes sense for all the reasons often given.

However, I also read advice saying that you should use filters on your camera rather than filming raw and applying a filter in software later.

Question for discussion: What are the pros/cons of shooting filterless and applying correction later in software? (white balance, color correction, etc.)

Comments

Jay Gladwell wrote on 2/11/2005, 1:32 PM
It takes less time to get a good image in camera than it does in post. Once you have a good image, you can do anything you want with it in post. However, once you've applied an effect in camera, you can't (usually) undo it in post. You're stuck with it.

On the other hand, if you are 100% certain of what effect you need in the final image, and you can accomplish it in camera (using a filter for example), again, it's better to do it in-camera rather than post--saves a great deal of time.

There will be several opinions, any of which may be valid, depending on the shooter.

Jay
Spot|DSE wrote on 2/11/2005, 1:36 PM
Glass will generally look a little better, and you see instant results on your field/location monitor. You also don't have to wait for renders. However, once you've done it, you're married to it. This is why a lot of things are done in post now. Most things that can be done with glass can be done in post, excepting depth of field and certain filter looks. Polarization can't really be done properly in post either.
So, there are are certain things you'll want to do in glass, and others in post. there are arguments that go both ways. And both arguments would be right.
FrigidNDEditing wrote on 2/11/2005, 2:03 PM
no offense, but I've always wondered why people want a sepia tone effect on their video. As far as I know, this effect was never in movies, only the paper it was printed on from date x to x were this way because of the paper only.

NEway, i saw an add with sepia tone footage, and I paid less attention to the video because I thought that the footage was so foolish.

Dave
dand9959 wrote on 2/11/2005, 2:15 PM
No offense taken. Was just using that as an example.