Ever wondered if you could achieve that coveted cinematic look using the free version of DaVinci Resolve? The good news is, you absolutely can! In this blog post, we’ll dive deep into how to achieve a professional-grade film aesthetic without any paid plugins or expensive software. Whether you’re a filmmaker or a video editor, this guide will walk you through the essential steps to create stunning visuals, even on a budget.
Introduction to DaVinci Resolve's Cinematic Capabilities
DaVinci Resolve, even in its free version, is a powerhouse for video editing and color grading. While there are limitations—such as the lack of noise reduction—the software still provides all the tools you need to create a cinematic film look. The best part? This can be done entirely within the color page without the need for external plugins.
Setting Up Your Project for Cinematic Results
To begin, open DaVinci Resolve and ensure your project is set to the correct color management. This is crucial for achieving a cinematic look that is both visually appealing and professional.
Resolution: Set your timeline resolution to 1920x1080 for a standard HD output.
Color Management: Go to Settings → Color Management and adjust your settings as follows:
Timeline Color Space: Set to DaVinci Wide Gamut.
Output Color Space: Set to Rec.709, Gamma 2.4.
Lookup Table: Make sure your LUT interpolation is set to tetrahedral for smoother transitions.
By using DaVinci Wide Gamut, we’re working in a color space that gives us more flexibility and dynamic range, which is crucial for achieving that filmic look.
Understanding BRAW and Color Space
If you’re shooting with a camera that supports BRAW (like the Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera), there are some added benefits. You can directly change the color space and gamma in the RAW settings, eliminating the need for additional color space transforms (CSTs). This workflow allows for a cleaner and more efficient grading process. For non-BRAW footage, you’ll need to manually input these settings, but don’t worry—we’ll cover that below.
Creating the Look Using Nodes
One of the most powerful aspects of DaVinci Resolve is its node-based workflow. Nodes can seem intimidating at first, but think of them as different layers, each performing a specific function in the grading process.
Here’s how to organize your nodes for a cinematic grade:
Create Your Nodes:
Node 1: Highlight Adjustments – This will be used for balancing highlights.
Node 2: Corrector Node – This is your main grading node where you’ll adjust exposure, contrast, and color balance.
Node 3: Look Node – This node will be where you apply the color grading look or LUT.
Using Color Space Transforms (CSTs): If your footage is not shot in DaVinci Wide Gamut, add a CST node to properly convert your footage into DaVinci Wide Gamut and DaVinci Intermediate. This is essential for keeping the color pipeline intact and making sure your final output looks its best.
Setting the Correct Output: Set the output color space to Rec.709, Gamma 2.4. This ensures that the final grade is suitable for online platforms or broadcast, as Rec.709 is the standard for these outputs.
Primary Corrections and Balancing Exposure
Once your nodes are set up, it’s time to start making adjustments:
Exposure: Look at your scopes, particularly the waveform, to check for any underexposed areas. In this example, the shadows were clipping, so we’ll need to brighten the image slightly. Use the Primary Wheels to balance the exposure.
White Balance and Skin Tones: Use the vector scope to ensure that your skin tones fall along the skin tone indicator line. If you notice any unwanted color shifts, adjust the gamma and gain to bring the skin tones into the correct range.
Applying a Film Look Using LUTs
Now, let’s talk about applying a LUT (Look-Up Table) to get that filmic look. DaVinci Resolve includes a variety of film looks, but for this tutorial, we’ll focus on the Kodak 2383 LUT, a popular choice for cinematic grading.
Choosing the LUT: Head over to the LUTs panel on the left-hand side of the color page and select Kodak 2383. You’ll notice there are two options: one for Rec.709 and one for DCI P3. Since we’re working in Rec.709, choose that option.
Adjusting the LUT: When you first apply the LUT, it may look too contrasty or intense. Instead of reducing the strength of the LUT manually, convert your output gamma to Cineon Film Log. This will tone down the contrast and make the image appear more filmic without sacrificing dynamic range.
Fine-Tuning and Enhancing the Cinematic Look
To give your image that polished cinematic look, here are a few more adjustments you can make:
Shadows and Highlights: On your shadow node, bring up the reds slightly to eliminate any teal tint that may have crept into the shadows. This gives the blacks a cleaner, more professional look.
Teal and Orange Look: Create another node to add a subtle teal and orange look, a classic color grading technique used in many films. Adjust the blues in your primary wheels to enhance the teal in the shadows and bring up the yellows slightly to warm up the highlights.
HDR Adjustments: If the highlights are too strong, use the HDR Wheels to bring them down gently. This will prevent overexposure and help retain detail in the brightest areas.
In this walkthrough, we’ve used the free version of DaVinci Resolve to create a cinematic look without any paid plugins. By utilizing nodes, color space transforms, LUTs, and primary corrections, you can transform your footage into a professional-looking masterpiece.
While the free version lacks features like noise reduction and film grain, with the right techniques, you can still achieve stunning results.
Remember, practice makes perfect. Keep experimenting with your color grading and don't be afraid to try new techniques. Happy editing!
Comments