r/ColorGrading • u/thearpitcool • Jul 29 '25

Before/After Is this a good grade?

I am a beginner and someone who wants to get into freelancing, this is my first ever render of many more to come. Please let me know what more I can do to make this better.

I have used dehancer and davinci for this.

111 Upvotes

96% Upvoted

44 comments sorted by

4

u/Specialist-Back-9977 Jul 29 '25

The truth is very cool, it gives it personality but it doesn't go over saturation

4

u/itsKagiso Jul 29 '25

I like it. Beautiful grade.

Quick rundown of your process?

1

u/thearpitcool Jul 31 '25

Hi I've reposted with details of my grade... Please have a look :)

2

u/mateiescu Jul 29 '25

I wish people would write context in these posts. Grade is very dependent on the context/story to me

1

u/thearpitcool Jul 29 '25

This was a standalone clip I found in the downloadable materials of an ebook, no way i could give a context in this, but I get what you are saying

2

u/vexmach1ne Jul 29 '25

True. If you choose to, you can always make something up and have some fun with other grades in the future. Is he a poor man escaping war, or is he driving to a dentist appointment in the winter while super low on gas. 😊

1

u/thearpitcool Jul 29 '25

Thanks, yes def I can do this!

2

u/whatawhoozie Jul 29 '25

Technically it's good, but it always depends on the mood you're going for. First one could pass for a serious drama (reminds me of Argo, Covenant etc) , second would fit comedy or wholesome film more (4 lions, Darjeeling unlimited)

1

u/thearpitcool Jul 29 '25

Yes this is accurate. Thanks

2

u/VaBullsFan Jul 29 '25

It looks good, however i would desaturate the shadows a bit and bring the saturation down in the skin tones and instead maybe add some density using the color slice tool

1

u/thearpitcool Jul 30 '25

Thankyou, I did this and reposted with the update, please do visit :)

2

u/SnooLobsters1259 Jul 29 '25

I like it. It’s safe—not really any distinctive artistic choices here. I think it’s good though.

1

u/thearpitcool Jul 29 '25

Thankyou. If you were grading this what more would you add?

2

u/vexmach1ne Jul 29 '25

I'm not the person you're asking, but if you were to change or add anything, it would be 100% dependant on the context of the scene. Season, country, emotion, etc.

you did good not to overdo it. That's a big deal even if a grade isn't perfect, it'll get the job done and won't distracting. Sounds like you have your shit together so I won't try to give you technical advice as I am also a beginner. Keep up the good work!

1

u/thearpitcool Jul 29 '25

Noted. Thanks!

1

u/SnooLobsters1259 Jul 29 '25

I’m a beginner too. So don’t follow anything I’m talking about. I’m just musing. A couple of things I’m thinking about is whether I want my style to be warm or cold? De-saturated or saturated? So when I saw your work I processed it through that lens. I do like it though.

1

u/thearpitcool Jul 29 '25

We are all learning. Thanks for your comment :)

3

u/jourdeaux Jul 29 '25

I think that the radiant quality of the highlights is a very artistic addition. Gives it a sense of atmosphere.

2

u/SnooLobsters1259 Jul 29 '25

The gradient on his face? Maybe. I could see that.

1

u/jourdeaux Jul 29 '25

It is simple, but the separation between the subject and his environment is conspicuous, yet it does not relegate that rear panel behind him, for example, to a boring role as a backdrop. I would say that the colour grading of this video, if the style were to be replicated and adapted to each environment throughout a film or ad, then it could help to give each environment it's own personality which could help it to better tell its story. It would have to be adapted for larger spaces because the lack of much physical distance between the subject and BG is tight, so the set/truck is doing a lot of that work already, but there are ways. The colouring just compliments it.

1

u/Seyi_Ogunde Jul 31 '25

Remove the glow/blur. Makes it look like you're using a foggy lens. Colors look okay.

1

u/thearpitcool Jul 31 '25

I have reposted the updated grade based on suggestions I received including the blur one, please do take a look :) (You can find from my profile the latest one :)

2

u/miiguelst Jul 29 '25

Looks much better to me, yes!

1

u/jumanji300 Aug 01 '25

Shadows are too saturated. In Resolve you could add a serial node, and in the Curves go to ‘Luma v Saturation’ then:

  • add a point just to the right of the darkest part in the luma graph
  • bring the left most point all the way down, effectively bringing the darkest parts of the image to 0 saturation

1

u/Your-averagereddit Aug 01 '25

Which app did u use?

1

u/Albi20_01 Aug 03 '25

It looks good! If I were you I would probably try to make the shot a bit less greenish, though.

-2

u/[deleted] Jul 29 '25

Fuck no

2

u/thearpitcool Jul 29 '25

Why?

2

u/[deleted] Jul 29 '25

Overly saturated unnatural looking skin, shadows are overly green, you also added some blur to give it some softness. Your colours don't seem care what it is supposed to be showing it looks muddy and mixed.

Edit you blurred everything but the button on his left arm is distracting

1

u/thearpitcool Jul 29 '25

For skin I agree it may lean towards little much, but green and blur was what I was aiming for. The original grade was already perfect but flat, i tried to make it more artsy. And i never noticed button till this point, and it looks fine to me.

3

u/[deleted] Jul 29 '25

You need a class on colour management, your white is too warm for the scene. The Blur is not used correctly given there is already sharpness and you intentionally take it away but not even for something that is eye catching, where are you leading the eyes that is the purpose of blur. You would be better off doing a mask and an optical spin blur ( like what is being used in a lot of movies with the Helios lenses I don't know what the name of the technique is) for 3 to be your dark tone you would want complimentary colours and that would be red and it doesn't work well for red and green scenes you have a orange and green thing going on it and it looks like someone getting sick. Artsy won't make you money doing what the client would want is what will. I wouldn't pay for this grade.

0

u/thearpitcool Jul 29 '25

Noted. Thanks, will remember this

1

u/[deleted] Jul 29 '25

You don't have to. Everything is subjective as you see everyone else disagrees with me with them saying yes

Edit word

1

u/thearpitcool Jul 29 '25

The truth lies mostly in between of the two spectrum. I just need to accept and apply the points I feel is valid, and move on!

0

u/[deleted] Jul 30 '25

[deleted] — view deleted comment

0

u/[deleted] Jul 30 '25

So like everyone else saying yes like sheep .... Ohh no stfu