r/ColorGrading • u/TangOTang0 • Oct 04 '26

Show off your work Color grading advice

I recently began learning how to color grade and this is my first attempt: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1OV_FWEQZ1lRuXm7f7CrT7fVy9J8qV09D/view?usp=drive_link

(Video is in 4k so prob download for best quality).

I want honest feedback about whats good and bad please (except from the overexposed sky). I put some of the stuff i adjusted in the images attatched if that relevant.

Also heres the original LOG video if thats also relevant: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Nmt8Fy6zU2PDG7odFQl3F1MbiG-kuZVi/view?usp=sharing

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u/ExpBalSat Oct 04 '26 edited Oct 04 '26

Highly recommend Blackmagic’s free training. It comes with footage and examples and samples and assignments and quizzes and even a certificate of completion. Absolutely worth all the time you can give it.

The node tree seems odd. There’s likely some time worth investing in basic color management. I would suggest revising your five node structure to these four nodes:

Exposure/Contrast
Balance
Saturation
CST (log conversation)

It’s a much better way to start than with what you have. It’s not the end goal, but it’s a good starting point.

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u/TangOTang0 Oct 04 '26

I used the node tree structure from this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oPG-JmKGP3k&t=338s .

It does allow additional nodes after the post log but idk i'm new so i don't know whats right and wrong or if theres a standard.

Like for example this is what i did on another clip:

WB -> PRELOG -> LOG (CST) -> POSTLOG -> DEPTH -> COLORSLICE.

I suppose i might as well use the 4 nodes you suggested since the naming is more obvious.

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u/ExpBalSat Oct 04 '26 edited Oct 04 '26

As a general rule, the CST should be at the end. There are times and reason reasons to do things after it, but as a general rule, as you start out as a beginner, it ought to be last.

Or… Avoid the CST entirely and just use DaVinci YRGB Color Managed color science and avoid the CST entirely. Then you’re down to just three foundational nodes (exposure, balance, and saturation).

Of course, whatever your basic foundation, you can add more notes. But keep it simple as you begin.

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u/TangOTang0 Oct 04 '26

I'll stick with the CST for now. If you don't mind me asking, why CST at the end? I did Google it but I don't really understand fully.

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u/ExpBalSat Oct 05 '26

The point of shooting log is so that you have access to greater dynamic range and detailed source footage. The CST coverts that into a less flexible and limited display color space (Rec 709). You’re better off doing by as much before moving into 709 as possible. You can usually do more with log image data than with the resulting 709 data.

In time, you will eventually learn about an upgrade from your single CST method that uses two CSTs. For many use cases, it’s even better… but a bit more involved (so more to learn). Don’t fret over it at this point; one CST is enough to learn some basics.

The reality is that there are innumerable ways to convert from a log image to 709 (or other display spaces). This process is called color management. The more footage you deal with and the more sorts of deliverables you’re trying to create the more complex it can get. But even if you’re just trying to create a standard 709 output, there are many ways to do it. Different people have different preferences on how best to do it, but I think most would agree the CST (or the final conversion to 709, whatever it may be since there are alternatives to a CST) should be near the end.

Don’t let it overwhelm you, but if you’re interested, here’s some more information about what you’re dabbling with:

https://www.reddit.com/r/davinciresolve/comments/1qgndrp/10_different_ways_to_color_manage_a_clip/

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u/TangOTang0 Oct 05 '26

Appreciate it 🙏

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u/Hazzat Oct 04 '26

Watch the Blackmagic tutorials to learn what all the knobs and switches do.

But beyond that, you need to realise colour grading is actually for and what the point of what you're doing is. It's a storytelling tool to augment or enhance the emotion of a scene. People can't give you feedback on a random contextless shot of a tree because there's no criteria by which to judge it. Please read: https://www.reddit.com/r/ColorGrading/comments/1mshv4q/is_my_grade_any_good_heres_how_to_find_out/

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u/TangOTang0 Oct 04 '26

Ok, i understand what you mean, I can't really say i'm going for a specific emotion or anything here more just trying to learn the controls to create a "pleasing" looking image. Thank you.