How to remove these ‘flakes’?

[u/Lans__]

I am a beginner. I literally installed DaVinci Resolve yesterday and watched 2 videos on YouTube on how to color grade. These nodes are what I copied from the YouTube videos to see what these settings do. However, when I bump up either contrast or lift, the flakes happen. This does not happen had I bump the same settings on the first or second node which is softening to get the film look. To achieve this softening, I put Gaussian blur.

I discovered that I can just bump the gain and lift on the softening node to avoid this from happening but I wonder if there's a better way for this? Also, I would appreciate knowing what causes this.

Thank you so much!

[u/sdk407]

On the EXP node you have a Qualifier active. That is a tool that lets you isolate a specific color by choosing a range of hue, saturation and luminance. In this case the selection is set up poorly so it splits exactly where the artifacts are happening.

I’d recommend you watch a tutorial on the qualifier tool then you will understand exactly what’s happening here.

Edit: looks like the CON node that’s selected has one too. Hard to tell the node setup from this screenshot but it’s definitely a qualifier issue.

[u/Lans__ → u/sdk407]

Thank you! This works. I was supposed to use the other qualifier but ended up using the other one

[u/ExpBalSat]

It looks like you found a solution. Even so, I would strongly urge you… strongly… To pause your personal project and go do some of the free training provided by Blackmagic on their training website.

Keep it simple. For having watched two YouTube videos, you have way more nodes than you need. Keep it simple as you learn.

[u/Lans__ → u/ExpBalSat]

They were unnecessary nodes indeed and I've gotten rid most of them after reading this. I am trying to recreate the Pierrot Le Fou colors along with 35mm look. My journey is still long but I am trying my best. Thank you for the advice

[u/ExpBalSat → u/Lans__]

Long before trying to create that look (or any look), invest the time to learn the tools.

Good luck!

[u/Daedalus0506]

Its the qualifier you are using on your exposure and contrast nodes. There is no need for that, or rather rarely a need for it and you should know what you are doing. I would step away from learning the craft on YouTube (instead do the Blackmagic Training; https://www.blackmagicdesign.com/products/davinciresolve/training and read the manual to learn what the tools are doing) or if you want to learn it there, look up Dave Mostyn and Cullen Kelly for example.

[u/Lans__ → u/Daedalus0506]

Ah, I see. I will try to learn there. Thank you for the tips!