[TaoColorist] Sunday Morning Reading (The Quantum Dot Display Edition)

Published: Sun, 06/15/14

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The Tao Colorist

Curated links of news, reviews, thoughts, career advice, and humor 
for professional Video / Film Colorists & Finishers. Delivered Sunday.

    Issue CXCIX                                                                           A TaoOfColor.com Publication

Publisher: Pat Inhofer                                                            Managing Editor: Jim Wicks

From the Publisher

  • A quick shout-out to the flood of new sign-ups from Spain last week... I noticed.
  • ¡Hola!
  • Over on the public blog for this Newsletter's sister site, MixingLight.com, I'm starting to publish the most popular stories from the previous Sunday's Newsletter.
  • The current plan is to publish it every Wednesday.

Change of subject

  • Do you ever run across a blog post, video or article you think is perfect for this Newsletter? Be a Tao Colorist Cub Reporter:
  • The internet is a big place.
  • Help us make it smaller.

See you next week, in our 200th Edition! Happy Grading!

The Craft

  • [video] What is Color? - last year this newsletter mentioned that 'What is Color' was the subject of Alan Alda's 'Flame Challenge'... which searches for explanations of phenomena that an 11-year-old can understand. This video from Physics Girl is the 2014 winner. (youtube.com)
  • [video] Keepin' it consistent - Colorist Chris Hall has produced a new episode in his continuing web series, Anatomy of a Grade. This issue deals with color consistency. Click through to learn why Chris says it's important from start to finish. (vimeo.com)
  • Grading 'Modern Family' - colorist Aidan Stanford talks through the challenges and approach of grading an episodic comedy with short turn arounds. Good insights, this interview. (studiodaily.com via Marc Wielage)
  • [video] What is the 'film look'? - check out cinematographer Matt Scott as he breaks down how to create the elusive film look. And he does it using - wait for it - Edius 7 Pro. His early comments on how to achieve the film look are spot-on! (mattscottvisuals.com)

S P O N S O R E D   M E S S A G E

Tao of Color's Official LCD Reference Monitors

Flanders Scientific Broadcast Monitors

The CM series is an affordable line of color critical reference LCD & OLED monitors featuring 10bit panels, 12 bit, 4:4:4 and XYZ signal formats, 3D Calibration LUTs and 3D DIT LUTs ,  3G/ Dual-Link/ HD/ SD-SDI Inputs, 13 onboard scopes on all inputs and world class support.

All standard and starting at only $2,495.

Learn More About the FSI CM Series Monitors

The Tools

  • ImpulZ: Film emulation LUTs - the world's largest library of 3D LUTs that emulate still photography and motion picture film (both camera negative and film print). Support for most color grading/editing applications. 3 price flavors: $53 US - $135 US. (vision-color.com)
  • [plugin] Color Vibrance - need some intense bright color for your next project? Video CoPilot's Andrew Kramer created a new, plugin for After Effects CS5, CS6, & CC. Price: FREE. Click through to download and watch a video intro tutorial. (videocopilot.net)
  • Adobe: Everything New Is New Again - Adobe seems to have an online event that they want you to sign up for. It's on June 18 at 1 to 2:30 ET  (creativecloud.adobeevents.com)
  • Avid 8: New Licensing Options - Avid's new licensing options are confusing post pros. Over on PVC Scott Simmons tries to help clear the confusion. (provideocoalition.com)
  • Apple iCloud Drive: Store, Sync, Access - up to 200GB worth of data. For $4/Month. Suddenly Dropbox is starting to look a little pricey. Of course, Dropbox hasn't previously kicked all its users off its service. (nofilmschool.com)

The Business

  • ImpulZ: Film emulation LUTs - the world's largest library of 3D LUTs that emulate still photography and motion picture film (both camera negative and film print). Support for most color grading/editing applications. 3 price flavors: $53 US - $135 US. (vision-color.com)
  • [plugin] Color Vibrance - need some intense bright color for your next project? Video CoPilot's Andrew Kramer created a new, plugin for After Effects CS5, CS6, & CC. Price: FREE. Click through to download and watch a video intro tutorial. (videocopilot.net)
  • Adobe: Everything New Is New Again - Adobe seems to have an online event that they want you to sign up for. It's on June 18 at 1 to 2:30 ET  (creativecloud.adobeevents.com)
  • Avid 8: New Licensing Options - Avid's new licensing options are confusing post pros. Over on PVC Scott Simmons tries to help clear the confusion. (provideocoalition.com)
  • Apple iCloud Drive: Store, Sync, Access - up to 200GB worth of data. For $4/Month. Suddenly Dropbox is starting to look a little pricey. Of course, Dropbox hasn't previously kicked all its users off its service. (nofilmschool.com)

S P O N S O R E D    M E S S A G E

Tao of Color's Official Calibration Software

Every Display Is Unique,
Why Aren't Your Test Patches?

NEW! CalMAN Studio's Dynamic Linearity CorrectionTM technology creates optimized test patches based on your display's unique Profile and 3D colorspace characteristics. 

Achieve more accurate calibrations without additional time.

Click to download a White Paper
documenting CalMAN Studio's DLC Advantage

Friends & Family

MixingLight.com is a companion membership website to TaoOfColor.com. Want to read a story listed here but not a MixingLIght member? A free 24-hour test drive is available.

  • [video] Sky Replacement Challenge - Want to test your color grading / VFX meddle? Go nuts, have fun. This Insight is not behind the paywall and is open to all the internets. (mixinglight.com)
  • [video] How to use DaVinci Resolve's Color Trace: Part 2 - Building upon Part 1, I offer up a slightly more complicated Color Trace: copying your grades from a 90 minute timeline in one database to a 5 minute cut-down timeline in a separate database.  (mixinglight.com)
  • [audio] Legalize Video + R3D Trimming in DaVinci Resolve - Dan, Robbie and Patrick answer two more questions from Mixing Light members. (mixinglight.com)

Outside 'The Box'

  • [video] How to do Visual Comedy - an appreciation of director Edgar Wright and the art of visual comedy. Click through to learn more about humor through framing, camera movement, editing, goofy sound effects and music.  (vimeo.com)
  • 88 from A to Z - as Colorists we like to connect with Cinematographers. Dig deep in this lengthy post by 88 DPs who share the best professional advice they've ever received. Our favorite: 'Light the set, then turn off half the lights and shoot.' (theblackandblue.com)
  • [video] Making a better fight scene in 5 easy bullets  - Especially when working with untrained actors. (filmmakeriq.com)

Edumacate Yer'self

  • An Introduction To Digital Color Grading - a 2-day workshop led by Dado Valentic. June 26, 27. London. (lfs.org.uk)
  • Editor's Lounge: Boris FX, SmartSound and Axle Media Management -  June 27th in Burbank, CA (editorslounge.com)

Current Colorist Control Surface Drivers
JL Cooper Eclipse: Software v2.9.9 | Updated February 24, 2013

Tangent Design: HUB v1.1.6 | Wave Firmware v1.12 | Updated January'ish 2014

Avid Artist Color: Mac v3.1.2 | Win v3.1.2 | Updated March 3, 2014
Sunday Morning Fun(nies)

  • The perpetual Slinky treadmill - awesome. Want in? It's in Kickstarter mode. (creatables.co)
  • Extraordinary Images: Inside Nuclear Power Plants - cool. (sobadsogood.com)
  • 24 Historic Black and White Photos Colorized - Interesting. But I think I prefer most of the originals. (twistedsifter.com)

Gear Heads

  • Thunderbolt Cable Sale - Corning is having a sale through the end of July on Thunderbolt cables. The caveat is you have to purchase a Thunderbolt enabled device from a specified vendor (LaCie or Magma) and one of Corning's cables. But hey, you could save $150US on 10m, 30m or 60m cables. (corning.com)
  • Side by Side: HP DreamColor 2480zx + HP DreamColor z27x Monitors - Comparing the first generation DreamColors to the new monitor. (hurlbutvisuals.com)
  • Asus 4K Ultrabook - Computers with a 4K screen and powerful graphics don't have to be big and ugly. (redsharknews.com)

Are you tired of randomly applying color filters?

Is it time to turn color correction into skill set?


Remastering Mother Died:
A Color Correction Home Study


=> Download a short film (shot on RED, 5K, 5:1)

=> Grade Along with TaoOfColor founder Patrick Inhofer

=> Send Patrick your work, he'll evaluate it as your Senior Colorist


Click for full details

New Kids on the Block

  • Give Me a Ring Sometime - if you're looking for a gift for your significant other, check out Ringly. It's a new 'smart ring' designed for women that connects to your phone via Bluetooth, lighting up and buzzing to alert her of calls, messages, emails. (macrumors.com)
  • Fill 'er up - get more than a double espresso next time you visit a Starbucks. The coffee chain is going to start offering wireless smartphone chargers at 7,500 US stores. (macrumors.com)
  • EditReady: Powerful Transcoding For Video Professionals - free limited trial download. (divergentmedia.com)

    Getting Ahead

    • Don't give it away - that, in four words, is what Slaves of the Internet, Unite! is all about. Any creative asked to produce something for free (and that's most of us) should take a moment to click through, and consider whether to accept the challenge. (nytimes.com)
    • Workplace tips - surviving the school of hard knocks only means that you made some mistakes along the way. Those who have been through it pay it forward with 4 tips they wish they had know from the start. (linkedin.com)
    • Linkedin Headache Remedies - if you're not on Linkedin, you should be. And if you are, click through for 3 tips to make Linkedin do what you want it to do - build your brand. (careerealism.com)
    • 10 Lessons: From A Year Of Productivity Experiments - One of the best on this topic that I've read. (lifehacker.com)

      Tweet of the Week

      Sunset Spectrum by Matt Molloypic.twitter.com/7v8H4NCLxF

      Showcase

      • [video] Falls Like Rain - multi-award winning colorist, Paul Harrison does a yeoman's job of grading for emotion. Shot in Belgrade, Serbia, on the ground, and in the air.  (vimeo.com)

      The Next Step Is A Doozy

      • The Future of Brain Implants - Neuroprosthetics. Remember this word. Cause it'll help you to remember. One day. (online.wsj.com)

      A Step Too Far

      • LED lights: Ruining laundry detergent's white brightening trick - "Many laundry detergents contain fluorescent whitening agents which absorb ultraviolet light and re-emit it as a visible blue wavelength. This slightly bluish tinge helps overpower the yellowish hue of a well-worn undershirt, making that nasty old rag look radiant and white." So what's the problem with regards to LED lights? It's a cool read if you click through. (gizmodo.com)

      Th- Th- That's ALL Folks! See you next week. 

      Happy Grading!
        
      6,400+ Stories Now Shared

      The Book Shelf
      • Color Correction Handbook, Updated - Alexis Van Hurkman has updated his Color Correction Handbook, which has set the standard for learning all things color correction. (amazon.com)
      • Color Correction Look Book - This is the second part of the Color Correction Handbook, exploring the creative techniques for over 200 different visual looks. A sort-of recipe book for colorists. (amazon.com
      • The Art and Technique of Digital Color Correction - Read how a dozen different colorists grade the same footage with the same gear, differently. A fantastic approach to learning the craft of color grading by Steve Hullfish. (amazon.com)
      • Autodesk Smoke Essentials - Walk through grading a short sci-fi film (with downloadable ProRes4444 source material) while learning the ultimate online finishing app...  Autodesk Smoke. (amazon.com)
      • Color Grading with Avid and Symphony - Written for version 6. Fully applicable to version 7. I was a contributor. (amazon.com)
      • Adobe Speedgrade CC: Classroom in a Book - A solid book for a solid grading app. (amazon.com)
      • Digital Cinematography: Fundamentals, Tools, Techniques and Workflows - Don't let the title fool you. I'm only a third way through this book and its explanations of how digital images are recorded, sampled and viewed is essential knowledge for anyone who's craft intersects with digital images. Not light reading. But not filled with math either. I highly recommend this book. (amazon.com)
        Have a book you think should be in this list? Reply to this email and let me know!

        FCC Disclaimer: Links in this email to Amazon.com, B&H Photo, or ToolFarm.com are Affiliate links that help support the TaoOfColor.com. FSI and SpectraCal are paid sponsors and BlackMagic Design is a current client. We thank you for your support.

        Patrick Inhofer
        Published by:
        Patrick Inhofer: Photon-Wrangler, Fini.tv | TaoOfColor.com | MixingLight.com