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Smoke Essentials
- 1. Introduction
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| Color Correction Effect |
Published by: Autodesk Creative Finishing Training
Category: Color Correction
Skill: Beginner
Skill: Beginner
In this section, learn how to apply a basic soft effect to a clip using the Color Warper and how to copy effects to other clips. Tools used in this exercise: Soft FX, Color Warper.
| Tutorial Steps | ||
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1. Color correct a shot on the timeline 2. Mute and Copy timeline FX | ||
1. Color correct a shot on the timeline |
In this video:
Add a Color Corrector timeline FX
Color Correct the shot using the Color Warper
Video: Color correct a shot on the timeline (2:18)
(click on image to open video player)
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Lesson in written form |
We will color correct a shot in the timeline using a Color Corrector soft effect.
Add a Color Corrector FX to a shot:
1. This time, choose the Standard player from the Source Area Layout.
2. Select the “03_Sandals_Left” shot on the timeline.
3. The Soft FX menu is available on the left side of the timeline.
4. Click the CC button to activate a colour corrector effect for the selected shot.
The LED on the soft effect button turns blue.
5. Click the yellow (A) button to disable Autokey so that the effect is not animated.
6. Click the (E) button to access the colour corrector menu (E stands for editor).
7. From this interface you can access the CW, which is the Smoke advanced colour corrector: click the CC button to switch to the Color Warper menu.
Enhance the image using the Colour Warper:
1. Drag the Black slider towards left, and make sure that you get nice deep blacks without losing too much details.
Note that when dragging parameters using the Overlay UI, all other parameters disappear so most of the image is visible.
2. Drag the White slider to the right, to boost the highlights and increase the contrast.
3. Drag the Saturation slider slightly towards right to make the colors more vibrant.
4. Toggle the default Warp menu (middle of UI) to Gamma.
5. Tweak the gamma curve to bring it up slightly.
6. The gamma changes the luminance of the mid tones without affecting the black point or the white point.
Note that RGB Gamma has also independent Red, Green and Blue controls.
7. You can experiment with your own settings if you want, and once you are happy with the result,
press the Exit button to return to the timeline.
Note that you don’t need to process now because this is a soft effect; you can process it at a later time.
| Tip |
To reset a parameter to default value; hold "CTRL" and click on the field.
2. Mute and Copy timeline FX |
In this video:
Mute timeline FX
Copy timeline FX to other shots
Reset FX
Process and save the timeline
Video: Copy the FX / Process the timeline (2:26)
(click on image to open video player)
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Lesson in written form |
1. Click on the blue LED of the CC button to activate and deactivate the effect on the shot.
To copy FX to other shots:
The next shot also needs similar color correction; copy the color correction settings you just created.
1. You can drag and drop any soft FX to other shots:
2. First expand the track to see the clip’s information and the soft FX icon.
3. To expand the timeline vertically, drag the track identifier (V1,L1) down.
Notice the CC icon on the shot.
4. Hold CTRL and drag and drop the CC icon to the next shot.
5. Scroll to the next shot “04_Sandals_right”; the effect has been copied.
6. If needed, you can access the CC Editor and modify the color correction for this second clip.
To reset or delete a soft FX:
1. You can hold ALT and click the CC Soft FX button.
2. Click Undo to undo that action.
3. You can drag and drop the icon to the recycle bin while holding CTRL.
4. Again, undo that last action.
Process the Timeline:
You may need to process the soft effects in order to play them back in real time. You can process the full timeline or process selected clips.
1. CTRL-Click both shots to select them.
2. Hit Process.
3. Playback the result.
4. Select the Src/Rec player in the Source Area Layout to see the EditDesk folders.
Save your timeline to the Library:
1. Select the record folder in the EditDesk folders.
2. Make sure that the “Smoke_Footage” library is selected in the Library box.
3. Press Save Selected.
4. Choose Replace to overwrite the previous saved timeline.
5. The Record Area is saved in the currently active Library.
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| Tip |
Alternatively, you can use a shortcut to select a soft FX and copy it. Notice that the soft effects are numbered on the Soft FX tab. The Colour Correction hotkey number is "4". To copy the CC effect using these hotkeys, make sure the source shot is selected first. Press and hold "CTRL+4"; this selects the CC FX. You can see that a yellow highlight appears on the Soft Effect of the source shot. With the "CTRL" key still down, drag from the source shot to the destination shot.
