Understanding Contrast Ratio

Contrast can be talked about in many ways, but contrast ratio comes from a photographic understanding of contrast, meaning it's how the people who are shooting the footage are thinking about contrast as they're creating a shot on set. This video will cover what contrast ratio is, and how you can use it to guide your color grading.

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the contrast perfectly harmonizes with the overall picture and a soft image is obtained with accentuated shadows. This is an insanely important technique in color correction. Thanks Kelly

[churchofkai]

I come to learn but am often just so appreciative of the beauty in the results you share

[Kenflyer]

Would like to see your color space/gamut transformation from the brand new GoPro Wide Gamut (GWG) to DWD with a raised log base like 250.

[perfectposes]

I'm confused between two monitors, one has 1000:1 Contrast Ratio but P3 98.5% and it's mini LED providing HDR1000 Nits (PA32UCRK) the other one is from MSI OLED.
PLEASE HELP ME TO CHOOSE.

[VAZZlD]

How do you manage PNGs JPEGs and Overlays in a DWG Workflow so that the Images dont get wrong transformation and look different?

[adrianoclinquart]

Beautifully explained! Professional, straight to the point and important to mention an approach that respects the job done in the set. Great Cullen!

[JanKlier]

I think it's good to reference this back to photography. I would take that step further though, as photographers refer to specific ratios as in the number of stops difference between key and fill. As in 2:1, 3:1, 4:1, 8:1, and associating specific styles these numbers. That makes it less subjective (moderate contrast means different things to different people). Although colorists don't usually have light meters around or know what the light was set, I think adopting that thinking and language can help in communicating with DPs.

[kirankiranmishra]

never thought other way around, thank you for this, moving contrast right introduce sat, so if we need same contrast/expo with sat do it other way around. which will give me same look but no sat. this is what I understood. please correct me if I am wrong. and thank you for this great video

[vmixer]

Should we discuss shot *length* as a function of contrast? I feel like you can 'get away' with much higher contrast for a quick reaction shot vs. a longer shot, or sequence. High contrast, over time, I feel like becomes fatiguing for the viewer (like too much salt over the course of a meal). Conversely, if you're wolfing down a couple of hot dogs between classes, meetings, appointments, etc., then you kind of want it 'all at once'. Would love to hear any thoughts.

[hamark_videography]

Can anyone please explain how Cullen uses color space Lab to preserve the colors and only affect the contrast ratio in a node. I know that Cullen has brought it up in some videos but I cant find which ones. /Sebastian

[yearight]

Hi I work in Unreal Engine. I wanted to make a short film inside of Unreal in which I create the look of Split Second starring Rutger Hauer in 1992. It's an old Cyberpunk film, and thus far the only advice I've been getting is to just put a VHS filter on it. But that's not what the movie looks like, that's what it looks like on a broken VHS tape. Any chance you could point me in the right direction? I want to create a look that is indistinguishable from those old movies.

[joeymorelli]

Love this lesson and how it is explained Cullen. Also really identify with your "less complex" philosophy in overall grading. This lesson will change the way I set up grades. Thank you for all you do. Always looking forward to the next one :) 🤘😃🤘

[theycallmecotton]

How do you add a look to timeline level without it affecting text?

[hanspeterwagner]

Just great as always, thanks so much! There is an interesting question from RedCat and i wonder what you'll respond, Cullen.

[seanlefloch]

Using the offset to set the key side is such a simple tool but a great direction to start.

Question: when I start to add contrast using contrast/pivot, the skin starts to look over saturated with orange. I like the tone, but not the color. Any ways to combat this?

Thank you for all the amazing content!

[Dennis]

How do you measure contrast ratio in resolve in stops? Do you need a false color lut?

[joachim_jacobsen]

Hi Cullen, this question is pretty much completely unrelated to the video, but I'm struggling with color managing the footage from my Canon EOS R7. I've set up my CM to Canon Cinema Gamut / Clog-3 -> Rec709. However, the way my controls work doesn't seem to be the same as yours. I've tried using Davinci Wide Gamut Intermediate aswell, but that seems to make the image way to contrasty.
Any input on what I might be doing wrong?

[fayzan]

Hey Cullen😄
Can you please shed some light on how to set up a "Custom Color Processing Mode" when working in "DaVinci YRGB Color Managed" Going a little in depth on topics like "Timeline Working Luminance" "Limiting Output Gamut" & "Input/Output DRT"

[imcoltonsmith_visionsprod]

Thank you for all of your awesome insights, such a huge help in learning how to more accurately and properly edit/color footage 🙌🏻🫶🏻 Keep it up

[BikerMiker]

Thanks Cullen! As a long time still photographer, your adjustments make perfect sense and are familiar. But how do these adjustments manifest on the entire clip? That's part of movie editing that I find difficult. These aren't static images but the adjustment is....?