5 pro colorist tips for navigating every grade like you know what you're doing

Improve your grade by keeping these 5 tips from a pro colorist by your side.

Let me know which tip is your favorite in the comments below!

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[andysdrums]

I am in love with Cullen's approach. The amount of knowledge you can get on his channel is absolutely stunning. Always easy to follow. Crystal clear delivery. I consider myself lucky to have found this channel in the noise of YouTube. Keep it up! Big fan over here!

[nathansextoncolour]

All great tips! Tip 5 is gold and something I am trying to get better at. We as colorist have a tendency to fixate on the little nuances and it is easy to become stuck. Pinning it, taking a break is a great strategy. I find taking a break - grabbing a coffee and approaching problem clips with a fresh set of eyes and mind set is the key. Great video mate

[ricksiegel]

Thank you Cullen. A brilliant guide on many levels.

[Fedor_Dokuchaev_Color]

I'll add one note about tip #2 - to evaluate a look, you sometimes need to balance your shot beforehand. It might seem that the look does not do anything great to this particular shot but a few adjustments will make it shine.

That is why some colorists prefer to balance first and apply look later.

[DustinHarrelson]

Everything you post is so valuable and applicable, super excited to go through your videos and learn more about pro color grading! Thanks for sharing this knowledge!

[The_Daliban]

Your Videos are so valuable.
Simple linear explanation with focus on nailing the basics.
I really appreciate you doing this.
Thanks and please keep it up🙏🏻

[ashishjatiani]

Thanks a lot for the golden nuggets! Really appreciate your help!!!!

[drewh]

Always have solid tips, any new colorist should be watching these vids.

[dandiaz_]

#5 is gold! Tyring to burn that into my brain.

[ramiaiki]

this is the best tips, good job Cullen

[martinadamcz]

Excellent video, and tthank you for inspiration

[patrickvanoorschot]

Thank you for the tips, as always, great info.

[maurice_morales]

GREAT Episode! Thank you. Where can I get the Fuji Look?

[kirankiranmishra]

this was beautiful sir. thank you so much for such videos. after watching this type of sessions I was wondering if you can make another video about color theory, I know its quite basic thing I am asking for, but I hardly found any video which is that accurate when it comes to explaining things, I see as a colorist knowing what should be your palette it totally comes from your knowledge of color theory, for example knowing and understanding the idea of complementary is important to choose which lut to use to get the look like joker, so it goes same with other color schemes, would be grade if you can bring us the video which is all about color theory & color schemes. would love to see how you explain this part of color grading. thank you 🙂

[ekeneuneke]

Great tutorial! I would like to ask, when do you start with your secondary grading? When should you start using your secondary tools?

[martinphox]

I've always wanted to ask this, because you keep talking about macro beats "micro". (actually, it is two questions)

1. How do I organise my clips and where do I add my look if I also have text inserts or other brand assets like a logo that need to stay clean? Otherwise I'll end up changing the RGB values of my clients brand colours.

2. Along a similar line: If there are branded props in the image (say a starbuck cup or or brand banner) – how do you go about both respecting the image and look AND the brand colours?

[blanche]

At 2:46, in the node 4 hsv film saturation you are using the offset wheel and you say "gain things up down there". Did you intend to use the gamma wheel insead? Thanks for your help BTW!

[appu]

Can you please make a video of " How to grade clip using client's reference image "

[brandonklemets]

"like" you know what you're doing
thank you for assuming
I have no idea what I am doing, but for the client I need to seem "like" i do.

[jhonastete]

How do you work if you have different footage form different cameras in the timeline level?