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Film & TV · MS elective · 3 credit hours · 16 sessions

Cinematic Color Grading

This technical and artistic course trains students in the art of the Colorist. Using industry-standard software (DaVinci Resolve), students will learn to manipulate color to serve the narrative—creating mood, guiding the eye, and establishing time and place. The curriculum moves from technical color correction (balancing shots) to creative color grading (creating “looks” like Teal & Orange or Bleach Bypass).

§ 01 By the end you can
  1. Master the interface and node-based workflow of DaVinci Resolve
  2. Understand Color Theory and the psychology of color in cinema
  3. Read and interpret video scopes (Waveform, Vectorscope, Parade, Histogram)
  4. Execute "Shot Matching" to ensure consistency across a scene
  5. Create stylistic "Looks" and manage Color Management workflows (ACES/RCM)
§ 02 Sixteen sessions

The whole semester.

  1. 01The Role of the Colorist & The Suite Environment
  2. 02Color Theory: Complementary, Analogous, Triadic
  3. 03Understanding Video Scopes & Signal
  4. 04Primary Correction: Lift, Gamma, Gain
  5. 05Contrast & Pivot: Shaping the Image
  6. 06Color Management: REC.709 vs. LOG vs. RAW
  7. 07Curves: Customizing Contrast
  8. 08 · MidtermMidterm Examination
  9. 09Secondary Correction: Qualifiers (HSL)
  10. 10Power Windows & Tracking
  11. 11Shot Matching: The primary skill
  12. 12Creating "Looks": Teal & Orange / Bleach Bypass
  13. 13Skin Tone Management
  14. 14LUTs: Technical vs. Creative application
  15. 15Deliverables: SDR vs. HDR workflows
  16. 16Final Project: Grading a Short Scene

Midterm around session 8. Final project briefed at session 8 or 9 and developed in stages until the juries.

§ 03 Final project

Final Project: Grading a Short Scene

How it’s judged

Recommended reading
  1. Color Correction Handbook: Professional Techniques for Video and Cinema by Alexis Van Hurkman
  2. The Art and Technique of Digital Color Correction by Steve Hullfish
  3. If It's Purple, Someone's Gonna Die: The Power of Color in Visual Storytelling by Patti Bellantoni
  4. Color Grading 101 by Charles Haine
  5. DaVinci Resolve: The Definitive Guide (Blackmagic Design Official Training)
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