By Matthew Jeppsen , May 30, 2007
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Color correction is a crucial part of the postproduction process. Whether stylizing clips to create a certain mood, or simply correcting mistakes made in camera, it is an essential part of productions both large and small. It is also one of the most challenging disciplines to master.
Final Cut Pro users wishing to hone their color skills need look no further than the Apple Pro Training Series title Encyclopedia of Color Correction, by writer, director, colorist and effects artist Alexis Van Hurkman. Subtitled “Field Techniques Using Final Cut Pro,” this excellent 552-page resource offers detailed FCP-specific instruction on a host of common color-related issues and procedures.
From the basics of reading and monitoring video scopes, to advanced step-by-step tutorials on how to achieve specific looks, there is something for everyone here. The included companion DVD contains example project files and media referenced in the text.
A founder of the Pro Applications User Publications group at Apple, Van Hurkman was responsibl for documenting the company's professional film and video applications, serving as the lead writer for the Final Cut Pro user’s manual on versions 2, 3, and 4. He teaches in a concise and easy-to-follow manner, and has organized his Encyclopedia to
make finding specific answers and techniques quick and uncomplicated. However, the text lends itself more toward a desk reference and less as a linear instructional manual—so it might prove a bit daunting at first for inexperienced editors.
The encyclopedia's specific examples and exercises can be applied to real-world issues immediately. For instance, Van Hurkman provides tutorials on such subjects as reducing skin-tone shine, simulating computer monitor glow on talent faces and creating a look that matches morning sunlight.
Van Hurkman devotes entire sections to waveform and scopes monitoring, techniques for matching or dealing with grain and noise, and tips to ensure that your video is within broadcast legal limits. Another area that Van Hurkman addresses in detail is media management and exchanging data with other applications.
The text is written and illustrated with instructions that are specific to Final Cut Pro, and basic FCP filters are used for most of the examples. Happily, however, Van Hurkman teaches broadly enough that these procedures easily transfer to other applications. If your system has a three-way color-correction filter, you can learn something from this book.
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