Izzy Video 019 – Capturing Better Color
In this video tutorial, I overview several items which can help you achieve better color in your mini DV footage.
If your color is still bad, there are many color correction tools that most editing software comes with. It’s best to get good original footage, but if something goes wrong, there’s always a color correction tool for you. Final Cut Pro comes with a couple different color correction options. These are the ones I use.
This video tutorial is for members only.
February 12th, 2006 at 10:26 pm
Hi Izzy,
I just featured you on the current episode of Vlog Soup.
–Steve
February 12th, 2006 at 10:34 pm
Hi Izzy,
After watching the White Balance video, I tried it out with my Sony HandyCam. It worked great! Thanks for the tips each week!
Check out my site if you ever get a chance!
-NA
February 13th, 2006 at 6:49 am
Great examples. I actually picked up on the white balance issue from a previous episode and put the info to use this weekend. My camera has a limited number of preset white balance options but I can definitely choose the setting that more accurately fits the current lighting. Thanks again.
February 13th, 2006 at 1:27 pm
Hey Izzy,
You got great stuff coming out! Keep up the good work! I loved the episode on opacity, I think I’m going to make some “ghost” movies using that technique! I think you should do a special… no! Bonus, episode that will tell people what kind of equipment you use (computer, camera…) if they take another survey or something. I know I am totally interested in what you use. Keep on keepin’ on!
February 14th, 2006 at 8:04 am
Hey Izzy, I never new anything about “white balance”… now I gotta wait until I get home to see if my Sony TRV140 has a setting for that, it really makes a huge difference!
And the 3CCD thing… you keep this up and I won’t be allowed to watch your episodes anymore. Every episode makes me want to get a new camcorder!
February 14th, 2006 at 8:08 pm
I received this email today from Greg Hale:
It’s a great question! It’s funny because I’ve received this question a few times, and I’ve answered them all individually. I’m thinking that by answering it here, hopefully everyone else will have a chance to see it.
So here is my process for exporting video for the iPod:
And that’s it. Pretty easy, huh? Try it yourself. I believe you’ll like the results.
I definitely should thank Izzy Video Audience Member, Andrew Tokuda (his website), who turned me on to iSquint. It has really improved the video quality. Before using iSquint, I just used the “Export for iPod” setting in Final Cut Pro (also available in Quicktime Pro), and the Aspect Ratio wasn’t exactly right. Thanks to Andrew, I’ve now fixed this problem by avoiding that export setting altogether.
February 14th, 2006 at 11:42 pm
Izzy,
Thanks for the iSquint information. I’ll use it for the next video I place on my site
-NA
February 16th, 2006 at 1:00 am
Your video podcasts totally rock. The tutorial on lighting, where you showed what you could do with just a single light, was really brilliant (so to speak). Thanks!
February 16th, 2006 at 2:06 pm
Hey Izzy,
Thank you for all the hard work you’re doing. I’m just about to get started to video (as soon as I get a camera) and I know your lessons will help.
I agree with Mike P. You should do an episode on editing hardware and software. I know I’d really appreciate it.
February 17th, 2006 at 7:10 pm
Hey everyone!
I received this message from Paul today:
Yes, I use the Canon GL2. What a great camera it is too!
I do all the video editing on Mac OSX. I switched to Mac about four years ago, and for me, it’s been a great decision. I’m a huge Apple fan, so you won’t be surprised to hear that I’m editing on Final Cut Pro. The only other packagages I’ve used are iMovie and Final Cut Express. I’ve never tried editing on any Windows-Based machines, although I’m guessing it’s probably close to identical.
Video editing is a lot of fun, so I’m excited to see how many people are getting into it.
Paul, it’s truly an expensive hobby, once you factor in all the hardware and gadgets involved, but if you’re patient and you make intelligent purchases (eBay), you can save a lot of money.
I should also mention that, while I focus a lot on quality in my videos, the truth is that if your CONTENT is good, the video quality doesn’t have to be perfect. It’s all about the CONTENT!
Thanks for the question. I hope the answer helped.
March 8th, 2006 at 1:46 pm
Great tutorials and video quality. Kids are cute too
March 16th, 2006 at 11:07 am
[...] Getting color with a DV is very big problem? Think positive! Izzy Hyman is happy to show you the right way. [...]
May 16th, 2007 at 4:09 am
Best video podcast on iTunes today. I was shooting my first corporate btv style training video and have no experience. Izzy, your tutorials were spot on to ensure I skipped a few of the beginner errors. I especially appreciated the clips on lighting, it made a huge difference in my finished product. Thanks again – Mike N
May 21st, 2007 at 12:17 pm
I just wanted to post a video that I shot with the GL2 using incorrect white balancing in the camera. I balanced it to an orange card, then used a cheapie 100W light. THe only thing I did in post was add a widescreen matte, a bit more black, and framerate conversion. It is amazing what you can do with the white balance.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gQ-ZWgBvtV4
August 14th, 2007 at 12:09 am
Hey Izzy,
first off, you do a really great job explaining yourself in a simple manner with knowledge that works….My question is… what do you think about using warm cards to white balance?
I haven’t used them but heard about it. Do you recommend using something other then a piece of paper or is that sufficient? Thanks!!
August 14th, 2007 at 4:34 am
Joe,
I’ve heard many great things about using warm cards, so I think it’s a good idea to use them, although I personally haven’t.
I guess my biggest recommendation is that you should record the footage of the card, so later you could always do fine-tuning in post-production if you maybe you determine the image is too warm or cold.
As a general rule, the best thing is to record straight footage and do any adjustments in post-production.