Welcome to the Shootlab Video Production Agency blog! Today, we're excited to share our insights on the Film Look Creator in DaVinci Resolve 19, a tool we've been using extensively in our recent projects. As a team of passionate filmmakers, Editors and colourists, we're always on the lookout for tools that can elevate our work, and the Film Look Creator has proven to be a valuable addition to our workflow. Unlike plugins such as Dehancer, which focus on emulating specific film stocks, the Film Look Creator offers a flexible base that allows us to craft unique cinematic looks with ease. In this guide, we'll take you through the technical aspects of using the Film Look Creator, compare it briefly with Dehancer, and highlight its strengths and weaknesses based on our hands-on experience.
Getting Started with DaVinci Resolve
First, if you haven’t already, download and install DaVinci Resolve 19. Whether you're using the free version or DaVinci Resolve Studio, the Film Look Creator is available for both, though the Studio version offers even more advanced features for fine-tuning your videos.
1. Setting Up Your Film Project
Open DaVinci Resolve and load your project.
Set Up Colour Management:
Go to Project Settings > Colour Management.
Set Color Science to DaVinci YRGB.
Set Timeline Colour Space to DaVinci Wide Gamut Intermediate.
Set Output Colour Space to Rec.709 Gamma 2.4 (or adjust based on your monitor calibration).
2. Import and Prepare Your Footage
Import Your Footage (e.g., shot on Canon Log C3).
Apply CST (Colour Space Transform) Nodes:
Add a node for CST to convert Canon C-log 3 to DaVinci Wide Gamut Intermediate.
Perform all grading within DaVinci Wide Gamut Intermediate.
Add another CST node to convert from DaVinci Wide Gamut to your display colour space (Rec.709 Gamma 2.4).
Look Development
3. Basic Balance and Exposure
Start by creating a new node for your initial adjustments. Using HDR Tools, you can fine-tune the exposure of your footage to ensure that it looks natural and balanced. Next, adjust the Printer Lights to neutralise any colour casts and create a balanced starting point. This sets the foundation for applying the Film Look.
4. Introducing the Film Look Creator
To access the Film Look Creator, navigate to the colour grading panel. If you're using DaVinci Resolve Studio, you'll have additional options such as film grain and HDR adjustments that can further enhance your film's aesthetic. However, even in the free version of DaVinci Resolve 19, the tools are robust enough to create stunning, cinematic visuals.
5. Apply Film Look Presets
Now it’s time to explore the Film Look presets. DaVinci Resolve 19 comes equipped with built-in presets that replicate the look and feel of various classic film stocks. These presets are perfect for achieving a cinematic tone in just a few clicks. Here’s how to do it:
Drag and Drop the Film Look Creator from the Effects Palette onto your node tree.
Explore Presets: Check out film presets like 65mm, 35mm, and Cinematic Look. These are ideal for quickly transforming your footage into cinematic-quality content.
Switch to Custom: If you want more control, you can switch to Custom and explore additional presets such as Rochester, Akasaka, Elated, and Vintage, which are inspired by iconic film stocks.
Rochester: Likely a nod to Kodak, it provides rich colours and deep contrast for a bold look.
Akasaka: Inspired by Fujifilm, this preset offers a slightly different colour palette with a softer tonal range.
Elated: This preset delivers vibrant tones, perfect for adding warmth and depth to your footage.
Vintage: Emulates the look of older film stocks, providing a nostalgic, aged feel.
These presets allow you to easily replicate the aesthetics of classic cinema or create a unique, custom look that reflects your artistic vision.
6. Customising Your Film Look
Now that you’ve explored the presets, it’s time to make the look your own by customising various aspects of the film look. This will ensure your footage has a unique and professional aesthetic.
Reset to Clean Slate
To start with a neutral base, select Clean Slate. This allows you to build your look from scratch, giving you full control over the filmic adjustments.
Adjust Film Look Blend
Use the Film Look Blend slider to control the intensity of the filmic effect. This slider lets you fine-tune how much of the cinematic look is applied to your footage, ensuring it’s neither too subtle nor too overpowering.
Colour Settings
Make precise adjustments to key colour settings, including:
Exposure, Contrast, Highlights Fade, and White Balance: These foundational adjustments help you achieve the right tonal balance and exposure levels for your video.
Subtractive Saturation: Increase saturation without affecting luminance to create a richer, more vibrant look without blowing out your highlights.
Split Toning
Enable Split Toning to add depth to your video by adjusting the hue of the highlights and shadows.
Warm Highlights and Cool Shadows: Dial in just the right amount to give your footage a warm, cinematic feel in the highlights, and cooler, more subdued tones in the shadows.
Hue and Pivot: Fine-tune the balance between the highlights and shadows to get the perfect color balance.
Effects
To further enhance the cinematic feel, you can add specialized effects:
Add Halation: Enable halation to create subtle glowing edges around bright highlights, mimicking the look of traditional film stock.
Fine-tune the halation settings to ensure the effect remains balanced and doesn’t overpower the image.
Enable Bloom: Adjust the radius and intensity of the bloom effect to add a soft, glowing halo around bright areas in your footage, perfect for dreamy or high-contrast scenes.
Grain
Add Film Grain: Apply subtle film grain to add texture and authenticity to your footage. Keep the grain subtle to enhance the filmic look without distracting the viewer.
Tip: Too much grain can overwhelm the image, so use it sparingly to maintain a professional feel.
6. Refining and Testing
Once your film look is set, it’s time to refine and test it across different shots to ensure consistency.
Switch Between Versions
Use the version-switching feature to compare different iterations of your film look. Adjust settings as necessary to match or improve upon your original concept.
Test on Multiple Shots
Copy and paste the look across different shots in your timeline. This will give you a clear idea of how the look holds up in different lighting and scenes.
Fine-tune balance and exposure for each shot to maintain consistency while adapting to different footage needs.
Finalising Your Look
Adjust Global Blend
Once you’ve applied the look across your shots, use the Global Blend slider to control the overall intensity of the filmic effect. This will help balance the final result, ensuring the film look complements the footage rather than overpowering it.
Review and Refine
Finally, switch between the enabled and disabled states of your film look to compare the original footage with the new, cinematic version. Make any final adjustments to exposure, contrast, or colour to achieve the perfect filmic look.
Q&A Section
Q: What is the main difference between Film Look Creator and other film emulation plugins like Dehancer? A: The Film Look Creator offers a more flexible base for creating unique cinematic looks, whereas plugins like Dehancer focus on emulating specific film stocks. This allows for greater customisation and creativity with the Film Look Creator.
Q: Can I achieve a precise replication of traditional film aesthetics with the Film Look Creator? A: While the Film Look Creator provides presets inspired by classic film stocks, it doesn't aim for exact replication. If you require precise film stock emulation, you might want to use a specialised plugin like Dehancer.
Q: How do I ensure my footage has a consistent Film Look across different shots? A: Use the Copy and Paste function to apply your look across multiple shots. Then, fine-tune balance and exposure for each shot individually to maintain consistency.
Q: What are the benefits of using the Film Look Creator for documentary filmmaking? A: The Film Look Creator offers a range of presets and customisable settings that can enhance the storytelling aspect of documentaries. It allows you to create visually compelling footage that aligns with the narrative tone of your project.
Q: Is the Film Look Creator suitable for beginners? A: Yes, the Film Look Creator is user-friendly and provides an intuitive interface, making it accessible for both novice and seasoned colourists. Its presets offer a great starting point for beginners to explore and create cinematic looks.
Q: Can I use the Film Look Creator for commercial projects? A: Absolutely! The Film Look Creator is versatile and can be used for various types of projects, including commercial work. Its ability to craft unique looks can help make your commercial videos stand out.
Q: What are some common mistakes to avoid when using the Film Look Creator? A: Common mistakes include overusing effects like grain and halation, which can overpower the image, and not fine-tuning the look for each shot, leading to inconsistencies. It's important to use these tools subtly and adjust settings for each shot to maintain a cohesive look.
Q: How can I further enhance the filmic look of my footage? A: In addition to using the Film Look Creator, consider other techniques like proper lighting, using high-quality lenses, and shooting in log formats to maximise the dynamic range and detail in your footage.
We hope this Q&A section answers some of your questions. If you have more, feel free to leave a comment below, and we’ll be happy to help!
Conclusion
After integrating the Film Look Creator into several of our recent video production projects, we've found it to be a powerful and intuitive tool that enhances our ability to deliver high-quality cinematic content. Its diverse range of presets, inspired by classic film stocks like Kodak and Fujifilm, provides an excellent foundation for creating visually stunning footage. The customisable settings for colour and effects have allowed us to tailor each project to meet our specific creative vision.
The Film Look Creator in DaVinci Resolve Studio offers powerful tools to create unique cinematic looks. With presets like Rochester, Akasaka, Elated, and Vintage, you can achieve specific filmic styles inspired by classic film stocks. Experiment with different settings and find the perfect look for your project.
However, it's important to acknowledge that the Film Look Creator doesn't aim for precise film stock emulation, which might be a drawback for projects requiring exact replication of traditional film aesthetics. Despite this, its ease of use and flexibility make it an excellent choice for both novice and seasoned colourists. Overall, the Film Look Creator has become a staple in our post-production process, helping us achieve beautiful, filmic results efficiently. If you found this guide helpful, please consider following our blog for more tips and insights from Shootlab Video Production Agency. See you in the next post!
SHOOTLAB are a Video Production Agency based in the UK. Specialising in Video Production, Post Production including Colour Grading & Video Editing. Photography, Videography, Social media Content Creation. www.shootlab.co.uk
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Allow me to bring you this comment. Your article is partially incorrect. The Film look creator filter is not available for free on Davinci resolve. A watermark is applied to the image if you do not have the Studio version.