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4k77 - shot by shot color grading (a WIP) — Page 6

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Woof.

People say they want freedom of choice, but they really want freedom from choice. Too many options make it harder to decide–but I like each in their own way 😦 It’s like picking one child over the others, It’s just not right.

If only you could wrap it up into one single video file that has a dropdown for “Look” which applies different LUTs on top–that would be revolutionary!
https://i.imgur.com/Ixffj0v.png

It doesn’t hurt to offer help, but it always hurts to disregard those that do.

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Once again, Dre, you’ve out-done yourself! I REALLY like the new base color; I assume this is the new “balanced version?” When I examined it, it made me feel as though Star Wars was filmed just yesterday with the most cutting edge cameras and technology; it’s as if I am looking at the movie in real-life with my naked eyes. I think that’s why I favor the base color above all others.

For the in-theater experience, I have to say the 70s lightbulb effect is the pinnacle. That slight warmth it adds is very effective, and it really does a great job at subtly conveying the 70s vibe.

With the green Technicolor effect added in, I just can’t seem to connect with it. Perhaps my photographer’s eye is getting in the way and telling me that the green cast just doesn’t look right. I’m curious: how did the green cast and “Technicolor” become associated together? Why isn’t “Technicolor” associated with the 70s lightbulb effect, for example? If anyone can explain this history/background, I would be grateful.

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It’s because the Technicolor print that 4K77 was scanned from has a green cast, as do all the other Technicolor prints of Star Wars. Eastman prints don’t have it, but are significantly more prone to fading over time than the Technicolor prints are.

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Didn’t some Techs have more yellow and blue, rather than green? The alternate Tech has pretty much no green cast. Almost every part of the image that’s green cast in the main tech is either straight up blue or is more yellow than green.

Army of Darkness: The Medieval Deadit | The Terminator - Color Regrade | The Wrong Trousers - Audio Preservation
SONIC RACES THROUGH THE GREEN FIELDS.
THE SUN RACES THROUGH A BLUE SKY FILLED WITH WHITE CLOUDS.
THE WAYS OF HIS HEART ARE MUCH LIKE THE SUN. SONIC RUNS AND RESTS; THE SUN RISES AND SETS.
DON’T GIVE UP ON THE SUN. DON’T MAKE THE SUN LAUGH AT YOU.

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Dek Rollins said:

Didn’t some Techs have more yellow and blue, rather than green? The alternate Tech has pretty much no green cast. Almost every part of the image that’s green cast in the main tech is either straight up blue or is more yellow than green.

Neither tech is completely representative of how the film looks projected. The technicolor frames I have all show a noticeable green cast consistent with the Senator print photos.

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But are the Senator print photos color balanced at all? If you take a photo of a projection, it’s not going to look at all like what you actually see.

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Handman said:

But are the Senator print photos color balanced at all? If you take a photo of a projection, it’s not going to look at all like what you actually see.

Dr Dré has multiple sources: his own personal ib frames, the senator photos, photos of a projection of an ib print with a color balanced camera and a 70s era video bootleg. They all point to the same similarities. The devil, though, is in the details.

What’s the internal temperature of a TaunTaun? Luke warm.

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Here’s a little experiment, where a single LUT is applied to the shot by shot color grading to approximate the colors of the GOUT. The final result is surprisingly similar to the GOUT.

4k77 color grading (projected print with 70s bulb):

GOUT approximation:

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There’s a nice video of the first few minutes of a projected Derann print on youtube:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1fohpOUyZjQ

Here are a few screencaps:

Colors are really close to the base color grading I’m working on:

The colors for the corridor scene with Leia/R2-D2, as well as other dark scenes seem to have been adjusted for this release in terms of hue and brightness. The Derann preservation by TN1/poita/Althor seems to show these dark scenes have been brightened quite considerably compared to the theatrical prints, probably due to the fact that Super8 does not have the same dynamic range as 35mm.

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DrDre said:

There’s a nice video of the first few minutes of a projected Derann print on youtube:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1fohpOUyZjQ

The colors for the corridor scene with Leia/R2-D2, as well as other dark scenes seem to have been adjusted for this release in terms of hue and brightness. The Derann preservation by TN1/poita/Althor seems to show these dark scenes have been brightened quite considerably compared to the theatrical prints, probably due to the fact that Super8 does not have the same dynamic range as 35mm.

I think It looks quite Cyan the Dark corridor scenes, and I noticed that pushing it that way was yielding good results for the 3po shots but did not consider the Leia R2-D2 needless to say this is how I remember it from the UK and this would seem to be a UK release the Deraan.

Talking about wrapping different looks in one video file that is why I proposed porting video in to an game engine and applying LUTs in real time and shaders.

Anyway that to me in that print is how it was in UK, shame the person does not have proper screen material the light switch was putting me off… I was expecting a hand to creep in and switch the lights on so the projection would be ruined 😃

That to me is correct but to others it won’t be depending on where you are from. Seems also a bit red bleed in it which is normal for prints. Magnolia walls don’t help none…

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Dre,

Your “base grade” from June 14th was so legit (as was your “base with 70s light”). Those are my faves. Your newest iteration of the 70s light is noticeably more green by comparison and I would say is thus not as “true” as your June 14th 70s grade. Actually, your new 70s grade is closer to your June 14th green grade, but this new grade is now even greener/yellowish than the June 14th green grade. I’m just not a fan of any green—it seems to come across as “sickly” to my eye.

Your GOUT grades I’m definitely not a fan of. They look underexposed, washed-out, and grayish in comparison to your previous excellent work.

Your new “base grade” is noticeably more green than your June 14th base grade. I would say the new base grade is closer to your green grade of June 14th but that one had more of the 70s light than this one does.

When all is said and done, I say: “Long live the base grade of June 14th.” It can’t get any better than that because it simply is the most honest coloration balance you can get—it is that good. The colors are just SO balanced and even. It really does please the eye. The June 14th 70s light is simply a warmer version of the base which is great, too. If we can go back to those two versions, that would make my day. If you HAVE to have a green grade, as well, I would say go with your new “base grade” with the green cast.

P.S. I like the new removal of the green cast from the underside of the star destroyer when it reels in Tantive IV.

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I have to wonder who out there is actually using calibrated monitors to judge these grades. I don’t so i wont be offering an opinion.

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Nate D said:

Dre,

Your “base grade” from June 14th was so legit (as was your “base with 70s light”). Those are my faves. Your newest iteration of the 70s light is noticeably more green by comparison and I would say is thus not as “true” as your June 14th 70s grade. Actually, your new 70s grade is closer to your June 14th green grade, but this new grade is now even greener/yellowish than the June 14th green grade. I’m just not a fan of any green—it seems to come across as “sickly” to my eye.

Your GOUT grades I’m definitely not a fan of. They look underexposed, washed-out, and grayish in comparison to your previous excellent work.

Your new “base grade” is noticeably more green than your June 14th base grade. I would say the new base grade is closer to your green grade of June 14th but that one had more of the 70s light than this one does.

When all is said and done, I say: “Long live the base grade of June 14th.” It can’t get any better than that because it simply is the most honest coloration balance you can get—it is that good. The colors are just SO balanced and even. It really does please the eye. The June 14th 70s light is simply a warmer version of the base which is great, too. If we can go back to those two versions, that would make my day. If you HAVE to have a green grade, as well, I would say go with your new “base grade” with the green cast.

P.S. I like the new removal of the green cast from the underside of the star destroyer when it reels in Tantive IV.

They can’t be, because they are exactly the same frames, since I updated the June 14th ones as well. I did adjust some of the frames, but that’s because some had a slight pink cast. I also improved the shot to shot consistency, because the earlier shots were more yellow than some of the later ones, so the balanced color grading has a little more blue for the early shots, but no green. I should also add, that the Tantive IV walls are suposed to be slightly bluish green, so the overall look of the balanced version will be biased towards this color. The base color grading is reasonably close to NeverarGreat’s technicolor recreation, although it’s still a bit warmer and less green.

4k77 base color grading set 1:

NeverarGreat’s technicolor recreation set 1:

4k77 base color grading set 2:

NeverarGreat’s technicolor recreation set 2:

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Here’s a work in progress on the Leia interrogation shots:

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Outstanding!

“Get over violence, madness and death? What else is there?”

Also known as Mr. Liquid Jungle.

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Here are a few more shots of the Leia interrogation sequence (in progress):

The base color grading has also been updated to remove some of the excess green in a few shots, particulary the Vader Antilles shots:

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5/5

“Get over violence, madness and death? What else is there?”

Also known as Mr. Liquid Jungle.

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The Leia interrogation shots look wonderful, Dre, as does the new Antilles interrogation. I realize I am at a disadvantage seeing the shots static as apposed to live action and thus my shared thoughts may not necessarily be accurate to what is actually the case. My photography requires me to have my screen properly calibrated, so I do trust what I’m seeing to a degree.

Upon a second examination of your June 14th base grade compared to your newest base grade above, I do recognize the slight pinkish cast you mentioned in the original and do see the wisdom in removing it. And I do agree with your sentiments on NeverarGreat’s technicolor grade compared to your base grade—yours is indeed warmer and less green.

A few thoughts if I may:

What do you think about the screenshot comparison in the link below? It compares your June 14th base grade with your new June 25th base grade. Does it seem to you that the darkest parts of Vader’s costume and the shadows on him are perhaps too dark/black? I can’t seem to see the detail in the shadows of his costume quite as well as I can in your June 14th grade. Also, you may notice in the last shot of Leia holding her blaster that she seems to be darker in the new grade compared to your former grade. Again, I might be wrong since I’m not seeing these shots in live action, but what do you think? Many thanks!

Set 2: http://screenshotcomparison.com/comparison/115775
Set 1: http://screenshotcomparison.com/comparison/115776

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The newer re-grade looks better on set 2, but I would say it’s a bit too green on the first set

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pittrek said:

The newer re-grade looks better on set 2, but I would say it’s a bit too green on the first set

The Tantive IV walls have a slight bluish/mint color, which can be seen pretty well in this production shot.

I do a agree the first set is a bit too cool in terms of the foreground such as skin tones and the helmets. I adjusted the first set and one shot in the second set to reflect this:

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Nate D said:

The Leia interrogation shots look wonderful, Dre, as does the new Antilles interrogation. I realize I am at a disadvantage seeing the shots static as apposed to live action and thus my shared thoughts may not necessarily be accurate to what is actually the case. My photography requires me to have my screen properly calibrated, so I do trust what I’m seeing to a degree.

Upon a second examination of your June 14th base grade compared to your newest base grade above, I do recognize the slight pinkish cast you mentioned in the original and do see the wisdom in removing it. And I do agree with your sentiments on NeverarGreat’s technicolor grade compared to your base grade—yours is indeed warmer and less green.

A few thoughts if I may:

What do you think about the screenshot comparison in the link below? It compares your June 14th base grade with your new June 25th base grade. Does it seem to you that the darkest parts of Vader’s costume and the shadows on him are perhaps too dark/black? I can’t seem to see the detail in the shadows of his costume quite as well as I can in your June 14th grade. Also, you may notice in the last shot of Leia holding her blaster that she seems to be darker in the new grade compared to your former grade. Again, I might be wrong since I’m not seeing these shots in live action, but what do you think? Many thanks!

Set 2: http://screenshotcomparison.com/comparison/115775
Set 1: http://screenshotcomparison.com/comparison/115776

I will make final gamma adjustments once I’ve seen the first reel in motion, although I don’t expect any huge differences.

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The Leia interrogation shots aboard Tantive IV are finished: