Sorry Eyepainter, I really mean this constructively and respectfully, but I personally feel like these new grades are too radical - both these examples and your Ep1 movie which I recently watched. I think they’re super saturated and quite flat, and the grain is too strong. For me, it feels like we’re really deviating from the usual look of SW, as best exemplified by the OT/ST/Mandalorian/Andor. Definitely not trying to be rude there as I really appreciate your efforts, but if it were me I’d focus on your lovely VFX changes and dial down a lot of the grading changes.
Harsh words, but I’m listening. I should note that the “lovely” VFX changes you mentioned are the grades you’re criticizing, but your point has been made. I think I mentioned earlier that I read Jeff Bartsch’s book “Edit Better,” and pretty much all the adjustments he makes are in simple dials such as saturation, contrast, offset, midtones, and shadows. I’ve entertained trying out this method, but never really did because it requires skill to get a pleasing result. However, Episode II might make for a nice first demonstration on this. I’ll see if I can cook something up with it when I’m not cooking something up in the kitchen.