Nate D

Collipso said:

isn’t it overall too bright? and aren’t some specific shots a bit too bright? for example, from the second to the third shots in the bottom row there’s a big difference, and the third shot looks a bit too bright, imo. you may even be losing some detail. or is it supposed to be that way?

If it were darkened I have a feeling the blacks and shadow details in Vader’s costume might be crushed/clipped. Plus, the set IS all white so light reflection would be considerable making it seem too bright. Also, we have grown accustomed to the dark blu-ray color grade.

I’m interested to hear what Dre thinks, but what if the 1st and 2nd shot on the 4th row were slightly lightened and the last shot was slightly darkened in order to arrive at a happy medium? Again, hard to say for sure if it even needs adjusting since I’m not seeing Dre’s color grade in live-action.

Is this the way it would have looked in the theater or…? I’m sure if you were standing on set in person the walls would have looked a true white. What do you think?

Thanks for the info. Haha, I had a gut feeling that was the base. I remember you shared that set pic earlier with the stormtroopers and the rather bluish/green Tantive IV walls. Just curious, do you have any other set photos that can provide confirmation or is this the only one that is known to illustrate the bluish/green walls?

Looks great, Dre! Would this be the Technicolor grade or?

Dwalin, I recently re-watched your 1st, 2nd and 3rd color regrades, and I have some thoughts to share with you. I own both the EE DVD trilogy and the 2009 theatrical (non-EE) blu-ray trilogy. I have compared numerous screen shots between the DVD and Blu-ray, and there is very little (if any) differences between the two. I did notice that the DVD seems to be cropped tighter on the sides than the Blu-ray. They are the same frame just a different crop factor. See the screen shot comparison below:

EE DVD vs. Theatrical (non-EE) Blu-ray: http://screenshotcomparison.com/comparison/115898

Since the Blu-ray and DVD seemed to be similar in their color grade, I proceeded to use the Blu-ray to compare to your color grading since they are closer in sharpness. Regarding your 1+2 grade, in the first shot of “The Lord of the Rings” title just before the words fade into view, you can see a darkish-yellow color appear and then the title fades in. Immediately after the title fades out but before it goes completely black, you can see the darkish-yellow remnants of the color and then it goes completely black. See the following screen shot comparison:

Blu-ray vs. Dwalin grade: http://screenshotcomparison.com/comparison/115899

As I proceeded to compare my Blu-ray to your color grades, I seemed to see a consistent slight brightness and yellow tone all throughout your 1st, 2nd and 3rd color grades. See some screen shot comparisons below:

1. Bushes are too yellow—Blu-ray vs. Dwalin grade: http://screenshotcomparison.com/comparison/115903
2. Grass is too yellow—Blu-ray vs. Dwalin grade: http://screenshotcomparison.com/comparison/115905
3. Differences in waistcoat colors—DVD vs. Dwalin grade: http://screenshotcomparison.com/comparison/115906
4. Bag End grass is too yellow—Blu-ray vs. Dwalin grade:http://screenshotcomparison.com/comparison/115907
5. Yellow Bilbo—Blu-ray vs. Dwalin grade: http://screenshotcomparison.com/comparison/115910

Other than the overall slight brightness and yellowishness in your grades, I can definitely see that your video files are much sharper than my theatrical Blu-ray. Well done! Let me know your thoughts on this when you can. Cheers!

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

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.

No, I do not believe there were different color graded versions of the EE DVDs. The color grade in the HDTV EE looks similar to your re-grade, but your work is producing a better product. Whoever created that HDTV torrent did not rip the disc at a sharp resolution either. Your finished product, by comparison, is sharper and better colorized. Keep up the good work! 😃

Dwalin, I would encourage you to continue with your color grading. I looked at the video quality in the link that was taken down compared to your grade of the first 20 mins, and your work is far superior to that in the link. Please do forge ahead and don’t give up. You have much to be proud of with the progress and results you have achieved thus far!

Dwalin, is that link you provided your finished product of your color grade, or no?

Well done, Dwalin, good work! Looking forward to seeing more updates when available. 😃

Thanks, Stotchy. Really like the screenshots above of what you guys have already done. Good work!

So when this is complete, is it going to look completely different from Dre’s grade of 4K77 and the blu-ray or pretty much the same? Just curious… 😃

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.

That was fanTAStic, Poita, thank you for sharing reel 6! This was exactly what I saw in the theater as a little kid all those years ago and was the genesis of my admiration and fondness for this epic franchise! It brought back so many memories and excitement at seeing this for the first time. THIS is what started my Star Wars journey, and it was so good to see the genuine article once again! Thank you!

THANK YOU, Dre! These look fabulous! Really like the subtle exposure improvement in the Tantive IV scenes and tweaks in the Antilles interrogation. They can’t get any better than this–masterful job! 😃

Fantastic work, Poita! Thank you for sharing these screenshots with us!

I actually like the June 11th subdued contrast and corrected exposure/under-exposures in the Antilles interrogation as apposed to the June 1st. You can see more shadow and black detail in Vader’s costume in the June 11th grade as apposed to June 1st.

I would not vote to add warmer tones to the balanced version because it causes the Stormtroopers to appear even more yellow where they should be whiter as in the June 1st grade. But in the end, I understand this is Dre’s call, and I will be happy with whatever he determines. 😃

Thank you, Dre!! The balanced version is looking superb! Really like where you have the contrast and exposure in the Antilles interrogation–spot on. I can see when comparing your June 1st balance grade to this update that some of the “hot light” areas on Antilles’ face/hands and a few dark shots have been improved: excellent work!

One small suggestion if I may: the screenshot comparison link below compares your June 1st balance grade with today’s. I confess that I prefer the color of the June 1st a bit more. You can see particularly on line 4 shots 1 and 2 of the Antilles interrogation that the Stormtroopers seem to be a touch too green, yellow and red as apposed to the June 1st. Thoughts?

June 1st balance vs. June 11th balance: http://screenshotcomparison.com/comparison/115175

Apart from that, this is looking SO good–excellent work as usual, Dre!

DrDre said:

One final update before moving on to other shots:

Dre, I’m also curious about the balanced version… 😉

One humble suggestion on your final updated screen shots if I may:

It seems, particularly in shots 1 and 2 on line 4, that the stormtroopers look a bit too yellow as apposed to your June 8th Cpt. Antilles interrogation grade where they look less yellow and more naturally colored. Just a thought. 😃

Haha, can’t figure out which, lol.

I see, thanks, Dre! I’m loving your work overall; much improved there with the interrogation!

It looks like you are color grading the current reel 1 that has been DNR-ed, is that correct? Or are you DNR-ing the non-DNR version of 4K77 yourself and applying your color grading? Just curious. 😃

DrDre said:

Here’s an update of the color grading:

I’m also working on some new shots. Here are two examples:

Good work, Dre! A few questions:

1. I compared your June 1st Tantive IV Technicolor (green-cast) screen shots to your newest above and cannot identify any discernible differences. Just curious what you tweaked, if anything, there.

2. When I compared your June 1st Technicolor green-cast and balanced screen shots of Vader’s interrogation of Cpt. Antilles to your new screen shots above, there is a marked improvement in shots that were under or over exposed particularly in the skin tones, his jacket and the background.

3. Have you decided to abandon the “balanced grade” and “marry” it with the green-casted Technicolor version to create a happy medium, or are you still keeping both separate?

DrDre said:

Here’s what the color grading would look like without the technicolor green cast:

Dre, that looks absolutely OUTSTANDING!! Fantastic subtle work! Absolutely love it, and 100% agree with ChainsawAsh: your color grade will be my go-to for watching SW!

Ah, thank you, Possessed. I appreciate the explanation. 😃

Ah, I see. So, will you be offering your color graded film versions of both the non-DNR and DNR of 4K77 to download or is this something we would have to do ourselves once we obtain the 4K77 we want? (Please excuse the ignorant questions).