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The Tao Colorist Curated links of news, reviews, thoughts, career advice, and humor for professional Video / Film Colorists & Finishers. Delivered Sunday. Issue CCXX A TaoOfColor.com Publication Publisher: Pat Inhofer
Managing Editor: Jim Wicks
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- It looks like this week's edition has some meaty info in it.
- And since we're on hiatus next week due to the Thanksgiving holiday, feel free to take your time working through it.
[change of
subject] - Speaking of giving thanks . . .
- Have you ever wondered how this Newsletter got its start?
- It was through conversations with another colorist friend of mine.
- We used to have lunches every few months.
- Two topics would frequently come up in our conversations:
- First, we'd talk about how someone should write a comprehensive book on the craft and science of
color correction.
- Second, we'd talk about how someone should start a newsletter compiling all the new and interesting blogs, articles, videos and color correction tutorials that were emerging on the internet.
- Eventually - I launched this newsletter.
- Eventually - he wrote one of the most respected and comprehensive books on color
correction.
- This week we got together this week as he travelled through Orlando after screening his short sci-fi film in Ft. Lauderdale this week. And I've got the picture to prove it . . .
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Patrick Inhofer, Publisher, Tao Colorist Newsletter (left) and Alexis Van Hurkman, author, The Color Correction Handbook
(right) - And since in the United States this is a week of Giving Thanks . . .
- I just want to thank Alexis for being a great colleague, friend and,
interestingly enough, competitor.
- Without our conversations, I may have never started this Newsletter.
- I'm
especially thankful that our conversations continue.
- Next week, due to the Thanksgiving Holiday, this newsletter is on
hiatus.
Happy
Grading!
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- The Rainbow is Dead, Long Live the Rainbow - A geologist explores using color for data visualization in multiple blog posts: "This is the first post in a series on the rainbow and similar color palettes. My goal is to demonstrate it is not a good idea to use these palettes to display scientific data, and then answer these two questions: (1) is there
anything we can do to “fix” the rainbow, and (2) if not, can we design a new one from scratch." (mycarta.wordpress.com)
- This Is Color: A Weird Little Lesson, In Rainbow Order - nifty collection of color facts, based on the rainbow. (apps.npr.org)
- [survey] What Are You Grading 2014? - the ICA annual survey has expanded. It now features 14 questions about cameras,
codecs, grading displays, render options, and wages. No need to register it is anonymous so just click the link it will only take 2 minutes. (sogosurvey.com)
- How Kodak's 'Shirley Cards' Set Photography's Skin-Tone Standard - plus, who was Shirley and how did the skin-tone card adapt with the times? (npr.org via Lisa
Willis)
- [video] Color Calibration: The Difference Between Film and Digital - besides an interesting look at film color calibration, this story is in the Newsletter for observations on the shortcomings of film colorimetry and the advantages of digital. (wolfcrow.com)
- Lighting Like Leo - Leonardo DaVinci that is. A
terrific breakdown of DaVinci's use of lighting on the Mona Lisa in preparation of recreating it as a photograph. (strobist.blogspot.com)
- The Seamless Look of Birdman - how does a colorist grade a feature film with no edits? And what's the main purpose of his efforts? (youtu.be via Marc Wielage)
- David Fincher Feast: Behind the Scenes - an orgy of Fincher commentaries, including many about his color timing strategies. There's a lot in here - you may want to save this until next Sunday... when this Newsletter is on hiatus. (premiumbeat.com via Tom Parish)
- DaVinci Resolve 11 Shortcut Cheat Sheet - download as a file or desktop wallpaper. (ilovehue.net via Christophe Delaunay)
- [video] Webinar: Mocha for Beauty Work - a nearly 2-hour webinar "covers in-depth examples of using mocha’s planar tracked spline shapes for digital retouching and beauty work." (imagineersystems.com)
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- Light Illusion, Pre-Christmas Sale - Save up to 55% on LightSpace calibration software packages. (lightillusion.com)
- FSI: Buy 1 OLED, Save $1000 on a Second - Special ends December 1. (shopfsi.com) You can also
save $500 if you buy two 17" LCDs (shopfsi.com)
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- [video] Choosing the Right Color Grading Software - a question we get asked a lot here at the Tao Colorist Newsletter is, ‘which color app should I use?’ There are lots to choose from. But which one? This 12 minute video tries to provide some answers. Best line is at :58 seconds: 'you have to know more than one application well.' (wolfcrow.com)
- [podcast] How Often Should You Calibrate Your Display - Colorist Tom Parish talks
with Dave Abrams at Avical about plasma, LCD/LED, OLED displays. Good insight: how various display technologies drift over time. (avical.com)
- [forum] Conforming DPX in Smoke and Resolve - Got problems conforming DPX sequences in Resolve and Smoke? Here are a few solutions (including updated to the latest versions). (liftgammagain.com)
- How to Batch Rename Files in OS
X 10.10 - using built-in tools. Nifty. (tidbits.com)
- Advanced Media Composer: Reformatting Your Footage - formatting 4x3
footage in a 16x9 timeline on an earlier Avid that doesn't support Frame Flex. (provideocoalition.com)
- Premiere Pro CC and the GoPro Cineform Codec - a post linking to a variety of articles on the Cineform Codec. (provideocoalition.com)
- Year-End To-Do: Avid Media Composer Upgrade Options - "For Media Composer users, the introduction of new licensing models and policy changes provides interesting opportunities, although it could all seem a bit confusing at times." (avidblogs.com)
- [podcast] How Often Should I Calibrate My Display? - "guidelines . . . for editors, colorists, or home enthusiasts." (avical.com)
- [video] Scratch v8: Plug-ins - How
to use OpenFX plug-ins in the latest version of Scratch and a listing of the most popular ones. (vimeo.com)
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- Animators Face 4K Technology Challenge - the move to 4K requires an exponential increase in computer resources, risking the business models of animation studios. (bbc.com via Marc Wielage)
- Quantel Announces Reseller
Partnership with B&H - via their Studios division. (quantel.com)
- Nolan Breaks Silence on 'Interstellar' Sonic Soup - A follow-up to last week's story. (hollywoodreporter.com)
- OLED TV Update - No Samsungs in 2015, LG ups production run. (hdtvtest.co.uk)
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The stories featured in this section are from MixingLight.com, a companion color correction membership website to TaoOfColor.com. Want to read a story listed here but not a member? Sign up for a free 24-hour Test
Drive. - [video] Rolo: Breaking Down A Commercial That Spans A Lifetime - Dan Moran shares his approach to grading a spot with three different Looks... but those Looks
need to tie together and single thread. (mixinglight.com)
- [video] LAB Color Foundations: Part 1, Photohsop - Our Photoshop peers have been working in LAB colorspace for a while now. It make sense to look at how they approach LAB before adapting to our video tools and workflows. (mixinglight.com)
- [video] LAB Color Foundations: Part 2, DaVinci Resolve - Now that you know the 'Photoshop approach' to LAB, learn how well those techniques translate to
Resolve. Hint: Due to the 'twitchy' nature of Resolve's Curves—comprimises will need to be made. (mixinglight.com)
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- [video] BTS from Star Wars to Jedi - an hour long 1983 documentary about the making of the original Star Wars trilogy, with particular emphasis on the final film, Return of the Jedi. This is what Star Wars really looked like before George Lucas re-digitized the films. (youtube.com)
- Editing Fury - with credits on Memento, Kingdom of Heaven, and Insomnia editor Dody Dorn brings a lot of creative muscle to the table. She talks about using 16 Avid
Media Composer systems split across four global locations to get the job done. (redsharknews.com)
- Thinking Differently - James Mathers, President and Co-founder of the Digital Cinema Society believes making an indie feature has never been easier. He writes about the distribution of an indie feature and how the filmmakers brought ‘Why We Ride’ to life.
(library.creativecow.net)
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- SMPTE Meeting: Ohio University - This student chapter's final meeting of the year will feature "a discussion of broadcast technology history." (mediaschool.ohio.edu via @kylepsnyder)
- [book] Media Composer 8 Editing Essentials - available as an eBook. (shop.avid.com)
- Reducation: December Dates
Announced - for New York and Los Angeles. (red.com)
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Current Colorist Control Surface Drivers |
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- [video] I Have The Power - 1980’s cartoon character He-Man has a cult following for a reason. Here’s a full minute of
the hilarious, cheesy, and epic one-liners that make He-Man the true Master of the Universe. (youtube.com)
- [video] Kubrick's Use of Red - a montage of... red images. In Kubrick movies. Fun. But not informative enough to fit into
the Craft section. (vimeo.com via @NiceShoesOnline)
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- [review] The Last Plasma - "This [Samsung] is the last plasma. The last new plasma you’ll ever read about. Last. The technology that ushered in the era of the flat panel TV. Became, in many minds, actually synonymous with 'flat TV'. The last plasma I’ll ever review." (hdguru.com)
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- A Case of Shingles - wanna know how 'they' squeeze 10TB or more to
create your super large hard drives? They’re pushing the limits with something called, shingles. Hint: it’s not the disease. Click through to find out. (redsharknews.com)
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- Been There, Done That - the next time your client says he wants a look that’s
original, take a deep breath and don't let vemödalen take you down... (sethgodin.typepad.com)
- Five Nighttime Routines of Successful Entrepreneurs - "Here are five tips that will make you the master of your evening schedule and set you up for a high-energy and
focused tomorrow." (theglobeandmail.com)
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It's official: According to music and decoration I see everywhere Thanksgiving has been skipped, and Black Friday is a week long this
year. @jasonmyres
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[video] Blizzard’s Up, Dude - 5 feet of snow pounds Buffalo, New York. Surfboard is in the garage. What’s a boy to do? Hang ten, baby. A crazy blizzard calls for crazy action. (vimeo.com)
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Th- Th- That's ALL Folks! See you in two weeks. Happy Grading!
7,350+ Stories Now Shared
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The Book Shelf
- Color Correction Handbook, Updated - Alexis Van Hurkman has updated his Color Correction Handbook, which has set the standard for learning all things color correction. (amazon.com)
- Color Correction Look Book - This is the second part of the Color Correction Handbook, exploring the creative techniques for over 200 different visual looks. A sort-of recipe book for colorists.
(amazon.com)
- The Art and Technique of Digital Color Correction - Read how a dozen different colorists grade the same footage with the same gear, differently. A fantastic approach to learning the craft of color grading by Steve Hullfish. (amazon.com)
- Autodesk Smoke Essentials - Walk through grading a short sci-fi film (with downloadable ProRes4444 source material) while learning the ultimate online finishing app... Autodesk Smoke. (amazon.com)
- Color Grading with Avid and Symphony - Written for version 6. Fully applicable to version 7. I was a contributor. (amazon.com)
- Adobe Speedgrade CC: Classroom in a Book - A solid book for a solid grading app. (amazon.com)
- Digital Cinematography: Fundamentals, Tools, Techniques and Workflows - Don't let the title fool you. I'm only a third way through this book and its explanations of how digital images are recorded, sampled and viewed is essential knowledge for anyone who's craft intersects with digital images. Not light reading. But not filled with math either. I highly recommend this book. (amazon.com)
Have a book you think should be in this list? Reply to this email and let me know! FCC Disclaimer: Links in this email to Amazon.com, B&H Photo, or ToolFarm are Affiliate links that help support the TaoOfColor.com. FSI is a paid sponsor and BlackMagic Design is a current client. We thank you for your support.
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Managing Editor:
jim@jimwicks.com
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Published by:
Patrick Inhofer: Photon-Wrangler, Fini.tv | TaoOfColor.com | MixingLight.com
patrick@taoofcolor.com
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