colour grading

After having found the Active Ingredient video (and watching all the way through even the credits), I suddenly realised in the past I have never known anything about colour grading. Scary thought to be honest, to think it is such an essential part in the world of cinema and I had never given it any thoughts.

I started reading up on it. I knew what color grading is, but not in details.

This is what color grading is:

• Reproduce accurately what was shot
• Compensate for variations in the material (i.e. film errors, white balance, varying lighting conditions)
• Optimize transfer for use of special effects
• Establish a desired 'look'
• Enhance and/or alter the mood of a scene — the visual equivalent to the musical accompaniment of a film.

(sourced from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Color_grading, accessed 4th Apr 09)

Processes such as primary and secondary color grading, masks, mattes and Power Windows alongside motion tracking are all part of what is needed to achieve colour enhancement.

Very educating indeed. Learn something new everyday.