Choosing color palette / grading

chenjie108 · Jun 5, 2015

First, let me know how y'all choose your color palettes. I've read up on color theory, etc. but took a while to decide on one myself. I'd love to here your thoughts. And here are some related questions:

>How does one best integrate color palette into wardrobe? I assume a character's psychology/nature takes higher priority than an overall color scheme, but how do you balance this out so everything looks perfect?

>Grading-wise, what are your thoughts on desaturation vs. saturation? I've been flipping back and forth between what I want to see. I don't like overly washed-out images, but I do want a peaceful/meditative feel to my film, so maybe washing out the images would be a good way to go? Also, for some reason I associate more saturation with higher production value, don't know why, but maybe I should try that...?

Thanks

Asad J · Jun 6, 2015

It's incredibly subjective for everyone, I imagine. There are no rights and wrongs with color, and it's about your vision, visual style and inspirations. Baz Luhrmann's or Wes Anderson's images are remarkably different from Lars Von Trier's, and they're made to look that way because of particular artistic intent.

The thing with grading, as I see it, is that there hardly are any hard and fast rules. Each production has its own demands and each director has his own style. I, for example, like clipped blacks, and I know others who do too, but I know people that absolutely detest them. It's your vision + the demands of the project. Cinema is about signature styles, and image attributes like color are a great way to bring some individuality to the project. So don't go by what you think the standard is; where it does count to appreciate what the general consensus is on what the image must look like on-screen, your own interpretation of that image is what makes it special.

What I like to do, as a director and colorist: when I like an image in a movie or a tv show, I'll take a screen grab, and save it for reference. Once I've got a couple, I try to figure out what I like about the images and make a list of attributes. Then, I try to shoot something super rudimentary and try to put those attributes together in the grade and see what it comes out to be. Gives you great ideas for what you can turn any project into, plus, atleast for me, it informs how I want something to be shot, especially in terms of lighting.

If you want something peaceful and meditative, look up images that reference it, and see what that means to you. It might mean killing some of the contrast, adding some glow, overexposing slightly, or any number of things. But that meaning has to come from what 'peaceful' and 'meditative' mean to you. It might conjure very different images for you than it does for me.

AndAction · Jun 6, 2015

I agree with Asad. It's very subjective and taking screen grabs of images that you like will certainly help a lot. I personally love earth tones and primary colors and generally stick with those. I tend to be drawn towards blue a lot. I love the look of deep blue walls and was able to use them really nicely in my recent short.

Grading depends on each project. I've kept some of my music videos more flat/desaturated due to the story that was happening. If it's a gritty, raw project, I like keeping it more desaturated. But for commercials and my short film, I tend to saturate quite a bit to bring out the vibrancy of the colors. Some people may see peaceful as white and bright and some may see it as an overcast day looking over a view. It really depends on what you find peaceful and how you portray it not only through the color palate but also through sound design and cinematography.

Good luck!

Sweetie · Jun 6, 2015

what are your thoughts on desaturation vs. saturation?

It depends on the situation at hand. Some subject matter is more suited for one way than the other.

I don't like overly washed-out images

That's a different topic. Saturation, while their relationship is tied, what you're describing isn't saturation. It's the contrast (mostly the shadows) that determines whether a picture has that washed out look. Want a washed out look, raise the shadows to taste. Reduce the washed out look, bring down the shadows or even push further and crush the blacks to taste.

I do want a peaceful/meditative feel to my film, so maybe washing out the images would be a good way to go?

It depends on the material. High saturation in a sunset over water or a green landscape with dark blue skies would elicit that feeling better than the same high saturation levels of a shot of an wet gritty dirty city street dimly lit with green and magenta lights.

maybe I should try that...?

That's what great about grading these days. It's all software based. Unless you're paying someone to do it for you, experiment away. It won't cost you a thing.

chenjie108 · Jun 7, 2015

Thanks. And do you like to go about deciding wardrobe? I get too bogged down on adding the right color/style...

Sweetie · Jun 8, 2015

And do you like to go about deciding wardrobe?

I don't mind deciding.

chenjie108 · Jun 8, 2015

Sweetie said:
I don't mind deciding.

Sorry, I meant "how do you like going about deciding wardrobe"

That's my main question, general process, but furthermore:
I want to have a strongly enforced color palette, but I also want the characters to wear what they would naturally wear. If these two factors don't agree, what do you do?

Sweetie · Jun 9, 2015

Work out what you want to accomplish. Work out how to accomplish it. Communicate this to your team. Discuss with them how they intend to help you achieve this. Ask for options. Pick the most appropriate option from their suggestions... or go back to the drawing board if those options won't work.

I want to have a strongly enforced color palette, but I also want the characters to wear what they would naturally wear. If these two factors don't agree, what do you do?

You find a way that works. Problem solve. Keep working on the issue until it's resolved with a solution that works. Sometimes you fudge, but it's better to come up with a proper solution.

Your artistic decisions are always affected by budget (which I suspect may be an issue?) If your solution of yours is a chosen a color palette, you need to use that palette. If the two factors don't agree, it may indicate issues in a decision you've made. It may be a choice about the palette, it may be completely unrelated. You need to identify and deal with the issue. The color palette is there to support the feeling for the film. It's only a part of the puzzle of the film.