There are many reasons why an editor might choose to use video filters and color effects.
Some of the more common reasons are to fix the color quality, to enhance the mood or
look, or to add a unique style to the footage. Learning how to use the video filters and
color effects options within your editing software will not only allow you to make adjustments
to the color quality and add style, but will help you improve the overall look of your
video.
The best way to capture great video is to make sure your in-camera settings are properly
set before pressing record. However, despite our best efforts, there are occassions when
the color of the video is less than ideal. Fortunately, many editing applications will
allow you to make adjustments using various color correction tools, such as white balance
correction. Since there is never an absolute guarantee
that your footage will be flawlessly white balanced, the White Balance Corrector is a
tool that every editor needs to be familiar with. Though it's never a good idea to rely
on "fixing it in post," white balance correction can greatly improve footage that would otherwise
be unsuitable for use. Example**: To make sure your footage is white
balanced open the color correction tool within your editing application. Most color correcting
tools are equipped with an eye-dropper. The eye-dropper will allow you to select an item
within your footage that should be white. By doing this you are telling the software
that the selected item is white, and to match the rest of the shot according to that standard.
Your color correcting tool will do the rest and white balance the clip. If the color is
still not balanced, you may have to manually adjust the color to your liking.
Adjusting Color Tone can help enhance the overall look of your footage. If your camera
didn't have the proper exposure setting it can lead to an image that has muddied colors,
making it appear flat. Some ways to improve the color quality in your footage are by adjusting
brightness and contrast as well as hue and saturation.
Brightness and contrast controls will help you create an image that has more depth by
allowing you to control the amount of white and black within the image, as well as midtones.
Making sure your image is well-balanced in terms of shadows, midtones, and highlights,
will improve picture quality and add depth. Another control that will give your image
a boost in color quality is the hue and saturation tool. With adjustments to these controls,
you're able to punch the color up a notch, which will help combat muddy tones. Improving
color saturation should be done with care to avoid colors that are over-saturated. This
can cause color-bleeding or an unnatural appearance.
Color Effects are a great way to stylize your video. While a lot of hollywood films obtain
their color effects in camera by using different film stock, video editing programs will allow
you to achieve a similar look with the use of filters.
Using tints can help achieve the look of certain film stocks by giving everything in the frame
a wash of color. Depending on your software, you may be able to assign one tint to the
black values and another tint to white values. Another way to create a tint is by creating
a color matte on the track above the clip. Then, turn the opacity of the matte down until
the color tint is at the desired level. Removing color from your footage can help
you create that black & white movie look. This can be done several ways from a simple
click and drag filter effect or, for more control, by adjusting the saturation manually
until the desired look has been reached. Some software will come with a Color Pass filter
which allows you to select a color from within the clip that will be allowed to "pass through"
the black & white filter, giving you a "Sin City" or "Pleasantville" effect.
Conversely, with a Change to Color filter you are able to replace a single color with
any other hue. With the addition of keyframes this change in hue can occur over any given
time span, allowing you to make your green summer trees turn brown .
Texture Effects Depending on the video editing software you
are using, the options for texture effects may differ. A common texture effect is film
grain or noise. This effect can help add a film look to your video. As with most textures,
you can make fine tuned adjustments in order to achieve the desired look.
Speed Filter Adjusting the speed at which your footage
plays back can add an interesting element to your video.
Example** At regular speed, the speed of your clip will be at 100%. If you bring the percentage
below 100 percent, you'll create a slow-motion effect which is great for adding drama or
calling attention to a specific action. By increasing the percentage above 100 percent
you will speed the clip up, which will exaggerate the quickness of the action taking place.
Increasing the speed is great for effects like mimicking old-time black & white movies,
or creating special effects where the background is moving faster than your subject. The speed
filter is handy for controlling time within your clips. However, keep in mind that a little
goes a long way, so it's best to use the speed filter in moderation.
Video filters and color effects are a fun way to add a unique style to your video. They
can also come in handy when correcting mistakes made during production. Learning how to use
the color effects and video filters found within your editing software will help you
create exciting videos that will look polished and professional.