Course Description

Why Can't I Color Grade Like That?

Chances are you're either a filmmaker or an editor and you handle all of you're own color grading inside of Final Cut Pro X (the buck stops with you). But you might be feeling frustrated when you're not getting the results that you're looking for. You may feel overwhelmed with the tools in Color Finale or you may even watch a film or project and say to yourself, "Why can't I grade like that?"

Well I know how you feel and I've been there. In fact I remember the day years ago that my boss told me my grading was either "too extreme" or "looked muddy." He then assigned the project to somebody else! This was a major blow to my creative ego and to say it made me feel inadequate is an understatement.

Well the good news is color grading is my obsession and so I didn't want to give up. Through years of practice and study I was able to discover the groundbreaking techniques that top colorists from around the world use. Techniques that I used when grading commercials for big brands like Facebook and on films with theatrical releases.

Take. Action.

Imagine for a moment what it would feel like knowing that you're getting the most cinematic look from your camera. How it would feel to be complimented on the style of your work. What would it mean to stand out from your competitors who are likely not even thinking of color grading or very good at it? And how would it feel to land a big project with a major client? You can do it and I'm here to help you.


Step-By-Step Mentoring

What if you were only one technique or tutorial away from getting the results you're looking for in Color Finale? What if there was someone willing to mentor you every step of the way? Someone willing to open up and share their top grading techniques and share with you how color theory can have an impact on your grading.

The Color Grading Masterclass for Color Finale is 6 months in the making. Yes you heard that right, 6 months to ensure that all the basics, virtually every question is covered and no stone left unturned. We have surveyed extensively and have received feedback from our members so that we know all the key points to cover.

I have a keen interest in helping you to see results in your color grading. We have thousands of satisfied members but what I'm interested in where you're currently at, the struggles you're currently going through and helping you get to the finish line. When you feel confident in your abilities and you celebrate your success is when I'll celebrate. Feel free to peruse the masterclass curriculum and I'm always one email away if you have a question or need some feedback.

What You Get

  • A step-by-step color grading training program
  • Opportunities to ask questions and get answers from me
  • Nearly 70 in-depth training titles
  • Exercise files so you can download and follow along with
  • A  proper color grading workflow
  • Easy to follow system for matching multiple cameras and shots in a scene
  • Strategies to help you work more quickly and efficiently
  • In-depth series on getting proper and natural looking skin tones
  • In-depth color theory series so you can create "looks" that aid the story
  • Breakdown series on creating the looks of popular feature films
  • A certificate of completion upon completing the masterclass


Our Clients Include


What Students Are Saying

"With Color Grading Central the sky really is the limit. I continue to use it to take my images to the next level and the next level after that. Personally I can't imagine where I would be had I not found this valuable valuable resource."
~ Brett Lyon/Filmmaker
https://vimeo.com/channels/scenebybrett


Frequently Asked Questions

Is the training live? how is the training administered?
The training consists of pre-recorded online tutorials that are well produced with densely packed material that stays on message and drives straight to the point. We have Disqus enabled discussions so you can interact with myself and other students but you are free to proceed at your own pace.

How long will I have access to the training?
When signing up for the masterclass, you'll have LIFETIME ACCESS to the content and you're free to take the course at your own pace. There are no beginning or ending dates.

Are the tutorials downloadable?
Yes each title has a download option.

Will you be adding more content or what happens when a new version of Color Finale comes out?
We are always on the look out to add new relevant content and are committed to updating the tutorials to the latest significant Color Finale version.



BONUS ASCEND LUTs
30 Creative Look LUTs
$199

You can't even buy these any longer and when they were for sale for a brief time in March of 2016 they sold for $199. When you enroll in the masterclass you get them as an exclusive FREE bonus!

Experience a whole new set of "looks" to elevate your grading style and attract clients to your brand. ASCEND LUTs are 30 creative "looks" to help you tell better stories including your own. Sourced from the same experience and expertise I used when working with the Instagram team on the video filters in the Instagram app I'm now opening up my personal Colorist library to you as a filmmaker and Colorist.

Designed with careful attention to skin tones and to work in as many situations as possible (within a given context), these aren't cheap color casts or tints that will muddy up your image like other creative LUTs out there. With ASCEND LUTs you will experience the creative difference in pleasing color contrasts and color harmonies. ASCEND will help in better conveying the emotion in the story or setting up a particular genre. e.g. 1970's, SciFi/Thriller, Fashion etc.

I'm pleased to make these available to you and look forward to seeing better engagement in your videos with more 'likes', 'comments' and other opportunities that abound :)


30-DAY MONEY BACK GUARANTEE
You’re protected by the BEST GUARANTEE EVER. You have 30 days to check it out go through the masterclass and if by the end of that time you decide it’s not for you let me know and I’ll give you a full refund. No questions asked. You have absolutely nothing to lose and everything to gain.

Colorist

Denver Riddle

Hi I’m Denver.  Yeah I know like the city and no I wasn’t born or conceived there :P  In high school I borrowed my grandmother’s digital camcorder (the first "MiniDV" camera to the market which technically belonged to the university where she taught) and made extreme sports videos with my friends… luckily we returned it in one piece… She still doesn’t know what exactly I was using it for, shhh our little secret ;)From that moment forward I knew that I was destined to create things with video to either capture experiences or tell powerful stories.  When I discovered color grading I felt like it was a powerful extension of what I was capturing on camera.  A way to enhance the story and one of the keys to making it look like a big Hollywood production.And so I decided to pursue a career as a colorist but quickly found there weren’t many resources or many people willing to help.  It seemed like it was some sort of elitist club where you had pay your dues as an ‘assistant’ for a decade before you got a crack at the big fancy control surface.Well the good news is that isn’t the only way to do it and I did NOT do it that way.  I learned that armed with the right techniques and some practice it can really go a long ways and where it took me years to discover some of the techniques you can start learning them today!I’ve had the pleasure of working with various clients and fortune 500 companies, from national commercial spots to feature films, from the U.S. Ski Team to Facebook and Instagram.  I've been able to help thousands enjoy what I love and you can trust my experience and my commitment to hold nothing back.Do something great today and create what you love!

Course curriculum

  • 1

    Module 1

    • READ ME FIRST

    • ASCEND LUTs BONUS

    • Setting Up A Timeline - Exercise File

    • Setting Up A Timeline

    • Comments and questions about setting up a timeline

    • Color Grading Workflow - Exercise File

    • Color Grading Workflow

      FREE PREVIEW
    • Comments and questions about color grading workflow

    • Introduction to Video Scopes - Exercise Files

    • Introduction to Video Scopes

      FREE PREVIEW
    • Waveform Scopes - Exercise Files

    • Waveform Scopes

      FREE PREVIEW
    • RGB Parade Exercise - Files

    • RGB Parade

    • Vectorscope - Exercise Files

    • Vectorscope

    • Histogram - Exercise Files

    • Histogram

    • Comments and questions about scopes

    • Setting Exposure - Exercise Files

    • Setting Exposure

    • Adams Zone System with Waveform

    • Comments and questions about setting exposure

    • Color Balancing - Exercise Files

    • Color Balancing

      FREE PREVIEW
    • Color Balancing RGB Overlay - Exercise Files

    • Color Balancing with the RGB Overlay Waveform

    • Comments and questions about color balancing

    • Broadcast Safe - Exercise Files

    • Broadcast Safe

    • Using LUTs - Exercise Files

    • Using LUTs

      FREE PREVIEW
    • Using Technical LUTs - Exercise Files

    • Using Technical LUTs for Speed

    • Creative LUTs - Exercise Files

    • Creative LUTs

    • Comments and questions about LUTs

    • Working with RED Media - Exercise Files

    • Working with RED Media

    • Comments and questions about working with RED media

    • Grading LOG Images - Exercise FIles

    • Grading LOG Images

    • Comments and questions about working with LOG images

    • Download All Module 1 Videos

  • 2

    Module 2

    • Working with Masks and Vignettes - Exercise Files

    • Working with Masks and Vignettes

      FREE PREVIEW
    • Tracking Masks - Exercise Files

    • Tracking Masks

    • Comments and questions about masks, vignettes and tracking

    • Keyframing Color Finale Effects - Exercise Files

    • Keyframing Color Finale Effects

    • 6 Vectors Tool - Exercise Files

    • 6 Vectors Tool

    • HSL Curves

    • HSL Curves - Exercise File

    • Comments and questions about 6 vectors tool

    • Color Masks - Exercise Files

    • Color Masks

    • Advanced Color Masks - Exercise Files

    • Advanced Color Masks

    • Comments and questions about color masks

    • HDR Grading - Exercise Files

    • HDR Grading

    • Grading White Limbo - Exercise Files

    • Grading White Limbo

    • Racoon Eyes - Exercise Files

    • Raccoon Eyes

    • Tangent Ripple Setup - Exercise File

    • Tangent Ripple Setup

    • Tangent Element Setup - Exercise File

    • Tangent Element Setup

    • Comments and questions about Tangent Element

    • Ideal Skin Tones

      FREE PREVIEW
    • Correcting Skin Tones - Exercise File

    • Correcting Skin Tones

      FREE PREVIEW
    • Correcting Darker Skin Tones - Exercise Files

    • Correcting Darker Skin Tones

    • Correcting Lighter Skin Tones - Exercise Files

    • Correcting Lighter Skin Tones

    • Recovering Skin Tones - Exercise Files

    • Recovering Skin Tones

    • Comments and questions about skin tones

    • Export Options and Formats

    • HSL Curves

    • Comments and questions about export options and formats

    • Download All Module 2 Videos

  • 3

    Module 3

    • Grouping and Grade Management Part 1 - Exercise Files

    • Grade Management Part 1 - Grouping

    • Grade Management Part 2 - Exercise Files

    • Grade Management Part 2 - Presets

    • Picking a Hero Shot

    • Shot to Shot Matching - Exercise Files

    • Shot to Shot Matching

      FREE PREVIEW
    • Shot to Shot Matching Advanced - Exercise Files

    • Shot to Shot Matching Advanced

    • Comments and questions about shot matching

    • Grading Multicam - Exercise Files

    • Grading Multicam

    • Grading Multicam Advanced - Exercise Files

    • Grading Multicam Advanced

    • Comments and questions about multicam grading

    • Working with Charts_Intro and Production

    • Working with Charts - X-Rite Classic

    • Working With Charts X-Rite Color Checker Video - Exercise Files

    • Working with Charts - X-Rite Colorchecker Video

    • Working With Charts DSC Labs - Exercise Files

    • Working with Charts - DSC OneShot Plus

    • Comments and questions about color charts

    • Master Class Part 01 - Exercise File

    • Master Class: Part 1 - Building The Base Correction

      FREE PREVIEW
    • Master Class Part 02 - Exercise Files

    • Master Class: Part 2 - Shot to Shot Matching and Secondaries

    • Master Class Part 03 - Exercise Files

    • Master Class: Part 3 - Grouping

    • Master Class Part 04 - Exercise Files

    • Master Class: Part 4 - Look Building

    • Comments and questions about the master classes

    • Download All Module 3 Videos

  • 4

    Module 4

    • What is the Goal?

      FREE PREVIEW
    • Creating Mood - Exercise Files

    • Creating Mood

    • Suggesting Time of Day - Exercise Files

    • Suggesting Time of Day

    • Contextual Location Based Looks - Exercise Files

    • Contextual Looks

    • Dialing Looks to Taste - Exercise Files

    • Dialing Looks to Taste

    • Comments and questions about dialing looks to taste

    • Creating Looks Around Skin Tone - Exercise Files

    • Creating Looks Around Skin Tones

      FREE PREVIEW
    • Comments and questions about creating looks around skin tone

    • Auditioning Different Scene Versions - Exercise Files

    • Auditioning Different Scene Versions

    • Contrasts of Color Introduction

    • Contrasts of Light and Dark - Exercise File

    • Contrasts of LIght and Dark

    • Complementary Contrast - Exercise Files

    • Complementary Contrast

    • Contrast of Saturation - Exercise Files

    • Contrast of Saturation

    • Contrast of Hue - Exercise File

    • Contrast of Hue

    • Comments and questions about contrasts of color

    • Memory Colors and What Colors Mean

    • Color Schemes and Harmonies

    • Creative Looks Based on a Color Scheme - Exercise File

    • Creative Looks Based on a Color Scheme

    • Comments and questions about color schemes

    • Bleach Bypass Look - Exercise Files

    • Bleach Bypass

    • Black and White Look - Exercise Files

    • BW Look

    • Day For Night Look - Exercise Files

    • Day for Night

    • Cross Process Look - Exercise Files

    • Cross Process Look

      FREE PREVIEW
    • Vintage Look - Exercise Files

    • Vintage Look

    • Cosmetic Look - Exercise Files

    • Cosmetic Look

    • Orange Teal Look - Exercise Files

    • Orange Teal Look

    • Wes Anderson Look - Exercise Files

    • Wes Anderson Look

    • Comments and questions about popular looks

    • Download All Module 4 Videos

    • Recreate the Look of Any Film - Exercise Files

    • BONUS: Recreate the Look of Any Film

Reviews

5 star rating

Invaluable Hidden Manual for FCPX and Color Finale

Mathew Wright

I am blown away by the Color Finale Color Grading Masterclass. Although much of this information is available online in both the CGC tutorials and elsewhere ...

Read More

I am blown away by the Color Finale Color Grading Masterclass. Although much of this information is available online in both the CGC tutorials and elsewhere having everything in one place makes learning color grading so much more efficient and practical. As a photographer moving to video this series is invaluable. Moreover, Denver does a fantastic job of getting to the point in each video making learning ultra-efficient. I know this review sounds like I am a shill for CGC but I was in no way reimbursed for this review and I have no association with CGC. Worth every penny.

Read Less
5 star rating

THE Class that Changed EVERYTHING

Allen Smithee

I was lucky enough for this course to happen upon me. There was a color theory that I thought I knew, and the method I had no clue how to go about. This co...

Read More

I was lucky enough for this course to happen upon me. There was a color theory that I thought I knew, and the method I had no clue how to go about. This course solved everything. I am now more confident with my skills as a filmmaker, and with a possible new future as a colorist, as well. This course is a must-take for all filmmakers, even if you're just a director or DP. This knowledge alone will make you a better artist behind the camera!

Read Less
5 star rating

Best Grading Course

Tom Som

I'm glad I found Denver. His Color Finale and the this training course is what I've been waiting for. Everything is so clear. Thanks for your hard works.

I'm glad I found Denver. His Color Finale and the this training course is what I've been waiting for. Everything is so clear. Thanks for your hard works.

Read Less
5 star rating

master class color finale

Daniela Donato

Troppo bello!!! Traslation from Italian: too cool!!!

Troppo bello!!! Traslation from Italian: too cool!!!

Read Less
5 star rating

Very impressive, Denver!

Marc Heinzelmann

Setup This course uses a professional state-of-the-art platform which I find very easy to use and to understand, allowing for handy personal adjustments li...

Read More

Setup This course uses a professional state-of-the-art platform which I find very easy to use and to understand, allowing for handy personal adjustments like speed and quality while performing quite responsively. It provides an integrated discussion platform, exercise files to download and even the videos can be taken offline in two different resolutions one-by-one or per module. Speaker Denver delivers the course content surprisingly fluent with clear English in a well balanced speed so I can easily follow as a non-native speaker without wasting my time. He must have spend a lot of time in carefully compiling, compressing, optimizing and exercising the phrases to maximize the amount of information per time unit. No easy task but very well done! Content The overall course concept is extremely well structured offering useful building blocks in a systematic sequence. In "Module 1 – Color Grading Workflow" he speeds through the whole process in 9 minutes giving an excellent overview about the potential of improvements at least in my color grading process. The deep dive into Color Finale blended with FCPX tipps and tricks revealing a straightforward and effective color grading approach enriched with teachings about the impact of color effects and styles – finally this is it! Thank you, Denver! This masterclass saves countless hours of internet search, trial and error.

Read Less
5 star rating

Daniel Julianson

5 star rating

Excellent

Dave Donnellan

I'd highly recommend this course. It's not only a fascinating masterclass in Colour Grading, it's also a masterclass in how to give a tutorial in Colour Grad...

Read More

I'd highly recommend this course. It's not only a fascinating masterclass in Colour Grading, it's also a masterclass in how to give a tutorial in Colour Grading. Thanks Denver. Dave

Read Less
5 star rating

This is it!

WU ZJ

Denver Riddle has done a great job, again, I have to add. I haven't finished the course yet, it may take me a year to study it. But from what I just downloa...

Read More

Denver Riddle has done a great job, again, I have to add. I haven't finished the course yet, it may take me a year to study it. But from what I just downloaded, BTW, it is over 30GB (including tutorial videos and exercise videos, and I skipped some materials from module one and two), I have to say, this is by far THE most systematic and comprehensive tutorial on color grading. This is why it is called Masterclass. What a great gift to anyone who decides to go further on color grading. I guess it is going to be a very busy year for me. I started studying color grading a year ago. Now when I recall all I learned so far, most of them were from Denver Riddle. Thanks, Denver Riddle. I will remember this name every time I grading. BTW, there is a little problem. Many downloaded exercise files were unzipped into folders with same name: 'exercise file'. So I have to change them one by one. It will be better if the folder all have individual names.

Read Less
4 star rating

Bijilesh kumar

Pricing options

Explain how different pricing options might be valuable to different segments of your audience.