I'm not always the quickest adopter of fancy new tools – it takes some serious wow factor to shift my well-worn workflow. But folks, Baselight's latest update has me geeking out a bit over its new "X Grade" feature demonstrated in this video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R42j8JNmFIU. Here's my take as a working colorist:
What on Earth IS X Grade?
In a nutshell, X Grade combines the precision of curves with the intuitive color-wheel experience. It displays a 3D representation of your image's color information. You can:
Warp: Stretch and squeeze specific color areas of the image. Think pinpointing a too-reddish skintone and shifting it more towards yellow.
Tweak: Isolate colors to boost or decrease saturation and luminosity.
Paint: Freehand selections to make adjustments, similar to qualifiers, but with this cool 3D visual aid.
Why This Isn't Just a Gimmick
Here's where I think it shines, especially compared to traditional tools:
Visualizing the Impossible: Sometimes, we know what change we want, but getting there with curves/color wheels is a fiddly nightmare. X Grade makes those subtle, targeted shifts easier to conceptualize.
Speed for Specific Tasks: Need to quickly fix a muddy green background? Isolate and tweak in X Grade, likely faster than precise keying.
Nuanced Skin Tones: The video hints this is a skin-tone savior. Being able to pinpoint and shift exact ranges within skin while seeing it visually? Sign me up.
X Grade Won't Replace Everything
Let's be realistic – this isn't magic. My good ol' curves and scopes aren't going anywhere. Here's where I see the limits:
Learning Curve: Like any powerful tool, mastery takes time. Don't expect instant transformative grades.
Won't Fix Bad Footage: As always, a well-shot image is still the foundation for top-notch color.
My Verdict: A Potentially Powerful Addition
I'm genuinely excited to put X Grade through its paces on upcoming projects. It feels like an intuitive tool with the potential to solve some of those stubborn grading situations with more finesse and speed. My advice: Don't sleep on this update – get experimenting!
Question for Y'all
Baselight users, have you tried X Grade yet? What are YOUR first impressions? Is there a specific grading challenge you think it might be perfect for? Leave your insights in the comments!