Use A.I. to Steal ANY Color Grade From ANY Movie

Eric
11 Jul 202312:51

TLDRIn this tutorial, learn how to effortlessly steal color grades from iconic movies using AI tools and editing software. Discover how to use the AI tool Runway to generate color grades based on your description, or use Google images to match cinematic tones in Premiere Pro and DaVinci Resolve. The video explores various methods to replicate the look of films like 'Blade Runner 2049' and 'Joker,' offering tips for beginners and pros alike. Whether you’re a color grading novice or an expert, this guide provides the tools you need to enhance your projects with cinematic color effects.

Takeaways

  • 🎬 You can use AI tools to copy ("steal") the color grade from any movie and apply it to your own footage.
  • 🤖 Runway ML offers a "text-to-color-grade" feature where you describe the look and it generates color grades you can export as LUTs.
  • 📥Runway's generated grades can be downloaded as LUT files and imported into editing software like Premiere Pro or DaVinci Resolve. For even more creative control, try using AI coloring page prompts to enhance your visual storytelling.
  • 🔍 Describing the color palette (e.g., "analogous yellows, oranges, desaturated shadows") produces better results than just typing a movie title.
  • 🎯 AI and automatic tools are great starting points but usually require manual fine-tuning to match your footage perfectly.
  • 📸 Shoot or practice with log/raw footage when possible — it contains more information and is ideal for color grading.
  • ⚙️ Always apply the correct log→Rec.709 conversion (LUT) first to bring log footage into a normal color space before grading.
  • 🖼️ You can use a high-quality screenshot (Google image or captured frame) as a reference image for color matching workflows.
  • 🎛️ Premiere Pro's Color Match (Comparison View → Apply) can quickly transfer a reference frame's look to your clip as a starting point.
  • 🎚️ DaVinci Resolve has a "Shot Match" featureSteal color grades AI that can transfer a reference frame's grading onto a selected clip and lets you adjust strength via key output.
  • 🎵 Artlist Max (sponsor) provides high-quality stock footage (including log/raw) and music, which is useful for practicing and creating cohesive projects.
  • 🔁 Matching different camera types is easier when working from log/raw and using appropriate conversion LUTs and manual tweaks.
  • 🧪 Trial-and-error with prompts, specific descriptors, and minor manual adjustments yields the most convincing cinematic matches.
  • 📂 Use demo assets or sample clips if you don’t have your own footage to test AI grading tools.
  • 🔧 Final results often need additional shadow/highlight, tint, and contrast tweaks to suit lighting, dynamic range, and mood of your footage.

Q & A

  • What is the main topic of the video?

    -The video explains how to use AI tools to steal color grades from famous movies and apply them to your own footage.

  • What is the AI tool mentioned for stealing color grades?

    -The AI tool mentioned is Runway, specifically its 'text to color grade' feature, which allows you to generate color grades by simply describing the look you're after.

  • How does the Runway AI tool work for color grading?

    -You describe the color grade you want (e.g., 'Blade Runner 2049 look') and the AI generates a color grade that you can export as a LUT to use in editing software like Premiere Pro.

  • What should you do if the color grade generated by the AI tool doesn't look exactly as expected?

    -You can refine the description or use more specific terms, such as describing the effect in more detail (e.g., 'analogous colors with focus on yellows, oranges, and reds'), and do some trial and error.

  • What feature in Premiere Pro helps in matching color grades to cinematic scenes?

    -Premiere Pro has a 'Color MatchSteal movie color grades' feature in the Lumetri Color panel, which allows you to compare your footage with a reference image and automatically apply a similar color grade.

  • How do you use the 'Color Match' feature in Premiere Pro?

    -Import the reference image and your footage, then go to the 'Lumetri Color' panel, select 'Comparison View' under 'Color Match,' and click 'Apply' to match the color grade from the reference scene.

  • Why is working with log and raw footage beneficial for color grading?

    -Log and raw footage retains a lot of dynamic range and detail, which gives more flexibility for color grading, allowing you to manipulate shadows, highlights, and contrast more effectively.

  • What is Artlist Max and how does it help with color grading?

    -Artlist Max provides high-quality stock footage shot on professional cinema cameras, which is great for practicing color grading. It also offers footage in log and raw formats, giving a lot of room for experimentation.

  • What is the purpose of applying a log-to-rec 709 conversion in color grading?

    -The log-to-rec 709 conversion transforms flat, desaturated log footage into a more natural-looking color space (Rec 709), making it easier to start the color grading process with proper contrast and saturation. This essential step prepares your footage for vibrant edits, just like using a photo to coloring page converter enhances digital artwork.

  • How does DaVinci Resolve help in matching color grades?

    -DaVinci Resolve allows you to use the 'Shot Match' feature, which matches the color grade of a reference scene (e.g., from 'The Joker') to your own footage, helping you replicate the cinematic look.

Outlines

00:00

🎬 Steal Movie Color Grades Using AI Tools

In this episode, the host introduces various ways to 'steal' color grades from iconic movies to use in personal projects. The focus is on using AI tools, like Runway, which allows users to generate cinematic color grades by simply describing the desired effects. The tool creates color grading LUTs (Look-Up Tables) that can be applied to editing software like Premiere Pro. The host walks through how to use the Runway AI tool to replicate color grades from movies like Blade Runner 2049, and emphasizes the importance of trial and error in getting the right look. The main takeaway is that AI tools can help filmmakers quickly generate color grades, but minor tweaks may still be needed to perfect the final product.

05:01

🎥 Enhance Your Workflow with Artlist Max

The host discusses Artlist Max, a stock footage service that offers high-quality cinematic footage, often shot with expensive cameras. The service is beneficial for color grading practice, as it provides raw and log footage with a wide dynamic range, perfect for experimenting with color grading techniques. The host explains how Artlist Max helps users understand how color grading can change the mood of a scene, making it ideal for learning and perfectSteal movie color gradesing color grading skills. Additionally, Artlist offers curated music playlists that match the atmosphere of various films, making it a comprehensive resource for filmmakers. The host also details Artlist's pricing plans, including the Pro and Max subscriptions, which provide access to extensive footage libraries and editing tools.

10:04

🎨 Master Color Grading with Log and Raw Footage

This segment explains the advantages of using log and raw footage for professional color grading. Log footage is intentionally flat and desaturated to retain maximum detail in highlights and shadows, offering greater flexibility in color grading. The host emphasizes the importance of applying a Log-to-Rec 709 conversion, which transforms the flat footage into a more visually accurate format that is easier to work with. The host provides a link to free conversion LUTs to help users transition log footage into a standard color space, ensuring a solid starting point for color grading work.

⚡ Speed Up Your Color Grading with Premiere Pro's Color Match

In this section, the host demonstrates how to use Adobe Premiere Pro's built-in Color Match feature to quickly achieve cinematic color grades. By importing a reference image from a movie and using the Lumetri color panel, users can match the color grading of their footage to the reference frame. The feature splits the program window into two sections, allowing easy comparison between the original and reference frame. Although not a perfect solution, the color match tool provides a great starting point for users to make further adjustments and create a professional look in just a few steps.

🎬 Steal Color Grading from The Joker in DaVinci Resolve

The host delves into the color grading powerhouse DaVinci Resolve, showing how to replicate the color grade of the film 'The Joker' for personal projects. Using high-quality screenshots from the film, the host walks through importing reference footage into DaVinci Resolve and applying the color grading from the Joker scene to the user's own footage. The 'shot match' function in DaVinci Resolve transfers the distinct color look from the reference scene onto the footage, while the intensity of the grade can be adjusted for better compatibility. The key takeaway is that DaVinci Resolve allows for highly detailed and precise color grading, making it a powerful tool for professionals.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Color Grade

Color grading refers to the process of adjusting the colors, contrasts, and overall aesthetic of a video or film to achieve a desired look or mood. It can involve altering the color balance, shadows, highlights, saturation, and other visual elements to create a specific visual style. In this video, the process of 'stealing' a color grade from popular movies like 'Blade Runner 2049' or 'The Joker' is explored, using AI tools to replicate these iconic looks.

💡AI Tools

AI tools, in this context, refer to software applications powered by artificial intelligence that can assist with tasks like color grading. Specifically, the video highlights a tool called Runway, which generates color grades based on user input. By describing the desired color palette or effects, users can create a look similar to scenes from iconic films, offering a starting point for professional color grading.

💡Runway

Runway is a tool that uses AI to assist with video editing tasks, including color grading. Users can input descriptions of the color grades they wish to emulate, such as 'Blade Runner 2049,'JSON code correction and the AI generates corresponding color grading presets. This tool is particularly useful for beginners or those looking for a quick starting point for achieving cinematic looks without extensive manual work.

💡Text to Color Grade

The 'Text to Color Grade' feature in Runway allows users to describe the color grade they want to replicate using text prompts. For example, users can type 'analogous colors with a focus on yellows, oranges, and reds' to get a specific look, which the AI generates as a color grading preset. This feature is key to simplifying the color grading process and is featured in the video as an innovative way to achieve complex cinematic looks.

💡LUT (Look-Up Table)

A LUT is a preset file that contains instructions for adjusting colors in a video, essentially transforming the colors and tones of footage to match a specific look. In the video, the color grades created by Runway are exported as LUTs, which can be imported into editing software like Premiere Pro to apply the same color grading effects to new footage. LUTs are a vital tool for consistent and efficient color grading.

💡Premiere Pro

Premiere Pro is a professional video editing software used for tasks like color grading, editing, and post-production. In the video, Premiere Pro is used to import and apply LUTs, particularly with its 'Lumetri Color' panel, which facilitates advanced color grading. Premiere Pro's color match feature is also highlighted as a way to match a clip's color grade to a reference image from a movie.

💡Google Image Search

Google Image Search is used in the video as a method to find reference images from films that can guide color grading decisions. By downloading high-quality stills from films like 'The Joker,' users can import these into video editing software to help match the color palette and mood of their own footage. This method is a practical and free way to gather visual inspiration for color grading.

💡Log Footage

Log footage refers to video recorded in a flat, low-contrast format that retains more detail in shadows and highlights. It is often used for color grading because it gives editors more flexibility to manipulate the image without losing detail. The video stresses the importance of using log footage, as it provides a 'blank canvas' for color grading, making it easier to apply cinematic color grades.

💡Rec 709

Rec 709 is a standard color space used for video production and distribution, particularly for HD video. In the context of color grading, footage shot in log format is often converted to Rec 709 to make it more visually appealing and suitable for general viewing. The video explains the importance of this conversion step as it prepares log footage for further grading, ensuring a natural and standard color presentation.

💡DaVinci Resolve

DaVinci Resolve is a professional-grade color grading and video editing software renowned for its advanced color grading tools. In the video, it is used to 'steal' the color grade from a scene in 'The Joker.' DaVinci Resolve offers powerful features, like shot matching, which allows users to replicate the color grade of reference footage with high precision. The video demonstrates how to use Resolve for this process, emphasizing its role as a color grading powerhouse.

Highlights

Learn how to steal the color grade of any movie using AI tools.

Use AI to emulate iconic cinematic looks from movies like 'Joker', 'Dune', and 'Blade Runner 2049'.

AI tools like Runway’s Text to Color Grade feature help generate color grades from text descriptions.

Apply cinematic color grades with a single click and customize them in your editing software.

Blade Runner 2049's orange and drippy color grade can be emulated by describing its color effects in detail.

Export AI-generated color grades as LUTs for use in Premiere Pro or other editing software.

Runway AI helps create a starting point for color grading, with room for minor manual adjustments.

Artlist’s stock footage is ideal for practicing color grading, offering high-quality clips for experimentation.

Use ArtlistSteal color grades with AI Max for access to premium raw footage shot with professional cinema cameras.

Color grading using log and raw footage helps retain more information for better manipulation.

Learn how to convert log footage to Rec. 709 for easier color grading in Premiere Pro.

Premiere Pro’s color match feature can match your footage to reference images from iconic movies.

Color grading in DaVinci Resolve allows you to match scenes from movies like 'The Joker' to your footage.

DaVinci Resolve's shot matching tool transfers the color grading from one scene to another with ease.

Adjust the intensity of the color grade in DaVinci Resolve to perfectly fit your footage.