I've been learning color grading for my short film projects in DaVinci Resolve, and while I can follow tutorials to achieve a specific look, I struggle with developing a consistent grading strategy that serves the story and mood from scratch. My footage often ends up with a disconnected feel between scenes. For more experienced colorists, what is your practical workflow for building a grade, from initial correction through to creative looks, and how do you ensure visual continuity across different lighting conditions and shooting days?
Nice project. Start with a repeatable node chain: 1) Correct exposure and white balance in a representative shot; 2) Normalize to a neutral base grade (lift/gamma/gain) so most shots sit together; 3) A subtle creative look on a separate node; 4) Copy base grade to other shots and apply small local tweaks. Use Waveform, Vectorscope, and Parade to keep luminance and contrast consistent across scenes.
Two-pass workflow suggestion: Pass 1 unify exposure/WB across all footage; Pass 2 apply the look. Choose a neutral reference frame per scene, then use shot matching to align color decisions. Build your look with a few curves (RGB, saturation) and apply it globally; add local adjustments with qualifiers for skin tones, skies, or neon lights.
On color management: consider using Resolve's Color Management (ACEs) so you grade in a consistent space; pick a target working space (ACEScct/ACEScg) and stick to it. Create a 'base grade' for the timeline, then use per-shot tweaks. Create groups for similar shot types to apply shared corrections more easily. And save a 'look' as a preset for reuse.
Continuity tips: lock in a handful of target luminance values (e.g., 40-50 IRE for midtones, 0-5 for shadows, 90-100 for highlights) and ensure the scenes stay within them. Use a neutral reference frame and compare across scenes with the gallery of key frames. Use 'Apply Grade' from stills to multiple shots to maintain a consistent base look.
Other practical notes: isolate color decisions to specific nodes if possible; use 'qualifier' to prevent color bleed; use 'Power Windows' to stabilize color in complex scenes; track windows across motion; keep the creative look at the end so it's easy to revert if a shot feels off; when finishing, render a quick SDR and HDR test to ensure parity across devices.
Want a concrete starting point? I can sketch a 6-7 node tree and provide a sample grading plan for a 1–2 minute scene. Share the camera log, color space, and target delivery format and I’ll tailor it.