I'm an aspiring filmmaker working on my first short film, and while I'm comfortable with shooting and editing, I feel completely lost in the color grading phase. I've been experimenting with DaVinci Resolve, but my attempts to create a cohesive, cinematic look often result in footage that feels flat or unnaturally tinted. For more experienced editors and colorists, what foundational color grading techniques or workflow steps should I focus on first to develop a consistent look that supports the story's mood, and are there common beginner mistakes I should avoid when working with log footage?
Good starting point. Treat log footage as its own color space and map it to Rec.709 first, then shape mood with a controlled look. In DaVinci Resolve, start with a simple 3‑node pipeline: 1) primary correction to fix white balance, exposure, and overall contrast, 2) secondary balance to even out shadows/mids/highlights (adjust lift/gamma/gain and—if needed—a skin-tone specific correction), 3) a light curve to fine‑tune contrast and preserve highlight roll‑off. If you’re using ACES, enable ACEScct and do the base grade in that space; otherwise use Resolve Color Management to convert to Rec.709 before grading. Always rely on the waveform and vectorscope to keep skin tones natural and to avoid clipping, then match across shots with stills or a reference frame. Finally, ship a small look on a couple of representative scenes and apply it consistently rather than stacking heavy LUTs on everything.