Expert’s Rating
Pros
Cons
Our Verdict
Adobe SpeedGrade CS6is a color rank computer software program that used to cost upwards of $ 20,000 when it was sold as a professional stand up - alone package fromIridas . But following that fellowship ’s leverage by Adobe , SpeedGrade is now include with the CS6 Production Premium , Master Collection , and Creative Cloud bundles , or sold individually for $ 999 . Using what Adobe calls theLumetri Deep Color Engine , SpeedGrade allows you to perform professional color grading on your television footage — either in its raw format or as an edited composing derive fromPremiere Pro CS6 ( ) .
This programme is aimed at in high spirits - end professional video editors , film producers , and film producer . It is generally more advanced than what is take by most telecasting editor in chief using a basic three - way colouration corrector plug - in with a non - running redaction system of rules . But if you desire amazing color grading for your footage and edited projects , and do n’t beware a bit of a learning curve ball to achieve it , then SpeedGrade will emphatically make your sidereal day . With SpeedGrade , you could add screening , vignettes , and even color grade 3D stereo pairs . understandably , Adobe is direct for a more sophisticated video yield crowd with the total CS6 cortege and this tool is an come-on for those in the know — rip in customers from Final Cut , and also from Avid . The learning breaking ball may be too unconscionable for most editors , and if you do n’t really know what you ’re doing , you wo n’t get optimum result over using the basic three - way color corrector .
Premiere Pro CS6 integration
While SpeedGrade can be used on most any footage file type , Adobe has incorporated an edit decision inclination ( EDL ) charge work flow with Premiere Pro CS6 that maintains all the edit spot to allow you to grade cuts on an individual basis on the timeline . Adobe has also added a Send to SpeedGrade feature in Premiere Pro CS6 , which maintains all edit points . you’re able to also spread individual clip right away in SpeedGrade .
To use this feature from inside Premiere Pro CS6 , take the footage cartridge holder or sequence you wish to grade , select the Send to Adobe SpeedGrade pick from the File pulldown menu , and choose a name and address . This will save a SpeedGrade Project data file ( .ircp ) , which will open flat in SpeedGrade once it ’s completed . This could take awhile , depend on the amount of capacity and edits in your chronological succession .
you could send out footage clipping or complete emended sequences in Premiere Pro CS6 straight to SpeedGrade , retaining all the edits .
You can send footage clips or complete edited sequences in Premiere Pro CS6 directly to SpeedGrade, retaining all the edits.
Once your project opens in SpeedGrade , you could click and get behind the Grading image from the Setup control panel to the timeline to add a Primary grading layer . If you add it to just an edited clip segment of the succession layer , it will only affect that clip . If you add it above the top layer , it will make a segment layer that mirror all the edits in the sequence .
hold a Primary order layer to the footage sequence by click and drag the Grading icon from the Setup dialog box .
However , this is where you really call for some program line on how to habituate the platform , as many of these step will not be nonrational for editors jumping into SpeedGrade for the first sentence . Adobe TVprovides several how - to and getting started video , which will help you get up and run .
Apply a Primary grading layer to the footage sequence by clicking and dragging the Grading icon from the Setup panel.
Grading on a curve
Once you ’re in the Look panel , the dominance look and finger more familiar — Offset , Gamma , and Gain wheel adjust the overall shadow , midtones , and highlights very subtly . The ascendance on the wheels move much more smoothly than the typical three - coloring material fireplug - in most video editors are used to , but holding down the fracture key lets you rage up movement exponentially , if needed .
Many other finetuning controls for impregnation , contrast , and temperature let you make global adjustment to your overall footage . Using these adjustments , I was able to warm up up my test issue and reduce a bit of glare from the whisker Inner Light without flatten out out detail or contrast .
SpeedGrade ’s grade prick reserve you to make very accurate adjustment to your footage at diverge levels .
SpeedGrade’s grading tools allow you to make very precise adjustments to your footage at varying levels.
The program bear some just starting points with an example program library of provided looks , which admit Cinematic , Desaturation , Style , and Temperature . These looks can be qualify and saved as your own custom looks for late use — or to hand off to a confrere . I can only imagine that there will eventually be library of custom look create by exploiter and passed around , before long .
The examples I tried from the library seem to have very specific yet practical applications . For representative , when applying the Sepia look from the Cinematic examples library , the magnificence and luminousness were preserved , give a deep , warm tone to the original image .
I apply the Venetian red tone in the Cinematic Look example library . It maintains the cornucopia of the luminance of the original image .
I applied the Sepia tone in the Cinematic Look examples library. It maintains the richness of the luminance of the original image.
Secondary grading layers and masks
you may heap multiple layer in SpeedGrade , as you might do with adjustment layer inPhotoshop ( ) or Premiere Pro . They will continue to strike every bed beneath the stack order , and you may re - place the stack .
Create a subaltern layer and adjust select colors to key out areas you wish to detain to an alpha matte . This works with any color range — not just green or blue . This is specially utile for isolating skin tone or fade clothing you care to adjust or “ pop ” without affecting the integral image .
Selecting a color or range , you’re able to key out an alpha matte to constrain coloring material range adjustments .
Selecting a color or range, you can key out an alpha matte to constrain color grading adjustments.
you could make a masquerade party using various shapes to start with , and then adjust for the arena you wish to trammel . These masks can be applied to either primary or secondary level and can operate in conjunction with keyed alphas to further stiffen an area for chastisement . Whether creating a orbitual or rectangular matte shape from the presets , you may shift , scale , rotate , and adjust the falloff of the mask ’s feathered sharpness within the on - screen thingumajig . you’re able to also add together and delete points to your mask to make custom shapes , as you would in Photoshop orAfter Effects ( ) . If you ’re cloak an object that moves on - screen you may also attach a motion tracker to your mask so it will follow the object or shape .
The Mask tool is very flexible and can be merge with alpha keying on a lower-ranking bed .
Working with 3D stereoscopic pairs
SpeedGrade has a complete 3D stereoscopic workflow built into the programme that helps you adjust and match your raw footage as well as complete an emended task . Stereo pairs ( Left & Right ) are selected when you create a Stereo Timeline and add one of either the left or right tv camera footage snip to the timeline .
There are various regard choice for your footage and orientations for monitoring while working . SpeedGrade also supports duple display setups and a change of shutter glasses and mirror displays , including Xpand 3D , Dolby 3D , and RealD Z screens .
bring a left or right side camera cartridge clip to a Stereo Timeline mechanically add the other view .
The Mask tool is very flexible and can be combined with alpha keying on a Secondary layer.
Not only can you do color grading on a stereoscopic picture pair , but there are various alteration to geometry and colour - matching between the two views that can be mechanically check or manually adjusted . In most type , SpeedGrade does an amazing job of both geometry and color balancing with the automate Match option .
Viewing the stereo system yoke in Difference mode while making geometry and convergence adjustments .
Output of the stereo system pairs requires interpret the footage , but there are legion choices — admit quality and calibration LUTs , filing cabinet formatting , and predilection options .
Adding a left or right side camera clip to a Stereo Timeline automatically adds the other view.
There are legion options for output of modify stereophonic system pair .
Macworld’s buying advice
Adobe SpeedGrade CS6 is $ 999 , and can be purchase separately or as part of the CS6 Production Premium , Master Collection , orCreative Cloudsubscription plans . While it ’s a powerful color grading and filmic effects creation tool with 3D stereographic finish capabilities , it may not be for everyone , or practical to use on every video production you edit . The workflow takes some getting used to , but if its effects are needed , the learning bender will prove worthwhile .
[ Jeff Foster has written and contributed to several Word of God and magazine publisher , and has been producing laurels - get ahead move graphics , picture taking , and creative designing for major corporations , television , and film for more than 20 year . ]
Viewing the stereo pair in Difference mode while making geometry and convergence adjustments.
There are numerous options for output of modified stereo pairs.
