Video Editing Color Grading and Correction 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What does 'white balance' correct in footage?
- Overexposed highlights
- Color cast caused by different light sources (Correct answer)
- Underexposed shadows
- Motion blur
Correct answer: Color cast caused by different light sources
White balance corrects unwanted color casts so that neutral tones like white and gray appear neutral under different lighting conditions.
Question 2: Which color space is commonly used for high dynamic range (HDR) video content?
- Rec. 709
- sRGB
- Rec. 2020 (Correct answer)
- CMYK
Correct answer: Rec. 2020
Rec. 2020 is the color space standard used for HDR and Ultra HD content, offering a much wider gamut than Rec. 709.
Question 3: What is the purpose of a 'node' in DaVinci Resolve's color grading workflow?
- To cut a clip
- To apply and stack color operations independently and non-destructively (Correct answer)
- To export a LUT
- To sync audio
Correct answer: To apply and stack color operations independently and non-destructively
Nodes in DaVinci Resolve allow colorists to apply individual color operations that can be linked, stacked, and adjusted independently.
Question 4: What does 'log footage' refer to in video production?
- Footage recorded at 24fps
- Footage encoded in a flat, low-contrast profile to preserve dynamic range (Correct answer)
- Footage with embedded LUTs
- Time-lapse footage
Correct answer: Footage encoded in a flat, low-contrast profile to preserve dynamic range
Log footage uses a logarithmic encoding to preserve maximum dynamic range, requiring color grading to look natural.
Question 5: In color grading, what is 'secondary color correction'?
- Correcting colors on a second monitor
- Targeting and adjusting a specific color range without affecting others (Correct answer)
- Applying a LUT after primary correction
- Correcting audio sync in color suite
Correct answer: Targeting and adjusting a specific color range without affecting others
Secondary color correction isolates a specific color or region to make targeted adjustments without affecting the rest of the image.
Question 6: What is the safe luma range for broadcast video to avoid illegal levels?
- 0–255 IRE
- 16–235 (legal broadcast range) (Correct answer)
- 0–100 nits
- 32–220 IRE
Correct answer: 16–235 (legal broadcast range)
Broadcast legal levels for luma in 8-bit video are 16 (black) to 235 (white) to prevent clipping on broadcast monitors.
Video Editing Color Grading and Correction 2
What does 'white balance' correct in footage?