We always watch closely when Denver Riddle from Color Grading Central launches a new product. He's just released a set of film grades as LUTs called ImpulZ. We also have a 20% off discount code for FCP.co readers.
The use of LUTs in colour grading seems to be happening more and more in post these days. A LUT or Lookup Table, is a 3D grid of numbers that maps one colour space to another. Normally used to convert footage from log to REC.709 for example, with a bit of clever tweaking, they can provide a vast array of grades or looks.
At the moment there isn't a way to use LUTs in Final Cut Pro X without a third party plugin. Denver's LUT Utility has proved to be a very popular solution
Color Grading Central has now teamed up with visionCOLOR to launch ImpulZ, 3 sets of LUTs that range from $53 to $135.
Denver explains: "ImpulZ is the finest set of analog film LUTs to emulate BOTH camera negative and positive film print 35mm film. These aren't just one click presets but they accurately emulate your digital material as it had been shot on film. You get the genuine look of film and then you colour grade. Profiled for a large variety of cameras there is an ImpulZ version that will work for you and your budget"
Good news for FCP.co readers, Denver has offered a 20% discount on all the packages by using the code fcpcoimpulz The code is good until the end of the weekend, Sunday the 15th of June.
Which version should I choose?
If you’re shooting with an HDSLR or Micro 4/3 camera using no particular picture style or color profile then I suggest the Basic. But if shooting with the Blackmagic Cinema 2.5K/Blackmagic Pocket Camera or any other camera with a picture or color profile loaded (i.e. ProLost Flat or SLog2), then I suggest the Pro version. And if you’ll be shooting with the Arri Alexa, RED, BMC 4K/URSA, C100/300/500 or Sony F55/F65, then I suggest the Ultimate.
About ImpulZ
This unique collection of meticulously generated film emulation LUTs brings the subtle beauty of the worlds best analog film stocks from Kodak®, Fuji® and more to the realm of digital cinematography and color grading. We hand selected some of the most sought after still and motion picture 35mm negative films to generate color accurate conversions for a large number of digital cameras and color spaces. ImpulZ™ is not just any other collection of one-click-make-awesome presets – it’s a complete toolkit to transform the way you’ll approach color grading!
Flexibility
ImpulZ™ breaks down the limitations of standard color correction tools with 30.000+ individual color transformations per film stock – in real time. Simply by integrating our 3D LUTs into your grading workflow you can turn every LUT compatible application into the most streamlined and flexibile film emulator ever – there’s no longer any third party software or plugin standing between you and giving your movie the exact look you always wanted. With ImpulZ‘s 3 distinct output gammas including industry standard Cineon LOG you’re always in complete control of the grade!
A great addition to an editors grading tools, especially when these LUTs will also work with other NLEs and colour grading software such as DaVinci Resolve, Adobe After Effects & Premiere, Photoshop, Avid and Motion.
I am the Editor-in-Chief of FCP.co and have run the website since its inception ten years ago.
I have also worked as a broadcast and corporate editor for over 30 years, starting on one inch tape, working through many formats, right up to today's NLEs.
Under the name Idustrial Revolution, I have written and sold plugins for Final Cut Pro for 13 years.
I was made a Freeman of Lichfield through The Worshipful Company of Smiths (established 1601). Though I haven't yet tried to herd a flock of sheep through the city centre!
Current Editing
2020 has been busy, the beginning of the year was finishing off a new property series (cut on FCP) for Channel 4 called The Great House Giveaway. I also designed and built the majority of the graphics as Motion templates. It has been a great success and the shows grabbed more viewers in the 4pm weekday slot than any previous strand. It has been recommissioned by C4 for 60 episodes, including prime-time versions and five themed programmes. The shows have also been nominated for a 2021 BAFTA.
Although both were postponed to later in the year, I worked again on ITV's coverage of the Tour de France and La Vuelta. 2020 was my 25th year of editing the TdF and my 20th year as lead editor. The Tour was the first broadcast show to adopt FCPX working for multiple editors on shared storage.
BBC's Snooker has played a big part in my life, I've been editing tournament coverage since 1997. I'm proud to be part of a very creative team that has pioneered many new ideas and workflows that are now industry standard in sports' production. This is currently an Adobe Premiere edit.
Covid cancelled some of the regular corporate events that I edit such as trade shows & events. I was lucky however to edit, from home, on projects for Amazon Kindle, Amazon Black Friday, Mastercard and very proud to have helped local charitable trust Kendall & Wall secure lottery funding.
As for software, my weapon of choice is Final Cut Pro and Motion, but I also have a good knowledge and broadcast credits with Adobe Premiere Pro, MOGRT design and Photoshop.
Plugin Design & Development
I'm the creative force behind Idustrial Revolution, one of the oldest Final Cut Pro plugin developers. It hosts a range of commercial and free plugins on the site. One free plugin was downloaded over a thousand times within 24 hours of release.
I also take on custom work, whether it is adapting an existing plugin for a special use or designing new plugins for clients from scratch. Having a good knowledge of editing allows me to build-in flexibility and more importantly, usability.
FCP.co
Now in its 10th year and 4th redesign, running FCP.co has given me knowledge on how to run a large CMS- you are currently reading my bio from the database! Although it sounds corny, I am pretty well up on social media trends & techniques, especially in the video sector. The recent Covid restrictions has enabled live FCP.co shows online. This involves managing a Zoom Webinar through Restream.io to YouTube and Facebook.
The Future
I'm always open to new ideas and opportunities, so please get in touch at editor (at) fcp.co. I've judged film competitions, presented workflow techniques to international audiences and come up with ideas for TV shows and software programs!
