***Udated with FCPX release date***
Following on from flat picture styles for Canon DSLR's, Technicolor have launched CineStyle Color Assist. This $99 looks package for Final Cut Pro & Adobe Premiere brings their technology from blockbuster films to the NLE desktop.
We have seen a couple of previews of this software at shows, but this is the official launch of Technicolor's colour correction and grading software CineStyle Color Assist. We must point out right at the top here that the only two NLE programs that support it at the moment are FCP7 and Premiere. We have sent an email to Technicolor to ask if FCPX support is planned.
Update Technicolor have replied to an email we sent to say they are planning FCPX support for Q2 2013
The software comes with 25 pre-loaded looks that can be accessed from a custom GUI. The GUI loads from a click to a Technicolor CineStyle filter applied on a clip. Magic Bullet users will instantly see some familiarity in the concept. You can build your own looks or purchase more looks such as the Movies or Extreme packs priced at $19 each. There is a free 7 day trial available, but you won't be able to export.
“CineStyle™ Color Assist gives any video production enthusiast easy-to-use, professional-quality color correction tools,” said Alejandro Guerrero, Senior Vice President and General Manager for CineStyle™ at Technicolor. “We adapted the technology we use for blockbuster films and TV shows to create an affordable tool with an intuitive user interface, time saving features, and extensive color library.”
Alas no support for FCPX, but here is CineStyle Color Assist working with Final Cut Pro 7
And a quick tour around the GUI
Our initial thoughts about the plugin are good, but we are yet to give this one a spin ourselves. The pricing at $99 is right and the expansion packs are a good idea and open up third party look products in a similar fashion to Magic Bullet. The name in the film industry is second to none, so this is going to be a well produced product. It should work well with the flat Technicolor picture profile for Canon DSLR cameras and convert log footage into Rec.709.
Now on to the downsides. There isn't as much flexibility as MBL or even Resolve Lite, which of course is free. Technicolor say that filters, vignettes and mattes are all planned for future versions. The launch version only supports resolutions up to 2K which might be a problem if you are lucky enough to be shooting in 4K. The website is slightly ambiguous, but ProRes 4444 support doesn't look possible, especially on a PC. The biggest drawback however is lack of FCPX support, we will keep you posted with the news when we get it.
Good to have such a great name producing post production products for us editors and this product looks (sorry) as if it might mature into a great and hopefully stable tool.
CineStyle™ Color Assist Feature Set:
· Instant color correction & grading with render free playback
· 25 CineStyle Looks designed by Technicolor Colorists for quick grading
· Ability to save up to nine Color Compositions per video clip
· Non-destructive color correction & grading via MetaColor™ file
· User-friendly interface
· 3-Way Color Corrector, Key Selector & Curves Adjustments for advanced control
· Support for popular video codecs in SD, HD & 2K resolutions
· Scopes to easily monitor color information
· Plugin support for Apple Final Cut Pro 7 & Adobe Premiere Pro CS5.5 & CS6
· Expandable library with additional premium CineStyle Looks packages
Secondary monitor support for full screen playback (Blackmagic & AJA although this might be the dual desktop trick)
Technology based on Technicolor’s award-winning DP Lights™ System
Want to see the plugin in action?
And if you do more weddings than dance events, checkout the plugin being used for those special moments.
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!
