Color Finale Pro vs Standard vs Davinci Resolve Lite

Hey,

I was mainly color grading until today on Apple Color, and was thinking of moving to either Color Finale or Davinci Resolve Lite.

I was wondering 1st of all what’s the difference between Color Finale Pro and Standard, since it’s not listed on the cologradingcentral website.

My other question is what’s the difference between Color Finale and Resolve Lite, and the pros/cons for each.

Thanks
Oded

"Apple color" was a nice color grading software but quite limited compared to "DaVinci Resolve" which is a great node base color grading software. It is so versatile since you can combine nodes into very complex schematics of serial , parallel and layer nodes structures; it also has one of the most efficient tracker-stabilizer. Davinci resolve is great at geometries (secondaries) and keying selection. I do believe it is in the very best Color software with Quantel pablo , Filmlight Baselight or Autodesk Lustre.

That said Color finale pro is a fantastic addition to FCPX and I could not do without it in more sophisticated grading task and with Coremelt SliceX extras you have the benefit of planar tracking secondaries under Color Finale controls, this makes it pretty complete. Many new interesting features were added in the pro version:
www.fcp.co/final-cut-pro/articles/1860-c...-finale-pro-for-fcpx

Finally, no way would I use Davinci Resolve as an NLE … FCPX is to much fun to create in and with the Color finale addition+ Coremelt SliceX , I now only use DaVinci Resolve for very intense and complex color grading projects.
N.B. DaVinci lite had an output size limitation to HD max. it might still be the case.

Hey Francois,

Thanks for the reply
of course I would never use Resolve as an NLE, I'm FCPX through and through

so from your post I understand you recommend Color Finale unless I'm doing really high end and complex stuff and it that case you recommend Resolve(but not light), or am I wrong?

can you give me an example for an "intense and complex color grading projects"?

P.S.
I never quite understood the node system and why it's better then layers, maybe I need to watch tutorials on the matter

Apple Color did in fact have nodes you could work with, just FYI. Was also the most fun Apple pro app class to teach.

Anyway, get Color Finale, it is awesome, and constantly evolving. And get Resolve free version. Learn them, you'll know when to use what simply by learning them, using them. When to use what is so subjective, I don't think anyone can give you absolutes as to when to use what. Color Finale is cheap enough for what it does. Resolve free is, well, FREE. And IF you need any of the paid features, upgrade to it when you find the need for it.

Francois wrote: N.B. DaVinci lite had an output size limitation to HD max. it might still be the case.

It's UHD now.

Thanks all, I guess I'm just wondering should I spend money on a simpler app but that saves me the roundtripping and I don't really have to learn anything because it's pretty much like Color or go for the free app which has more abilities but maybe more then I need but I have to start working on roundtrips and learn the App from scratch

The only thing I have no idea about is LUTs and ACES, they feel like putting a "look" on your shot, or is there anything more to it?