COLOR SHAPER
COLOR GRADING TOOL
INTRODUCTION
These DCTLs enable you to precisely select and modify a specific hue range, adjusting its saturation, density, or hue. Uniquely, these DCTLs also allow you to choose a luminance range within the selected hue, ensuring that adjustments affect only the shadows, midtones, or highlights. This targeted approach enhances precision in color grading, providing optimal control over the visual outcome.
In this example, I applied more density and saturation to the shadow regions of her skin.
In this example, I brightened and added saturation to the highlight regions of his skin.
GUIDELINES
FOR HUE SELECTION
- Move the ‘Range’ slider to the left to set it to the minimum value of 15.00.
- Adjust the “Center” slider to pinpoint the desired hue, ensuring it is distinctly highlighted in the image.
- Increase the ‘Range’ slider back to around 40.00 degrees or more for a smooth rolloff between adjacent hues.
This image illustrates the flexibility of adjusting the ‘Center’ for ‘Cyan’. By using the ‘Center’ slider, you can extend the hue adjustments beyond pure cyan, reaching into hues that blend towards blue or green.
GUIDELINES
FOR LUMA SELECTION
- Begin by moving the ‘Luma Low/High’ and ‘Luma Range’ sliders to the leftmost position.
- Gradually increase the ‘Luma Low/High’ slider to selectively adjust the shadow or highlight regions as needed.
- Enhance the transition between dark and bright areas by slowly increasing the ‘Luma Range’ to achieve a smooth rolloff.
This image demonstrates the versatility of adjusting the ‘Luma Low / High’ values for ‘Cyan’. By using the ‘Luma Low / High’ slider, you can precisely select the shadow, midtone, and highlight regions of an image.
FAQ
What is the difference between the “Color Shift” DCTL pack and this tool?
“Color Shift” is excellent for global look development. I aimed to create a tool that is precise in selecting specific hues and luma ranges, ensuring a smooth transition to neighboring hues and different luminance values. This allows for quick modifications to just the shadows, midtones, or highlight regions of a specific hue. Thus, I see this tool as an alternative to the Qualifier tool inside DaVinci Resolve. I use “Color Shift” DCTLs for broad adjustments and global look development, which can be applied at the timeline level or post-group level to create a look. In contrast, the “Color Shaper” DCTL pack is designed to address specific issues in scenes, such as darkening the shadows of a specific hue in a single scene or correcting a distracting hue in the background, making it easy to quickly fix specific scenes.
What is the difference between this tool and the “Qualifier”?
This tool fundamentally differs from mask-based methods like the Qualifier, which isolates specific color ranges for adjustment based on hue, saturation, and luminance values. Precision is crucial; failing to refine the edges of your mask can lead to noticeable problems. If you neglect to properly blur, blend, smooth, or soften the edges of your selection, the results may appear harsh and unnatural, disrupting the overall quality of the scene.
The “Color Shaper” includes a Highlight function, but it is not mask-based. Instead, using curve functions for the selection process means the intensity of the effect gradually decreases as it moves away from the center of your specified range. This natural smoothness avoids harsh edges and makes the transition between affected and unaffected areas more seamless than typical qualifiers.
Fast and Easy to Use!
Once you select your desired hue and luminance range, you can immediately begin making adjustments to saturation, density, and hue without ever leaving the tool. “Color Shaper” is eliminating the need to worry about blurring the edges of a mask—a common step required when using the qualifier tool.
This image provides a detailed view of the interface for the HSL Qualifier in DaVinci Resolve, highlighting the complexity and precision required to create a clean mask for color correction.
VIDEO
FREE DEMO VERSION
ko-fi.com / 2 MB
This version includes a watermark, displayed as a grid
of black plus signs on the image. The demo version is perfect
for users who want to explore the software’s features
and functionalities before making a purchase.
INSTALL GUIDELINES
- Open the “Project Settings.”
- Go to “Color Management” and choose “Open LUT Folder.”
- Drag and drop the folders with the DCTL files into this directory.
- Restart DaVinci Resolve to apply the changes.
NODE TREE GUIDELINES
& COLOR SPACE
If you are using multiple ‘SHAPER’ DCTLs, I recommend using parallel nodes for optimal results.
COLOR SPACE:
This tool is designed to work best in large color spaces.
Such as DWG or LogC3.
BUY
COLOR SHAPER
One-time payment.
No subscription.
Free updates.
Format: Encrypted DCTL
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€ 199,00incl. 19% VAT