Course Title: Colour grade moving images

Part B: Course Detail

Teaching Period: Term2 2015

Course Code: VART6208C

Course Title: Colour grade moving images

School: 345T Media and Communication

Campus: City Campus

Program: C4295 - Certificate IV in Screen and Media

Course Contact : Program Administration

Course Contact Phone: +61 3 9925 4815

Course Contact Email:mcvet@rmit.edu.au


Name and Contact Details of All Other Relevant Staff

Teacher: Shane Willner-Browne
Phone: (03) 9925 4815
Email: shane.willner-browne@rmit.edu.au
 

Nominal Hours: 50

Regardless of the mode of delivery, represent a guide to the relative teaching time and student effort required to successfully achieve a particular competency/module. This may include not only scheduled classes or workplace visits but also the amount of effort required to undertake, evaluate and complete all assessment requirements, including any non-classroom activities.

Pre-requisites and Co-requisites

None

Course Description

Post-production technicians involved in digital intermediate workflow, colour graders, colourists, telecine operators and archival media technicians apply the skills and knowledge outlined in this unit.
Colour grading is the process of altering and enhancing the colour of motion picture or television images, either electronically, photochemically or digitally. The process is completed by transferring the output from grading to the required medium, e.g. DVD, film, video.
Colourists need strong visual, creative and technical skills. Also critical to the grading process is attention to detail and accuracy, as well as effective safe working practices.
In most circumstances, limited supervision is required of people working at this level of expertise.
 


National Codes, Titles, Elements and Performance Criteria

National Element Code & Title:

CUFPOS403A Colour grade moving images

Element:

1. Clarify work requirements.

Performance Criteria:


1.1 In consultation with relevant personnel, identify deadlines for colour grading and ensure work is planned to meet production requirements
1.2 Assess condition of source materials for faults, determine whether remedial action is required to meet production requirements and follow-through accordingly
1.3 Ensure source materials are loaded and recorded according to enterprise procedures
1.4Identify data files on digital storage network where applicable
 

Element:

2. Prepare equipment for grading process.

Performance Criteria:

2.1 Ensure equipment is fully operational and work area is organised appropriately
2.2 Calibrate grading system for correct colour space using appropriate calibration standards
2.3 Complete tests prior to commencing grading process as required
2.4  Ensure frame count is set correctly at start of reel and record other initialisation settings as appropriate

Element:

3. Grade images for colour.

Performance Criteria:

3.1 Apply basic (primary) colour corrections for each scene to ensure overall balance
3.2 Balance colour and density for each shot according to normal appearance
3.3 Make suitable adjustments to each scene to suit client’s production requirements
3.4 Apply appropriate system tools to enhance specific colour detail within each shot or image
3.5 Apply additional (secondary) corrections and shapes to meet specified production requirements
3.6 Record colour correction data established by grader for each shot according to equipment operating specifications
3.7 Where required, ensure additional digital effects comply with predetermined production requirements
3.8 Record out, or render, correctly graded material
3.9 Deal promptly and efficiently with problems that arise during the colour grading process to ensure that production deadlines are met
3.10 If appropriate, output colour correction data for printing
 

Element:

4. Finalise colour grading.

Performance Criteria:

4.1 View results on relevant format and make further corrections as required in consultation with production  personnel
4.2 Check that grade and print requirements are met according to production requirements
4.3 Complete further job instructions
4.4 Produce required documentation to report on quality of graded output according to specified format
4.5 Log completed graded job and dispatch to required destination according to enterprise procedures
4.6 Review colour grading process and note areas for future improvement
 


Learning Outcomes


On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to apply creative colour grading techniques to a range of media productions.


 


Details of Learning Activities

Learning Activities will consist of:

  • demonstrations
  • workshops
  • practical exercises
  • productions
  • discussions
  • screenings
  • reading set texts
  • research
  • planning and development of visual effects assessments

You will be responsible for your learning and will be expected to engage in independent research, reading, study, practice and screenings
 


Teaching Schedule

  Please note: While your teacher will cover all the material in this schedule, the weekly order is subject to change depending on class needs and availability of speakers and resources  
Week Class Content Assessment
Week 1 Overview of the course content, resources, assessments and course expectations
Introduction to SpeedGrade
File and Project management
Introduction to principles of colour grading
Includes – class exercises and discussion
Assessment guide handed out
Week 2 Revision of week 1
SpeedGrade operation
SpeedGrade interface
Using the SpeedGrade toolset
Includes – class exercises and discussion
 
Week 3 Revision from week 2
Basic colour theory 1
SpeedGrade operation
Correcting luma & chroma
Primary colour grading
Using & saving looks
Includes – class exercises and discussion
 
Week 4 Revision from week 3
SpeedGrade operation
Shot consistency & matching colours
Automatic shot matching technique
Working with broadcast safe
Understanding colour warnings
Exporting the sequence
Includes – class exercises and discussion
 
Week 5 Revision of weeks 1 - 4
Assessment Task 1
 Task 1: Due
Week 6 Revision of weeks 1 to 5
SpeedGrade operation
Shadows, midtones & highlights - part 1
Includes – class exercises and discussion
 
Week 7 Revision of week 6
SpeedGrade operation
Shadows, midtones & highlights - part 2
Masks
Includes – class exercises and discussion
 
Week 8 Revision of week 7
Basic colour theory 2
Creating graphic looks
Includes – class exercises and discussion
 
Week 9 Revision of week 8
SpeedGrade operation
Keyframing your grade
Working with colour effects
Includes – class exercises and discussion
 
Week 10 Revision of weeks 1 to 9
Assessment Task 2
Note: Rolling assessment will take place. Please read the Colour Grading Task 2 schedule for your assessment appointment time. Paper handout of schedule given out during scheduled class time; digital version available on Blackboard.
Task 2
Week 11 Revision of weeks 1 to 9
Assessment Task 2
Note: Rolling assessment will take place. Please read the Colour Grading Task 2 schedule for your assessment appointment time. Paper handout of schedule given out during scheduled class time; digital version available on Blackboard.
Task 2
Week 12 Revision of weeks 1 to 9
Assessment Task 2
Note: Rolling assessment will take place. Please read the Colour Grading Task 2 schedule for your assessment appointment time. Paper handout of schedule given out during scheduled class time; digital version available on Blackboard.
 
Task 2
 Week 13 Assessment Task 3
Note: Rolling assessment will take place. Please read the Colour Grading Task 3 schedule for your assessment appointment time. Paper handout of schedule given out during scheduled class time; digital version available on Blackboard.
Task 3
Week 14 Assessment Task 3
Note: Rolling assessment will take place. Please read the Colour Grading Task 3 schedule for your assessment appointment time. Paper handout of schedule given out during scheduled class time; digital version available on Blackboard.
Task 3
Week 15 Assessment Task 3
Note: Rolling assessment will take place. Please read the Colour Grading Task 3 schedule for your assessment appointment time. Paper handout of schedule given out during scheduled class time; digital version available on Blackboard.
Task 3
Week 16 Assessment Task 3
Note: Rolling assessment will take place. Please read the Colour Grading Task 3 schedule for your assessment appointment time. Paper handout of schedule given out during scheduled class time; digital version available on Blackboard.
Task 3


Learning Resources

Prescribed Texts

Hullfish, R, Fowler, J 2003, Color Correction for Digital Video, CMP Books, USA


References

Cohen, S 2010, Avid Agility: Working Faster and More Intuitively with Avid Media Composer (2nd Ed), Createspace, USA

Hullfish, R 2008, The Art and Technique of Digital Color Correction, Focal Press, USA (available in the library)


Other Resources

Portable Hard Drive -
• Firewire 800 (Mac formatted) Will require an adapter.
• USB Stick or passport drive (Mac formatted)
• USB 3 (Mac formatted)
• Thunderbolt (Mac formatted) - Optional
 


Overview of Assessment

Assessment will involve practical exercises, knowledge assessment tasks and practical group projects


Assessment Tasks

To demonstrate competency in this course you will need to complete the following assessment to a satisfactory standard.
You will receive feedback on all assessment and where indicated, you will receive a grade. Graded assessment tasks are equally weighted and will determine your final result for this course. 

 

Assessment Tasks:-
1. Primary colour grading to a broadcast safe standard. Terminology & procedures research exercise. Ungraded - Due Week 5

2. Perform primary & secondary colour grading techniques - 24 Melbourne segment. Ungraded - Conducted Weeks 10, 11 and 12

3. Perform primary & secondary colour grading techniques - TV program. Graded - Conducted Weeks 13, 14, 15 and 16

 

For further information on assessments and the grading system and criteria used, please refer to the course blackboard site.
 

Grades used in this unit are as follows:
 

CHD     Competent with High Distinction
CDI      Competent with Distinction
CC       Competent with Credit
CAG     Comptency Achieved - Graded
NYC     Not Yet Competent
DNS     Did not Submit for Assessment
 


Assessment Matrix

The assessment matrix demonstrates alignment of assessment tasks with the relevant Unit of Competency. These are available through the course contact in Program administration

Other Information

 

Please refer to the RMIT student page for extensive information about study support, assessment, extensions, appeals and a range of other matters: rmit.edu.au/students

 

Cover Sheet for Submissions:
You must complete and sign a submission cover sheet for every piece of submitted work, including online submissions.

Attendance:
The major learning experience involves studio based exercises, demonstration and production. It is strongly advised that you attend all sessions in order to engage in the required learning activities, ensuring the maximum opportunity to gain the competency.

Assessment Feedback:
Assessment feedback is used to enable and enhance student learning. You will receive spoken and/or written feedback on your work. Where appropriate, this feedback will also include suggestions on how you can improve your work. www1.rmit.edu.au/browse;ID=qwxbqbg739rl1

Student Progress:
Monitoring academic progress is an important enabling and proactive strategy to assist you to achieve your learning potential. www1.rmit.edu.au/students/acadprogress

Assessment:
All assessment tasks are required to be completed to a satisfactory level. If you are unable to complete any piece of assessment by the due date, you will need to apply for an adjustment to your assessment. To support student success, RMIT University provides a range of adjustments to assessment. www1.rmit.edu.au/students/assessment/adjustment

Academic Integrity and Plagiarism:
RMIT University has a strict policy on plagiarism and academic integrity. Please refer to the website for more information on this policy. http://www1.rmit.edu.au/students/academic-integrity

Credit Transfer and Recognition of Prior Learning:
You may be eligible for credit towards this course if you have already met the learning/competency outcomes through previous learning. You can find out more about this process on the RMIT website. Credit Transfer and Recognition of Prior Learning
 

Course Overview: Access Course Overview