Creating a "Cinematic" Look with Dehancer in Davinci Resolve

This guide outlines the workflow for using Dehancer with DaVinci Resolve to achieve professional-grade color grading. Follow along to replicate the techniques shared in the tutorial.

For this tutorial, I am using BRAW footage.

Setting Up Your Project

1. Import Your Clips
    - Open the Media tab and drag your clips into the timeline.

2. Adjust Project Settings
    - Navigate to `File > Project Settings`.
    - Set the resolution (e.g., Ultra HD for 4K footage).
    - Go to Color Management and select `DaVinci Wide Gamut Intermediate` for Timeline Color Space. This is a massive color space perfect for grading. For Output Color Space, select Rec.709 Gamma 2.4.

For Mac:

For Output Color Space, select Rec.709-A if you’re using a Mac.

Navigate to ‘DaVinci Resolve > Preferences > General’, select Use Mac display color profiles for viewers.

Creating the Node Tree

3. Start from Scratch
    - Open the Color tab and create a new node tree.
    - Use `Option + S` to add nodes and label them:
        - Denoiser
        - White Balance
        - Contrast
        - Saturation/Density
        - Power Windows
        - Skin
        - Outside

4. Adding Color Space Transform (CST)
    - Use CST to convert camera profiles to Rec. 709.

Applying Dehancer

5. Insert Dehancer Plugin
    - Select your film profile (e.g., Kodak Vision3 50D or Portra 400).
    - Enable settings like Film Grain, Halation, Bloom, and Film Compression as needed.

6. Fine-Tune Your Look
    - Adjust exposure, contrast, and color density.

Reusing and Saving Grades

7. Save Your Grade
    - Right-click on your grade in the Color tab to grab a still and save it as a starting template for future clips.

8. Apply Grade to Multiple Clips

Option 1: In the color tab, highlight clips by holding ‘command’ and selecting. In Gallery, right click on the still you created, then ‘apply grade’.

Option 2: In the edit tab, find ‘adjustment layer’ under the effect tab, drag over the clips you want to grade. In the color tab, select the adjustment layer. In Gallery, right click on the still you created, then ‘apply grade’.

Option 3: Pre/Post Clips & Groups

In the color tab, highlight clips by holding ‘command’. Right click, hit ‘Add into New Group"‘. Enter a group name. You will now see four dots at the top op the node window. Click the third dot to open Group Post-Clip. Any change you make in the node structure will reflect on all the clips within the group. In Gallery, right click on the still you created, then ‘apply grade’.

Handling Non-RAW Footage

9. Transform Footage Without Camera Metadata
    - Use CST to convert footage to Rec. 709, then apply Dehancer.

Additional Features and Tips

10. Experiment with Film Damage and Gate Weave
    - These effects mimic authentic film characteristics like scratches and movement.

11. Export LUTs for On-Set Monitoring
    - Use the LUT generator to export your custom look.

In the color tab, select a clip. Right click, hit Generate Lut. Generate either a 33 or 65 Point Cube LUT.

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Delivery

For Mac: In the Deliver tab, under ‘Advance Settings’, chance Color Space Tag to Rec.709. Change ‘Gamma Tag‘ to Rec.709-A.

For a discount on Dehancer, use the coupon code `COLLINAUSBURY` at checkout for 10% off.

Cheers,

Collin