HD Color Grading

In the early years of video, color grading was born out of necessity. Also referred to as color correction, filmmakers needed the ability to fix the color of their images. They wanted to improve problematic shots, balance the tones of individual clips in a sequence or correct footage that had been shot with the wrong color filter. The position of colorist evolved to meet this new demand. As technology improved, colorists began to enjoy better tools to make increasingly sophisticated alterations to their film and video images. Precise control over color detail enabled colorists to exercise their imagination and infuse an artistic color style into their projects. As a result, producers began turning to the colorist to develop elaborate "looks" for their videos that would significantly affect the mood of the program.

Chicago HD is proud to offer our customers Edit/Color 1, our powerful "daVinci-esque" color grading system operated by experienced colorists. Color workflow is streamlined because shots are graded from footage that has already been captured, eliminating the additional time and expense of going back to the original film or tape for color finishing.

Edit/Color 1 was designed from the ground up as a digital color finishing tool. Today's color requirements are met in an uncompromising product that works with HD and SD QuickTIme media in realtime. Our colorists can manipulate primaries, secondaries, effects and geometries (pan-scan-rotate-zoom) either while the content is playing or in single frame mode. Color sessions can also be performed "offline" on one system and then brought to Chicago HD for finishing. The clients, colorists and editor can then utilize our broadcast HD monitors and VTRs for final review, revisions and mastering.