On March 1, cinematographers and colourists gathered at Picture Shop Toronto for the On Set to Finishing Colour Workshop, an in-depth look at the collaboration between the Cinematographer, Digital Imaging Technician (DIT), and Finishing Colourist. Led by Justin Black csc, DIT Andrew Richardson and Picture Shop Senior Colourist Brett Trider, the workshop provided a hands-on exploration of colour workflows from set to postproduction.
Participants gained a deep understanding of how the show LUT—developed in pre-production—guides the entire colour process. “In prep, the DP and finishing colourist will build a show LUT together based on image references and test footage provided by the DP,” Black explained. This foundation allows the DP and DIT to maintain consistency on set, ensuring dailies reflect the intended look. Later, in post, “the DP will supervise the finishing colourist in the final grade, focusing on scene-to-scene continuity and shaping the image in ways they are unable to on set.”
A key takeaway from the workshop was debunking misconceptions around live grading. “Perhaps the biggest misconception about live-grade is that it takes more time on set. Properly used, it is a timesaver,” Black noted. Live grading helps streamline a DP’s workflow by offering tools such as still references, live contrast and colour adjustments, and collaboration with the DIT.
The hands-on component allowed participants to engage with real-time colour decisions. “Along with Andrew’s detailed breakdowns on how colour is handled through the image pipeline, participants were able to get a practical sense of what sort of image adjustments are generally performed in camera versus in live grade.”
By demystifying the colour workflow, this workshop equipped cinematographers with the knowledge to make more informed creative decisions, ensuring a seamless transition from set to final delivery.
Thank you to ARRI Rental for the camera equipment and Picture Shop for hosting!
