Adding to the Emotional Experience: Color Grading and VFX (Visual Effects)

When a project reaches the post production phase, the visuals have been captured. If an exterior scene shows XYZ’s logo signage displayed outside of their corporate office, that’s the scene we will have to work with.
But what if it was shot on a gray overcast day?
What if the piece is supposed to highlight XYZ’s cutting edge new approaches?
What impression would that overcast shot impart?
The tools we work with at Kmotion allow us to use various techniques to develop that shot to strengthen the message and deliver the right emotional reaction.

Visual treatments to this one brief scene might include:

-Bringing up and adding color to the scene.
-Cutting out the gray overcast sky and adding a bright blue one with gorgeous optimistic clouds.
-A subtle cloud movement that would allow a ray of light to hit the logo/sign just right (and with the beat of the underlying musical score).
-A lens flare that grows out of that glint.

All of this might occur in a 3-second scene and might be quite subtle, but it would send a meaningful message to the viewer - one much stronger than the original overcast sky scene.

We use the Post Production Color Grading and VFX phase to not only correct, but also enhance a project.

Correct:

Improve the overall look.
Correct subjects’ skin quality (Smooth out blemishes, wrinkles, redness, etc.).
Correct any issues in the scene (remove signs, shadows, reflections and other imperfections).
Correct any footage issues (over or under exposure, etc.).

Enhance:

Reinforce or develop a color palette.
Create a signature look.
Direct the movement of the viewer’s eye.
Add to the story.
Add elements to the scene.

Questions we frequently ask ourselves as we work through the process:

What are we communicating?
How do we support that visually?
How can we add meaning to the visuals?
Where do we need to focus the eye?
How can the image be improved?
Which color pallet and effects would best add to the emotional experience.