How To Color Grade By Learning From The Thunderbolts*

Thunderbolts is a movie that’s grounded and morally complex, unlike some other MCU films. This could be seen in its color palette, which leans towards desaturated, muted tones, darker shadows, and a more realistic look to the action, similar to films like "Captain America: The Winter Soldier."

Individualized Looks: Let’s give each character a unique color palette! This way, we can easily spot them and understand their personalities. For instance, a character known for their fiery spirit could have a vibrant palette of reds and oranges. On the other hand, a character who’s always up to no good could have a mysterious palette of blues and blacks. Yelena Belvoa, a character in the movie, uses her emotions to express her colors. She describes her emotions as empty like a void, so her color palette is grey and turquoise. But when she’s around people she loves, her colors become lighter shades of grey, turquoise, and now a touch of yellow.

Emotional Impact:Color grading can also be used to subtly show how characters feel. For example, if a character is going through a tough time, their scenes could be graded with dull, muted colors to show how they’re feeling.

• Techniques Used in Color Grading:
• Primary Grading:This involves tweaking the overall color scheme, making it brighter, and adding some punch to the contrast.
• Secondary Grading:This lets you pick specific color ranges and make super precise adjustments to hue, saturation, and luminance. It’s like having a magic wand to create a more refined and nuanced look!
• Color Correction:This involves fixing any technical hiccups in the footage, like uneven lighting or colors that don’t quite match.

Here's how to effectively use color grading in your artwork:

• 1. Understanding the Fundamentals:
• White Balance: White Balance: Make sure your colors are spot on and everything looks nice and even.
• Hue, Saturation, and Luminance: Hue, Saturation, and Luminance: These are the three main ingredients of color that you can play with.
• Curves: These are like magic wands that let you paint colors in your highlights, midtones, and shadows.

2. Setting the Mood:

• Warm Colors: Red, orange, and yellow can make you feel all warm and fuzzy inside, like you’re on a rollercoaster!
• Cool Colors: Blue, green, and purple can make you feel all sorts of emotions, from peaceful to melancholic. These are the colors seen as in Thunderbolts*.
• Saturation and Contrast: Bright and vibrant colors can make a scene feel like a dream, while soft and muted colors can make it feel more serious.

3. Guiding Viewer Attention:

• Contrast: High contrast can make things pop and catch your eye!
• Subtle Hue Shifts: These tiny changes in color can guide your viewers’ eyes without them even noticing.

4. Practical Steps:

• Start with a Clean Base:Make sure the image is as clear and balanced as possible before adding some creative color grading. I like to start with a basic color and then layer it with other colors to get a feel for the mood and colors I’ll be using for the rest of the artwork.
• Adjust Dark Tones, Mid-tones, and Highlights:Let’s use some cool tools like color wheels and curves to make these areas pop!
• Consider Blending and Balance:Make the color changes subtle and blend them seamlessly into the overall image.
• Experiment with Different Styles:Dive into the world of color palettes and techniques to unleash your creative side!

Software and Tools if you want to get technical :D :

• Adobe Photoshop, Lightroom, and DaVinci Resolve: These are popular software options for color grading.
• Color Wheels and Curves: Tools within these software packages allow for precise color adjustments.

6. Remember to:

• Consider the overall composition and narrative:Color grading should make your artwork pop, not dull it.
• Be mindful of the emotional impact:Choose colors that make you feel happy and create a visually stunning masterpiece!
• Color theory is your secret weapon to take your artwork to the next level! By mastering these techniques, you can create stunning visuals that leave a lasting impression.