Rating: 
Summary: not much here
Review: >This book and companion CD is the best book I have ever read >on the subject and this goes back a ways! Well, that still doesn't say much. The author has a good start, but really, this book doesn't tell you much. It describes the history of color correction and mentions some color perception. The examples are ok, but there aren't many.
To the untrained eye, some of the pictures (such as the watermelon example) look identical. Were they intended for a different color space ? If so, why was the book released this way? The author mixes industry jargon, such as "Pull back on the blacks" while referencing a color tool that has a label "Shadows". There are at least three sets of jargon
used interchangeably, and none are specifically defined set by set. I didn't even know what exactly a midtone was when I bought this book. The index lists a few pages for midtones, but nowhere is this term or most of the others specifically defined. For a "Digital tools" book that spends so much time on analog vector scopes, I'm disappointed that most of the examples were described in words rather than pictures. Overall, this tutorial falls short. I learned a little, but I didn't walk away with much. I don't see the purpose of this
book. The CDROM is basically a demo distribution disk. I bet the other glowing reviews are fake. Experienced colorists will find little in this book, and beginners can't learn much. Dear Author, please write another edition and include a DVD
of video examples, step by step. Looking forward to your next book.
Rating: 
Summary: Your video isn't finished until you use this book
Review: As video has become more availble to everyone, the greatest problem with the end product is the "look." DVD's, DV cameras have made it possible for almost anyone to make a video. But to make it look GOOD color correction is critical. To fix miscolored pictures (when you forget to white balance or if you just plain aren't the best shooter in the world) is all done with color correction. This book explains and through direct examples, shows how to actually fix video that is under exposed, doesn't match from shot to shot and is misbalanced. And it's done in such a way that it's understandable. It's now on my shelf as a reference. The book covers all the major editing software that has color correction in it, ALONG with color theory and reading video scopes so it's possible to understand what's wrong with your video and make it broadcast safe. Simple question? Do you want your video to look as good as possible? Simple answer: this book.
Rating:
Summary: Your video isn't finished until you use this book
Review: As video has become more availble to everyone, the greatest problem with the end product is the "look." DVD's, DV cameras have made it possible for almost anyone to make a video. But to make it look GOOD color correction is critical. To fix miscolored pictures (when you forget to white balance or if you just plain aren't the best shooter in the world) is all done with color correction. This book explains and through direct examples, shows how to actually fix video that is under exposed, doesn't match from shot to shot and is misbalanced. And it's done in such a way that it's understandable. It's now on my shelf as a reference. The book covers all the major editing software that has color correction in it, ALONG with color theory and reading video scopes so it's possible to understand what's wrong with your video and make it broadcast safe. Simple question? Do you want your video to look as good as possible? Simple answer: this book.
Rating:
Summary: A practical and enthusiastically recommended tutorial
Review: Collaboratively written and presented by multimedia and digital video experts Steve Hullfish (Big Idea Productions) and Jaime Fowler (Digital Media Education Center), Color Correction For Digital Video: Using Desktop Tools To Perfect Your Image is a practical and enthusiastically recommended tutorial to improving the quality of one's digital video multimedia works. Full-color illustrations, clear and exacting text, step-by-step instructions and a wide range of tips make Color Correction For Digital Video a first-rate guide. A companion CD-ROM includes graphic files for the book's tutorial projects, software tools, plug-ins, as well as full-length interviews with experts.
Rating: 
Summary: Steep learning curve for DV amateur
Review: I am a video enthusiast and I use Canopus DVStorm and Premiere for editing of my videos. I was hoping to learn more about color correction in YUV space, using waveform and vectorscope tools and, most importantly, to improve the quality of the videos that I make.
This book starts with a very basic theory of color. Then is suddenly takes giant steps towards the color correction technologies. It explaines some but certainly not all parameters and that can be quite frustrating. Particularly the use of YUV parameters is hardly mentioned at all and it is not explained in any of the excercises. Explanation of the use of the waveform is excellent (some questions still remain) and I got a basic understanding how to use the vectorscope.
A significant part of the book explains the tools and features of professional systems found in studios. Obviously such systems are much more sophisticated than PC-based NLE systems. I am still looking for book that is geared more towards PC based systems. Still, I found the book inspiring because it made me try my tools in new ways and actually achieve better results. That's what counts for me.
Rating: 
Summary: A good overview, but not superb
Review: The book does a good job of being an overview for color correcting video - but unfortunately because it avoids anything application specific it fails to show you how to do stuff in your specific NLE. Training dedicated to a specific application & color correction- like my FCP training DVD by Digital Film Tree is much better because it teaches the theory AND the tool - so you cover both angles while this was just the theory. But that may be what you want - or your NLE may not have a book about color correction dedicated to it. If you're a FCP user, there's a book called 'Advanced Finishing Techniques' in the Apple Training Series that I would recommend over this one.
Rating:
Summary: Great job, well-balanced approach
Review: The subject of video color correction is a difficult one, and most books about it usually suffer from being over-technical, over-theoretical, or (failing those) oversimplified. This is the best one I've read yet. A very accessible intro about color theory, followed by important technical detail (not only what a waveform or vectorscope does, but what it looks like when the color is "wrong", and what it should look like when the color has been corrected and optimized), and then, best of all, examples that are written in "editor-speak"--or more accurately, "colorist-speak". Language, that is, which is exactly how you and a client would talk to each other while analyzing a shot: "Pull down the black levels...rescue some detail from the overexposure...let's try to isolate the subject from the background and make it pop more." And then, step-by-step procedures to actually achieve those aims. The examples in the book are also well-chosen and painstakingly done, so you really can see the difference in the "before" and "after" states of a picture. I must confess that I've gotten so much valuable information from the book that I haven't explored the CD yet. It really has changed the way I analyze what a shot needs and how I go about making changes.
Rating:
Summary: Great job, well-balanced approach
Review: The subject of video color correction is a difficult one, and most books about it usually suffer from being over-technical, over-theoretical, or (failing those) oversimplified. This is the best one I've read yet. A very accessible intro about color theory, followed by important technical detail (not only what a waveform or vectorscope does, but what it looks like when the color is "wrong", and what it should look like when the color has been corrected and optimized), and then, best of all, examples that are written in "editor-speak"--or more accurately, "colorist-speak". Language, that is, which is exactly how you and a client would talk to each other while analyzing a shot: "Pull down the black levels...rescue some detail from the overexposure...let's try to isolate the subject from the background and make it pop more." And then, step-by-step procedures to actually achieve those aims. The examples in the book are also well-chosen and painstakingly done, so you really can see the difference in the "before" and "after" states of a picture. I must confess that I've gotten so much valuable information from the book that I haven't explored the CD yet. It really has changed the way I analyze what a shot needs and how I go about making changes.
Rating:
Summary: nice but not enough
Review: this book teaches enough technical detail in a clean style that everyone can understand. however i can not say the same thing for the tutorials. there should be much more tutorials in the book. also tutorials generally are not easy to be understood fully. you get the idea behind a tutorial; however can not capture little-but-important deatils if you are new to the issue. this book opens a big world of color correction to the beginners, but it doesn't guide to its reader. it says you should try and find everything. it does not show special tecniques like bleach bypass or old movie, or how to color correct when there are 2 or more different colored lights. the cd is not well prepared. firstly the name of the book is "color correction for digital video" but there are no video in the cd, but only pictures. you color correct pictures in tutorials. there are no "before-and-after" pics of color corrected material, so you can not judge your work. That kind of things lack in the book, so you can not trust to yourself untill you gain a sense of what is ok and what is not, and im not sure if that sense is easy to gain. also the plug-ins for after effects (i use after effects) are not well prepared. firstly they all are demos, so when you try to correct an image via the plug-ins there is a big x on the image which alters waveform monitor and vectorscope. even more, there is not any waveform and vectorscope plug-in so i have to buy them. that really sucks, at least there should be demo version of waveform and vectorscope plug-in available in the cd. still you need this book. because it is easy to understand the information it gives is hard to capture same information from somewhere else.
Rating:
Summary: A real eye-opener
Review: This book was a real eye-opener for me.
It taught me a lot of important things and most importantly a methodology for analyzing the frame data (waveform, vector scope, and the eye-dropper) before attempting any correction.
Before I bought the book I read the reviews here, the good and the bad, and as far as the bad goes I think they come from the level of expectation from the book and/or level of expertise. IMHO this book is not intended for complete novices (with some exceptions, of course) and not for online masters as well (some will may benefit from a vol 2 if there ever be one). It is more for an intermediate-beginner, someone who has some experience in online editing (or photography) and wants to gain some valuable knowledge.
I do agree that more examples of even harsh correction would be beneficial (again that would have to wait for volume 2).
To sum it up - I bought the book and I am very happy with this buy and I would definitely purchase a sequel.
| 
