Course Description

Why Can't I Color Grade Like That?

Chances are you're either a filmmaker or an editor and you handle all of your own color grading (the buck stops with you). But you might be feeling frustrated when you're not getting the results that you're looking for. You may feel overwhelmed with traditional color grading tools tools or you may even watch a film or project and say to yourself, "Why can't I grade like that?"

Well I know how you feel and I've been there. In fact I remember the day years ago that my boss told me my grading was either "too extreme" or "looked muddy." He then assigned the project to somebody else! This was a major blow to my creative ego and to say it made me feel inadequate is an understatement.

Well the good news is color grading is my obsession and so I didn't want to give up. Through years of practice and study I was able to discover the groundbreaking techniques that top colorists from around the world use. Techniques that I used when grading commercials for big brands like Facebook and on films with theatrical releases.

But the tools always seemed more complicated than they needed to be.  Why couldn't I just reach in and touch the image?  Well that's exactly what Cinema Grade Aims to do.  And our Academy shows you how to get the most out of Cinema Grade's revolutionary controls.

 Take. Action. 

Imagine for a moment what it would feel like knowing that you're getting the most cinematic look from your camera. How it would feel to be complimented on the style of your work. What would it mean to stand out from your competitors who are likely not even thinking of color grading or very good at it? And how would it feel to land a big project with a major client? You can do it and I'm here to help you.


Step-By-Step Mentoring

What if you were only one technique or tutorial away from getting the results you're looking for in your editing application? What if there was someone willing to mentor you every step of the way? Someone willing to open up and share their top grading techniques and share with you how color theory can have an impact on your grading.

I have a keen interest in helping you to see results in your color grading. We have thousands of satisfied members but what I'm interested in where you're currently at, the struggles you're currently going through and helping you get to the finish line. When you feel confident in your abilities and you celebrate your success is when I'll celebrate. Feel free to peruse the Academy curriculum and I'm always one email away if you have a question or need some feedback.

What You Get

  • A step-by-step color grading training program
  • Opportunities to ask questions and get answers from me
  • Over 35 in-depth training titles
  • Exercise files so you can download and follow along with a  proper color grading workflow 
  • Easy to follow system for matching multiple cameras and shots in a scene 
  • Strategies to help you work more quickly and efficiently
  • In-depth color theory series so you can create "looks" that aid the story
  • A certificate of completion upon completing the masterclass


Our Clients Include

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the training live? How is the training administered?
The training consists of pre-recorded online tutorials that are well produced with densely packed material that stays on message and drives straight to the point. We have Disqus enabled discussions so you can interact with myself and other students but you are free to proceed at your own pace. 

How long will I have access to the training?
When signing up for the Academy, you'll have LIFETIME ACCESS to the content and you're free to take the course at your own pace. There are no beginning or ending dates.

Are the tutorials downloadable?
Yes each title has a download option.

Will you be adding more content or what happens when a new version of Cinema Grade comes out?
We are always on the look out to add new relevant content and are committed to updating the tutorials to the latest version of Cinema Grade.


30-DAY MONEY BACK GUARANTEE
You’re protected by the BEST GUARANTEE EVER. You have 30 days to check it out go through the masterclass and if by the end of that time you decide it’s not for you let me know and I’ll give you a full refund. No questions asked. You have absolutely nothing to lose and everything to gain.

Colorist

Denver Riddle

Hi I’m Denver. Yeah I know like the city and no I wasn’t born or conceived there :P In high school I borrowed my grandmother’s digital camcorder (the first "MiniDV" camera to the market which technically belonged to the university where she taught) and made extreme sports videos with my friends… luckily we returned it in one piece… She still doesn’t know what exactly I was using it for, shhh our little secret ;)From that moment forward I knew that I was destined to create things with video to either capture experiences or tell powerful stories. When I discovered color grading I felt like it was a powerful extension of what I was capturing on camera. A way to enhance the story and one of the keys to making it look like a big Hollywood production.And so I decided to pursue a career as a colorist but quickly found there weren’t many resources or many people willing to help. It seemed like it was some sort of elitist club where you had pay your dues as an ‘assistant’ for a decade before you got a crack at the big fancy control surface.Well the good news is that isn’t the only way to do it and I did NOT do it that way. I learned that armed with the right techniques and some practice it can really go a long ways and where it took me years to discover some of the techniques you can start learning them today!I’ve had the pleasure of working with various clients and fortune 500 companies, from national commercial spots to feature films, from the U.S. Ski Team to Facebook and Instagram. I've been able to help thousands enjoy what I love and you can trust my experience and my commitment to hold nothing back.Do something great today and create what you love!

Course curriculum

  • 1

    Module 1

    • READ ME FIRST: RAW FOOTAGE

    • CG101 Setting up cinema grade

    • CG102 Exercise Files

    • CG102 Color Grading Workflow

    • CG103 Scopes Introduction

    • CG104 Exercise Files

    • CG104 Waveform RGB Overlay Mode

    • CG105 Exercise Files

    • CG105 Waveform RGB Parade Mode

    • CG106 Exercise Files

    • CG106 Vectorscope

    • CG107 Exercise Files

    • CG107 Histogram

    • CG108 Exercise Files

    • CG108 Setting Exposure

    • CG109 Exercise Files

    • CG109 Color Balancing

    • CG110 Exercise Files

    • CG110 Saturation

    • CG111 Exercise Files

    • CG111 Vectors Tool

    • CG112 Exercise Files

    • CG112 Working with LOG Images

    • CG113 Exercise Files

    • CG113 Nailing Exposure with False Colors

  • 2

    Module 2

    • CG201 Choosing a Hero Shot

    • CG202 Creating Groups

    • CG203 Shot to Shot Matching

    • CG204 Exercise Files

    • CG204 Shot to Shot Matching Advanced

    • CG205 Exercise Files

    • CG205 Reassigning Hero and Group Shots

    • CG 206 Exercise Files

    • CG206 Working with Charts

    • CG207 What is the Goal

    • CG208 Final Grading Page Overview

    • CG209 Contrast of Color Introduction

    • CG210 Exercise Files

    • CG210 Contrast of Light and Dark

    • CG211 Exercise Files

    • CG211 Complementary Contrast

    • CG212 Exercise Files

    • CG212 Contrast of Saturation

    • CG213 Exercise Files

    • CG213 Contrast of Hue

    • CG214 Memory Colors

    • CG215 Color Schemes and Harmonies

    • CG216 Exercise Files

    • CG216 Looks Based on Color Schemes

    • CG217 Exercise Files

    • CG217 Looks Based on Genre

    • CG218 Exercise File

    • CG218 Looks based on Mood

    • CG219 Exercise File

    • CG219 Looks Based on Time of the Day

    • CG220 Exercise Files

    • CG220 Looks based on Location

    • CG221 Exercise Files

    • CG221 Creative LUTs

    • CG223 Exercise Files

    • CG223 Look Transfer Tool

Reviews

5 star rating

A great resource

Roger Monroe

I started the demo of Cinema Grade in the middle of a project, without really using it to its potential. My tendency is to not spend the time learning new so...

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I started the demo of Cinema Grade in the middle of a project, without really using it to its potential. My tendency is to not spend the time learning new software as I should. i took some time and worked through these lessons to really maximize this toll. I'm so glad I did. I'm so glad that I can go back and refresh my knowledge of CG as needed. CG is a powerful, useful tool- these lessons really enable the full power of the software. Spend the time, go though the tutorials. You'll be glad you did.

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5 star rating

WOW

Ricardo Needham

Got this course through the filmmaker package and let me tell you, it was worth EVERY penny!! I tried using the cinema grade free trial on my own for a week ...

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Got this course through the filmmaker package and let me tell you, it was worth EVERY penny!! I tried using the cinema grade free trial on my own for a week with little progress, and after taking this course I wonder why I even bothered trying. Do yourself a favor and get the filmmaker package if you REALLY want to learn how to use cinema grade!

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5 star rating

Great Overview

James T

Great overview and tutorial! The only thing I found frustrating was the lack of a false color chart next to the video scopes on the bottom. Would be a nice f...

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Great overview and tutorial! The only thing I found frustrating was the lack of a false color chart next to the video scopes on the bottom. Would be a nice feature to gauge skin tones and ranges you want to see in the image. I also couldn't download the LOG footage for some reason, but that might be a computer issue.

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5 star rating

Really great!

Ilja van de Kasteele

Cinema Grade helped me a lot on my way in getting better looking footage. Everything is explained as good as possible and easy to understand. Now I am going ...

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Cinema Grade helped me a lot on my way in getting better looking footage. Everything is explained as good as possible and easy to understand. Now I am going a step forward by starting the Color Grading Academy. Thank You Denver Ilja van de Kasteele

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5 star rating

Killin it

Clint Clarkson

Denver you are amazing and I have learned more in module 1 than I ever thought I would with color grading. This is a game changer and Cinema Grade is going t...

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Denver you are amazing and I have learned more in module 1 than I ever thought I would with color grading. This is a game changer and Cinema Grade is going to save me so much time sorting my HERO shots being able to compare shot matching quickly. Thanks!

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5 star rating

Great Grading Tool and Great Class!

Marc Sandlhauser

I can't begin to thank Denver for the creation of Cinema Grade AND the Academy class. I knew nothing about correction and grading before starting, and Cinema...

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I can't begin to thank Denver for the creation of Cinema Grade AND the Academy class. I knew nothing about correction and grading before starting, and Cinema Grade (in combination with taking the class) has allowed me to confidently correct, match and grade my images in a minimum amount of time. I'm still learning, but wow, what a great start! Thanks Denver!

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5 star rating

Completely and utterly WORTH IT!

Matthew Abourezk

I am not even half way through the color grading academy, but decided that I needed to post a review. CinemaGrade is incredibly simple but deceptively d...

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I am not even half way through the color grading academy, but decided that I needed to post a review. CinemaGrade is incredibly simple but deceptively deep. Kind of a perfect combination, easy to get up and running, but if you want to dig deeper you have the ability. What I didn't realize until I started the academy course was just how much farther you can take CinemaGrade than what is shown in the marketing materials. This is an amazing (and relatively simple) application, but if you have never received formal training in color grading, you need some education about how color grading works, and how to get the most out of this app. I've been in video production for more than 23 years and think I'm pretty good at color correcting with the Final Cut Pro X tools and myriad of plug-ins I have bought over the years. But after just three videos in the Color Grading Academy, I realized that I don't really understand ANYTHING about color grading and scopes. Luckily, the guy leading the course is clear, concise and friendly. He doesn't chit-chat too much, but he isn't delivering the information like he's reading it from a manual either. I am staying interested, learning a massive amount, and now I wish I could take back every video project I've ever produced and color grade them with CinemaGrade and the new knowledge I have from this academy. Well done. This Academy is an important addition and well worth it to anyone doing video production.

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5 star rating

Cinema Grade

Lucky Rais

The best courses & easy to follow

The best courses & easy to follow

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5 star rating

Course Review

Julio Cuevas

Great course. Eliminates the unknown elements of color grading. Following the flow, as taught in the course, my color grading speed and final result looks so...

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Great course. Eliminates the unknown elements of color grading. Following the flow, as taught in the course, my color grading speed and final result looks so much better than before. I also feel much more comfortable with the technical aspects of color grading and how different aspects interrelate with each other.

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5 star rating

Amazing..

Ahmad Nadim

Hi, I work with Premiere & Davinci Resolve but the cinema grade is something way better in terms of how fast you can achieve the colour or the look yo...

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Hi, I work with Premiere & Davinci Resolve but the cinema grade is something way better in terms of how fast you can achieve the colour or the look you want.

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5 star rating

Very good!

Gwyn Kaitis Roland

Awesome! Makes grading in cinema grade simple and enjoyable. Very good!

Awesome! Makes grading in cinema grade simple and enjoyable. Very good!

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5 star rating

Great Tutorial

Rainer Jörger

This is an amazing tutorial about working with this great app.

This is an amazing tutorial about working with this great app.

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5 star rating

Very helpful

Riccardo Jurkovic

The Color Grading Academy for Cinema Grade is a perfect introduction into Cinema Grade and helped me a lot to get the best out of that tool. At the same time...

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The Color Grading Academy for Cinema Grade is a perfect introduction into Cinema Grade and helped me a lot to get the best out of that tool. At the same time I learned a lot about Color and Grading in general.

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5 star rating

This is Awesome Truly Awesome!!!

eduardo arroyuelo

I was paniked with color correction... This is making it so easy to undestand. I love it!!!

I was paniked with color correction... This is making it so easy to undestand. I love it!!!

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5 star rating

Great stuff

Samuel Tejeda

I have other programs to help with color correction and It just doesn't work for me. I saw so many tutorials but I just couldn't get the hang of it, but then...

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I have other programs to help with color correction and It just doesn't work for me. I saw so many tutorials but I just couldn't get the hang of it, but then cinema grade came out and man its been a blessing for me. I always been more of the writer/producer role when it comes to independent filmmaking but I know with filmmaking, some times you got to wear multiple hats. So I've been trying really hard to learn color correcting because I know most likely I'll be one doing it. After struggling to learn other programs, I honestly was giving up. I thought to myself there has to be an easier program out there to learn and be more user friendly to us none colorist out there. Bam!! cinema grade came to the rescue, Cinema Grade has really help me out. I definitely will be using this CG for all my future projects, I want to give a big thanks for creating cinema grade.

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5 star rating

Excellent

Edward Gonzalez

All the tutorials were easy to follow and understand. That makes it a lot easier to approach the software if you are barely learning to color. I feel that I ...

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All the tutorials were easy to follow and understand. That makes it a lot easier to approach the software if you are barely learning to color. I feel that I received a thorough lesson and now I feel a little comfortable approaching the color process. We'll see how this goes! Thank you! Hopefully, my film will improve on how it looks! Color is so important!

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5 star rating

Matt Weeks

5 star rating

Color Grading Academy for Cinema Grade

ANDREY BORODULIN

Well also the training material is visually stated. Clear assimilation. Remarkable evident exercises. Excellent rate!

Well also the training material is visually stated. Clear assimilation. Remarkable evident exercises. Excellent rate!

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5 star rating

changmin yang

5 star rating

Color Grading Academy for Cinema Grade

Martin Bickell

Easy to understand tutorial videos, explaining much more detail on how and why we colour grade. Surprising how much of it sinks in!

Easy to understand tutorial videos, explaining much more detail on how and why we colour grade. Surprising how much of it sinks in!

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