The human brain is so tied in to our eyesight that we internally auto-correct for certain colors. This is the very definition of a memory color. For example, if you grew up in the United States, you know that a stop sign is red—so you tend to see an image of one as being red even if the color is way out of whackHe then goes on to explain:
When looking at the footage on my computer, I noticed a funny thing. The beans, which in life have a vivid, sumptuous brown tone, appeared gray-black on my screen. I almost didn’t notice, because I know they are brown, but on close inspection it was clear that I had been fooled by my brain into seeing what I knew rather than what was actually there.It's an interesting read for the beginning colorist: Memory Color.
And if, like me, you're still just dipping your toe into the Apple Color waters, here's some interesting tutorials:
- Creative Cow: Everything you need to know the first time you launch Apple Color
- Creative Cow: Apple Color: Auto Balance Feature
- Steve Hullfish [Vimeo]: Using Apple Color's Secondary Color Correction. This isn't bad, though I wish it was in higher resolution. Steve is the author ofThe Art and Technique of Digital Color Correction
- Creative Cow: Saturation Curves in Color
- Paul Del Vecchio [Viemo]: Color Grading / Color Correction Goes through an actual shot that the Director didn't like, showing the changes made to it.
- Peter Salvia [Vimeo]: Final Cut Prose Episode 3 - Color Grading 5dmarkii footage
- Worqx: Color Theory: Overview the reason why some colors worked together while others did not always intrigued me and I found the study of color theory fascinating
I read an interesting post from someone complaining about how dark Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince was, and they didn't mean subtext. Ever since then, every time I watch it, I go "Oh my, that's dark!" Take a look at this frame from one scene: