FCPX Color Correction: How to Convert Wide-Gamut HDR Videos

Color correction is an essential step in post-production, and it becomes even more crucial when working with wide-gamut HDR videos. In this article, we'll explore the world of FCPX color correction and how to convert your HDR clips from one color space to another using the HDR Tools effect.

Wide-Gamut HDR Clips

When working with HDR videos, you may encounter clips that have a different color space than what you're used to. For instance, you might receive an HDR clip recorded in Rec. 2020, which has a wider color gamut than traditional HD video. In such cases, the HDR Tools effect comes in handy.

The HDR Tools Effect

The HDR Tools effect is a built-in utility in FCPX that allows you to convert wide-gamut HDR video clips from one color space to another or set the maximum brightness of a clip. This feature makes it easy to convert an HDR clip from one format to another, ensuring that your final master looks stunning.

Matching Project Settings

When working with HDR projects, it's essential to match your project settings to the codec, frame size, frame rate, and color space of your final deliverable. This ensures that your video looks consistent throughout the editing process. As Larry's Universal Rule of editing states, set your project settings to match the media format you need to deliver.

Color Spaces in HDR

HDR uses different 'flavors' of Rec. 709, which can be confusing. To simplify things, let's consider both PQ and HLG as color spaces. While some cameras are limited to a single color space, many others can shoot two: Rec. 2020, for example, or the newer DCI-P3.

FCPX Color Correction

FCPX offers advanced color correction tools that make it easy to work with wide-gamut HDR videos. With the HDR Tools effect, you can convert your HDR clips from one color space to another, ensuring that your final master looks stunning.

In this article, we've explored the world of FCPX color correction and how to convert wide-gamut HDR videos using the HDR Tools effect. By matching your project settings and understanding different color spaces in HDR, you can ensure that your video looks consistent throughout the editing process. With FCPX's advanced color correction tools, you're just a few clicks away from creating stunning HDR content.

Fcpx color correction