Grading 16mm in Resolve

[Graham Ellard]

On a forthcoming 16mm film project we will grading our 4K LOG scan ourselves in Resolve. We will be using the resulting movie file only as a preview/screener, and as an offline digital 'cutting copy' from which we will then have our original neg cut (using the EDL we generate from Premier Pro). We will then grade that cut negative (at Haghefilm) and have it printed as a finished 16mm exhibition print.

Our question is: What parameters should we work within in Resolve to avoid grading the scan beyond what can be printed from the neg?

Or, put another way: What shouldn't we adjust in the scan -  either at all, or only to a certain plus/minus - (despite it perhaps making the image look nicer) because those values can't be adjusted at all or as much in the print grading?

We'd love to hear others experience. Thanks.

[Brian Drysdale]

I would get in touch with your lab and ask how many stops over and under can they correct. Their answer may be different to how much you might wish to adjust it, especially on an underexposed negative. 

[Tyler Purcell]

There isn't any reason why you shouldn't do a high quality digital grade that the film colorist can use as a reference. 

[Robert Houllahan]

I would suggest grading with printer lights in Resolve if you go to the menu and under "color" there is a "printer light hotkeys" setting and you can use the numeric keypad to grade in 1 1/2 and 1/4 printer lights.

Get your lab to include a LAD / Marcie with your scan and if you set that up to REC709 "normal" it should track reasonably well in terms of translating to a print. 

[Graham Ellard]

Hi Robert,

Thanks - we're pretty new (completely new) to Resolve and LOG scanning - so forgive me but what is an LAD/Marcie?

[Dirk DeJonghe]

This document may help to get you started with Cineon Log files in Resolve: one way to do it, not the only way.

CineonLog_DaVinci_2024_12.pdf

[Graham Ellard]

Thanks Dirk, and what are the parameters to work within in Resolve to avoid grading a scan for an density and colour balance that can't be achieved when grading a film print from negative.

[Robert Houllahan]

19 hours ago, Graham Ellard said:

Hi Robert,

Thanks - we're pretty new (completely new) to Resolve and LOG scanning - so forgive me but what is an LAD/Marcie?

A LAD is just basically a lab control image with a persons photo (Usually a woman i.e. a Leader Lady or Marcie) and grey chip etc I attached one and these are used for lab control for printing etc and you could more or less fudge one as a "normal" for setup to grade in Resolve and then use that as a reference for grading with printer lights.

Not exactly super scientific but I think it would achieve the result your looking for as a primary only grade as if you are printing from negative.