Setup Your Own Grading Suite

Why monitor calibration and room setup matter

You’ve just finished grading your project. You’ve uploaded it to the web and can’t wait for viewers to see it. But now you ask yourself the question: “Will the project look the same on viewers’ screens as it did on mine?” While there’s no way to control how your viewers watch your project, you can control your own grading environment. But how do you do that? And how much is this going to cost? This three-part video series will answer both of those questions, so that you can be confident in the quality of your color grading on every project.

Video 1, we’ll explore how to setup a proper grading environment, so that you can eliminate color contamination in your suite and create the best possible setup so that your eyes respond accurately to color and contrast. You might think that setting up a color-ready room would be really expensive, but you’ll be surprised to find out that this can be done the right way for very little money.

Video 2, we’ll take a look at the most important element of a grading suite: monitoring options. If you’ve ever heard on the internet that you can’t use a computer monitor for grading, this is absolutely not true! Especially if all of your projects are going to be viewed on the web. We’ll explore a number of excellent computer monitors as well as high-end external monitors and hardware for an even greater level of accuracy. No matter your budget or your project needs, this video will find a monitor that’s right for you!

Video 3, we’ll take a look at options for monitor calibration including a range of display probes as well as what to do if external calibration tools are out of your budget. You’ll also learn how to manually calibrate an external monitor, which is great skill to have not just as a colorist, but also for working in the field.

BONUS! PDF quick-reference guide that will walk you through all of the information presented in the videos, with links to find out more about all of the recommended products.

This is the definitive guide to grading suite setup that I would have wanted when I was setting up my first room. Stop wasting time with misinformation on the internet. Save yourself the frustration and get this video series today!