Calibrator

Tasks and roles of the colourist

Colour grading, also known as calibration, is a key stage in the post-production of an audiovisual or cinematographic work.

The tasks of the colourist consist of working on the colour correction of images or videos. This colourimetry professional is involved in adjusting colours, brightness, contrast, tones, image density and grain. They play with chrominance and luminance levels to obtain a balanced visual result in line with the expectations of the director or cinematographer.

This retouching technique is used in particular for films, series, advertisements, trailers, etc. This post-production treatment takes place after editing, or even during final editing, to finalise the visual aspect of the project. Not only does it make up for any shortcomings linked to the shooting conditions, but it also gives a particular artistic direction to the image so that it matches the director’s or photographer’s vision. Apart from the strictly technical aspect of their job, colour graders can also add a creative touch to the final result of a film.

Depending on the objective, a colour grader works on :

Correcting colour deviations caused by shooting conditions

The colour grader works on white balance, for example, to eliminate unsuitable tints caused by different light sources, by lighting that is too yellow, etc. Acting on the white balance often makes the other colours more natural and accurate.

Calibration also involves adjusting the saturation and hue of certain colours to make them stand out more or to achieve a particular visual effect, such as a bluer sky, a warmer sunset, etc.

This image processing process evens out the colours between different scenes when they are shot at different times of day or under different lighting conditions. Colour correction helps to make these scenes visually consistent in terms of colour and light.

Correcting brightness and contrast

Correcting colorimetry makes it possible to adjust the overall light of the image. We can darken certain areas and brighten others, or even increase the contrast between light and dark areas to give the image more depth.

Creating a specific atmosphere

For certain productions, it may be necessary to create cold or warm tones, vintage effects, etc.

The skills and qualities needed to be a colourist

Would you like to become a colourist? Here are some of the skills and qualities that are essential for this profession:

Technical skills

• A very high level of proficiency in professional digital colour-grading software such as DaVinci Resolve, Avid Symphony, Baselight or Filmlight, and a keen interest in cutting-edge technologies.
• Demonstrate a solid audiovisual culture that you can draw on to propose original initiatives or better understand the expectations of film producers.
• Have a perfect command of colorimetry, tones, the principles of colour and light reflection. A good colour grader must be able to spot visual defects in the image (colour, luminosity, etc.) and improve them.
• Have in-depth knowledge of image formats, compression, resolutions (HD, 4K, etc.) and conversion between different file formats.
• In-depth technical knowledge of all image capture equipment (cameras, sensors, lenses) to correct renderings.
• Keeping abreast of the latest trends and technologies in cinema, television and advertising, in particular to produce increasingly sophisticated visual renderings.

Human qualities

• Rigour and meticulousness, care, patience, method and a keen eye for detail. Even the smallest adjustment can have an impact on the image. Colour grading is often a long and painstaking process, especially on complex projects. Patience is the key to achieving a perfect result.
• Have a real artistic sensibility and a sense of aesthetics to make the right decisions in terms of the visual rendering of a production.
• The ability to work as part of a team, to be pleasant and dynamic, because the success of a project requires regular collaboration with the head, director, director of photography, cinematographer or editor. The colourist is required to give his/her opinion on the different visual renderings that can be achieved. They may also work with other technicians in the fields of sound, lighting, etc.
• Be able to adapt to the demands and constraints of each production in terms of visual styles, image formats and, more generally, the requirements of each project.
• Be able to withstand the pressure and stress of meeting deadlines, sometimes very tight, without compromising quality.

Which baccalaureate should I choose?

Among the recommended trays are :

• A general baccalauréat with scientific specialisms (mathematics, NSI, physics-chemistry, etc.)
• An STI2D technological baccalaureate specialising in “information and digital systems”.
• A vocational baccalaureate specialising in photography.

Training and qualifications to become a colourist

To practise this exciting profession, it is advisable to follow one of the following training courses:

• 2 years’ higher education (Bac + 2), such as BTS Audiovisuel en Image. This initial diploma provides you with a solid foundation of technical knowledge.
• 3 years’ higher education, such as a Bachelor’s degree or Licence Professionnelle Techniques et Activités de l’Image et du Son (Licence SATIS) – specialising in image acquisition and processing.

You can enrol in an audiovisual school or choose to study film. Schools specialising in film and sound are technical teaching establishments that provide high-level practical and academic training, recognised by the State and internationally. The CinéCréatis film school is present in Lyon, Montpellier, Bordeaux and Nantes.

Tools and software used by the colourist

• DaVinci Resolve
• Adobe Première
• Red Giant Colorista Free
• Final Cut Pro
• VEGAS Post
• Wondershare Filmora
• Lightworks
• MAGIX Video Pro X
• Edius X
• PowerDirectorzz

How much does a colourist earn?

Average starting salary

At the start of your career, your salary will be around €2,000 gross.

Average experienced salary

A colourist with several years’ experience earns an average of €3,500 gross.

Possible outlets and careers

As a colourist, you can progress to a position in :

• Technical manager.
• Post-production manager.
• Post-production director.

Sectors and companies that recruit

Colour graders occupy a variety of positions in the film and television industry. The main sectors for recruitment are

• Film, series and TV production companies (news reports, documentaries, etc.) to ensure image and sound quality during filming, editing and post-production before broadcast.
• Platforms such as Netflix, YouTube or other streaming services as well as video content producers to maintain optimum image quality and guarantee perfect sound for videos broadcast online.
• Sometimes certain music studios that produce video clips or live performances to guarantee the visual and sound quality of promotional videos.
• Event and show production companies to maintain optimum image and sound quality during live broadcasts.
• Advertising agencies that create commercials for television, the Web or cinema to ensure that the images and sound of their productions meet quality expectations.