Step-by-step

Improve colour and tone

1 Summon histogram

Choose File>import Media. Browse to our asset and choose ‘Import Selected’. Drag the boat clip to the timeline. Choose View>show in Viewer>video Scopes. Set to ‘Histogram’.

2 Read the histogram

The histogram’s undulating graph is clumped towards the middle. There are no strong shadows or bright highlights. This graph indicates that the clip lacks contrast.

3 Layer your clips

Click on the clip in the timeline. Choose Edit>copy. Pop the playhead at frame 1 and choose Edit>paste. Drag the copied clip up onto a layer running parallel with the original.

4 Call the Inspector

Choose Window>show in Workspace> inspector. Make sure you’ve clicked the top layer. In the Compositing section set Blend Mode to ‘Overlay’.

5 Check the histogram

Look at the histogram graph. It now stretches more towards the left, indicating darker shadows. It also stretches further right, showing the presence of brighter highlights.

6 Fine-tune contrast

The advantage of using Overlay blending mode is that you can’t clip (over-expose) the brightest highlights. Fine-tune the contrast by reducing the Opacity of the top layer to 90%.

7 Create compound clip

To declutter a timeline Shift+click to select both clips. Choose File> new> compound Clip. Label the clip. Click ‘OK’. The flattened clip now appears in the timeline as one layer.

8 Add Color Board

Press Cmd+5 for the Effects browser. Click the ‘Color’ section. Drag Color Board onto the compound clip. In the Video Inspector double-click ‘Color Board 1’ for the controls.

9 Boost saturation

Click on the Color Board’s ‘Saturation’ button. Drag the Master saturation control to 60%. Drag Shadows to 37% and Midtones to 68%. This creates a more colourful clip.