Enhance specific colours and tones

1 Import clips

Choose File>import>media. Import ‘Bluebell 1’ and ‘Bluebell 2’ into a new Event. Drag Bluebell 1 into the timeline. We’ll grade this clip to add impact to the flowers’ colours.

2 Open Histogram

Select View>show in Viewer>video Scopes. Click on the ‘Choose a scope’ pop-up icon and select ‘Histogram’. This shows the spread of shadows, midtones and highlights.

3 Boost contrast

Click the clip and select Window>go To>color Inspector. Click the ‘Exposure’ tab. Drag Shadows down to -25. Drag Highlights to 10. Push Midtones to 23 for a contrast boost.

4 Boost saturation

The clip’s Histogram graph stretches left, indicating darker shadows. It stretches further right thanks to the brighter highlights. Click the Saturation tab. Boost Master to 50%.

5 Add colour effect

Press cmd+7 to close the Histogram panel. Hit cmd+5 to summon the Effects browser. Click on ‘Color’ and drag the Hue/ Saturation Curves effect onto the clip.

6 Darken bluebells

Click on the ‘Hue vs Luma’ eyedropper. In the viewer, click on a bluebell to sample its colour. A point appears on the spectrum. Drag the point down to darken the sampled colour.

7 Lighten foliage

Use Hue vs Luma to sample the foliage. Drag the yellow curve control joint upwards to lighten the leaves. This helps the flowers stand out in contrast with the background.

8 Selective saturation

Click the ‘Hue vs Sat’ eyedropper on a bluebell to sample that specific colour on the spectrum line. Drag the point up to selectively boost the bluebells’ saturation.

9 Transplant settings

Add the Bluebell 2 clip to the timeline. Click on Bluebell 1 and choose Edit>copy. Select Bluebell 2 and click Edit>paste Effects to adjust colour and contrast.