Step-by-step

Work with HDR format files

1 Add HDR clip

Choose File>new Event>file>import Media. Browse to our supplied HDR clips. Click ‘Import All’. Add HDR Noir 01 to the timeline. You’ll see a warning box. Click ‘OK’.

2 Convert to SDR

Go to the Color section of Effects. Drag the HDR Tools effect onto the timeline clip. In the Video Inspector’s HDR Tools panel set the Mode to HLG to Rec. 709 SDR.

3 Add all clips

Add the remaining HDR clips to timeline. Click the first SDR clip. Choose Edit>copy. Select the remaining clips. Choose Edit>paste Effects to turn them into viewable SDR clips.

4 Remove colour

From Effects’ Color section drag the Black & White effect onto HDR Noir 02. We’ll work on this clip first as it features skin tones. The clip is instantly converted to monochrome.

5 Brighten skin tones

Removing colour can result in a drab greyscale shot. To make the skin tones stand out more in contrast click the green swatch in the Inspector and choose red from the picker.

6 View tones

Choose View>show in Viewer>video Scopes. Set the Scope to Histogram. Set Channel to Luma. We see the clip’s tones as a graph with shadows left and highlights right.

7 Analyse histogram

The highlights at the right peak higher than the shadows at the left, indicating the presence of strong whites. The shadows aren’t as strong (black). Summon the Color Inspector.

8 Boost contrast

In Exposure drag Shadows down to -15. The histogram graph will slide left towards 0, indicating blacker shadows. Drop midtones to -10. Lift Highlights to 5 for more contrast.

9 Adjust all clips

Select the clip in the timeline. Choose Edit>copy. Select the other clips. Choose Edit>paste Attributes. Untick HDR tools as all clips have that applied already. Click ‘Paste’.