[ This is an excerpt from a recent on-line webinar: “Color Tools in Apple Final Cut Pro 10.6” which is available as a download in our store, or as part of our Video Training Library. ]
EXCERPT DESCRIPTION
If you’ve been wondering what the color tools in Final Cut do, or how to make them work better, this session is for you. In this short video tutorial, Larry Jordan shows how to use high dynamic range media, called “HDR,” in a standard dynamic range (SDR) project, like HD, in Final Cut.
How to Use HDR Media in an SDR Project in Final Cut Pro
TRT: 6:52 — MPEG-4 HD movie
SESSION DESCRIPTION
It’s been a couple of years since we last looked at color in Final Cut Pro. If you’ve been wondering what the color tools do, or how to make them work better, this session is for you.
Join host, Larry Jordan, as he showcases how to use the color tools in FCP. This session includes:
NOTE: This session won’t cover creating an HDR project.
While color grading is a vast subject, this webinar is a fast way to lift your color skills to the next level.
AUDIENCE LEVEL
This intermediate-level session benefits from knowledge of how FCP works, but we’ll teach you what you need to know about color.
9 Responses to Use HDR Media in an SDR Project in Final Cut Pro [v]
The source clip shown in the video is V-log. What is the benefit to applying a transform between HLG and PQ to a source clip that is neither and when the delivery is to SDR? PQ and HLG are both HDR EOTFs meant for display, neither were designed specifically to be used as an intermediate color space, which is how they are being used in the video.
Jamie:
The main reason is that this was the only clip I had that I could use for the tutorial. I wanted to show the process, but didn’t have the precisely correct clip.
Thanks for pointing this out.
Larry
Hello, Larry Sir. Hope You are Well. You’ve helped me before, so I thought of contacting You again. For context, I record travel vlogs for YouTube on my iPhone 14 Pro Max. I have an M1 Max MacBook Pro. I wasn’t aware that HDR was set for video as default on the iPhone. On my last trip, I shot some videos with HDR on (unknowingly). After I found out that it was sort of a hassle to work with, I turned it off.
It seems it is best to update Final Cut Pro to 10.6.6. I don’t use third party plugins for editing, I believe, so I don’t have to worry about any issues associated with those.
I currently shoot in Full HD 60p, export in Full HD 60p, and do not do color grading.
Please correct me if I am wrong. My current understanding: On previous versions of Final Cut Pro, if HDR footage is put on the Timeline, I would have to go to HDR Color Tools and use HLG to REC 709 SDR (HDR to REC 709 is apparently not as good). I should be able to add non-HDR footage to the same Timeline as well. After that, I can export without issues.
If I upgrade to Cut Pro 10.6.6, I can add both HDR and non-HDR footage. The new update takes care of HDR footage automatically, so I would not need to use HLG to REC 709 within HDR Color Tools, which was previously required.
Questions:
In versions before FCP 10.6.6, for HDR footage, would I need to apply HLG to REC 709 SDR (HDR to REC 709 is apparently not as good) within HDR Color Tools?
With FCP 10.6.6, can the previous requirement of using HLG to REC 709 SDR within HDR Color Tools be totally skipped, since this is supposed to be automatically done now by FCP? Does anything else need to be done? How does this compare with the older method, in terms of appearance of the footage after exporting?
In FCP 10.6.6, is automatic Color Conform reliable?
In previous versions, does an HDR clip need to be edited first, before applying HDR Color Tools, or can it be the other way around?
It seems that if I have more SDR footage, the HDR footage should be made into SDR. If the majority of the footage is HDR (regardless if there being any SDR footage), is it better to export the HDR video, or convert to SDR for YouTube?
For Travel Vlogs, should HDR be left on? I want this to be as less complicated as possible for myself, and I do not want to do any color grading. My videos go on YouTube, and everyone does not have an HDR TV, and the color profile could be different for different TVs. I would appreciate any feedback. Hope You are Well. Thank You.
Pawan:
These are excellent! questions.
1. Upgrading to FCP 10.6.6 will simplify your HDR workflow.
2. Yes, the Automatic setting on Color Conform seems to work very well. However, you may need to color grade the exposure. I can’t promise that you won’t.
3. If you add older HDR media to a current timeline, Color Conform will be all you need. IF you open an older project, the HDR Tools that you applied then will still work in FCP 10.6.6. However, other than opening older projects, you won’t need to use HDR Tools going forward.
4. To keep your life simple, create SDR timelines only and conform HDR media to SDR using Color Conform.
5. As for all HDR projects, you can edit them, but you won’t be able to view them because the Mac monitor does not display HDR media properly. If you don’t need HDR, don’t edit HDR. Shoot it, use Color Conform to convert to SDR, then edit and export SDR.
Let me know if you have more questions.
Larry
Thank You so much, Larry Sir!
I have not editing any HDR footage, but will need to within a few Months or so.
So it seems like exporting in HDR is just not a good idea. YouTube will convert it to SDR for non HDR monitors, but the conversion could be bad.
I don’t have too much HDR footage, only a few Days worth, so hopefully I won’t have to do anything extra. I really don’t know how to.
If HDR video is converted to SDR, does it appear almost identical to a video that was shot in SDR initially?
Thank You.
Pawan:
In general, posting HDR video to YouTube is not a good idea. It isn’t “wrong” or “bad,” but posting SDR media is just easier and the conversions are simpler.
Depending upon how it was shot, HDR will be similar to, but not the same as, SDR. I recommend you shoot some HDR just to see what it looks like. Don’t worry about the content – traffic is fine – look at the process of how it looks converted and any special steps you need to take during your edit.
Larry
Thank You so much! This is All Great Advice! For some reason, I was not able to ask about HEVC on Your other posts. It would not appear. Should I ask here? I really appreciate All the Help!
Hi,
If I shoot HDR PQ and want to edit in an SDR project timeline should I:
1. Keep the library as Wide Gamut or Standard Gamut?
Dragos:
Standard gamut.
Larry