Im using Samsung LED TV for Color Grading - Blog Post

I want to share my findings with you. I replaced my old Eizo display with a newer but cheaper Samsung LED TV. Im amazed on how good these LED TV's became! You really can use them for color grading. Though you have to do a little bit of fine-tuning and turn OFF AUTO anything.

http://www.schweinert.com/blog/files/de2cd7b195224799a2f2e13fe483d80f-56.html

Indeed. I'm using a Samsung 4K 28 inch monitor and extremely happy and impressed.

Thanks for sharing that - I've also just read your other blog posts - all very interesting and clearly written.

Your work desk is so neat and tidy it puts mine to shame!

Nice post. Rekindle - is this the same model (just different size) that you have?

Daniel - is that Blackmagic thingamajig necessary? What does it do that a video card can't?

That is an impressive workdesk photo. You don't REALLY work like that do you?

Mine's a heap of chargers, USB this and that, batteries, notes, receipts, and all sorts of mess too.

Don't think so, sounds like his is a TV / monitor and mine is a 4K computer monitor. Both are Samsung. Seems they have figured it out. Their Galaxy smart phone are on the top and their tablets are excellent.

Good to know. I'll likely be shopping soon, so all this info is good to have!

@Mizamook @Videostock50 Thanks very much! Actually that is my workdesk. I always try to keep my desk clutter-free.

You need that Blackmagic Ultrastudio MiniMonitor to ouput a real broadcast REC.709 YUV signal to the TV. If you just hook the TV via a HDMI or DVI to the computer you get a RGB signal. Also DaVinci Resolve Video output works only with that hardware.

Daniel, I have a stupid question, but then again there is no such thing as a stupid question. Is there? Are you talking truly about color grading or color correction? There is a big difference between the two as far as I know. But would like clarification.

@vadervideo no there are no stupid questions. Usually color correction is used to get a neutral look (sometimes from a bad shoot, wb off, underexposure... etc.) and color grading to create a look (like the teal/orange look in blockbuster movies. Best example is Transformers where it has been overused). But these two terms are more and more mixed up and used vice versa. There is nothing wrong because both have to do with color. To color correct or to color grade footage you will need a REC.709 calibrated display + output hardware if your clients are broadcast companies (most of my clips are used in tv documentaries).

It starts already on your computer display. Just watch a clip in the Quicktime Player and the colors will be washed out and with low contrast. In the VLC Player on the other hand the colors will pop and the contrast is really high and sometimes it's vice versa. So what is right and what is wrong? How do you color correct? You see without the proper display + output hardware your're actually blind because you're guessing how it will look like to your audience. Of course there is more to this because each individual has it's own settings on his TV but let's keep it simple. You have to start somewhere.

Also with all these new cameras that supports RAW recording and LOG modes a calibrated workflow is really necessary. The equipment I use UltraStudio MiniMonitor + probe calibrated Samsung LED TV is actually considered as absolute low budget but it works perfectly for me. If I would do color critical work where the client demands it you can always rent a suite or the appropriate hardware.