easun
Botanicals
Powergrade User Guide
Installation
In the color page, drag the .drx files into the gallery panel. To make the PowerGrades available across all projects in the
Middle-click or select apply grade in the context menu of the library:
PowerGrade you intend to apply.
(1) Open the flyout on the side (if it is not open).
(2) Create a new PowerGrade album (or use the existing one),
rename it to whatever you like.
(3) Drag your PowerGrades into the album.
Step (1) Step (2) Step (3)
easun
AIO Usage and Node Refrence
The AIO version of the PowerGrade is intended for use on a
single clip or adjustment layer. However, for the latter, I suggest
you check out the next page (clip groups) as they have a few
advantages over adjustment layers.
I recommend you play with the following nodes:
CST In - If shooting in LOG, make sure to change the input color
space/gamma so that it matches your camera.
Primaries - Adjust the Lift/Gamma/Gain of your footage.
HSV Sat - Play with the Gain slider to adjust saturation.
Grain/Halation - Disable if using the free version of Resolve. You
may also need to disable the Halation node if highlights are
oversaturated/breaking.
Film Lut - Davinci Resolve has a beautiful set of builtin film
emulation LUTs. Give a few of them a try by dragging them
onto this node (make sure to use the Rec709 version of the
LUT).
easun
Clip Group Usage
Adjustment layers are good if you need to throw a quick grade
ontop of multiple clips. However, problems arise when you
need to apply the same adjustment for clips spread throughout
the timeline.
Clip groups fix that, and they also allow you to adjust individual
clips inside of the Davinci Wide Gamut color space.
Step (1) Step (2) Step (3)
To use clip groups:
(1) Open the Clips panel if not open already.
(2) Right-click on the clip and select Add into a New Group. Name
it whatever you want.
(3) In your Nodes panel, click on the highlighted dropdown and
select Group Pre-Clip.
(4) Your nodes should have a yellow outline. Apply the Pre-Clip
PowerGrade.
(5) Repeat steps 3+4 with the Clip and Group Post-Clip
PowerGrades respectively.
Step (4) Step (5)
easun
Adjustment Tips
The Botanicals PowerGrades are meant to be used to emulate film, and have
been designed to work to the best of my ability. It is not one-size-fits-all, and
will require at least a small amount of manual adjustment before things look
good.
Here are some of my recommendations
For bright scenes, I like having the image a little over-exposed. Push the
midtones (Gamma slider) up until it’s almost overexposed, then adjust the
highlights (Gain slider) so that nothing clips. Finally, adjust the shadows
(Lift slider) to get proper contrast.
The Halation node can sometimes cause problems with oversaturated
highlights. You may need to create a new clip group with the halation
disabled to fix your highlights.
If your highlights are still breaking, I recommend dropping the
saturation.
A little nudge on the white balance sliders won’t hurt.
Don’t be afraid to saturate. I often try to increase the saturation right
before the point of oversaturation
Don’t drink paint thinner (very important).
easun
easun
Whether you downloaded the free version, gave me money, or did the 3rd,
more sinister option, thank you for supporting me. This was a labor of love
and has taken me years of experience to produce.
Thank you. Please visit esnh.xyz/shop for more goodies, and thanks again for using the
Botanicals PowerGrade.
