In this tutorial video, I show you how you can now edit Blackmagic BRAW in Final Cut Pro, using an extension called 'BRAW Toolbox'.
The Importance of Dynamic Range for Your Promotional Video
Considering dynamic range is essential for a cinematic image, as it allows more degrees in terms of light, which is closer to what the human eye captures. Let me explain:
The Human Eye & Dynamic Range of a Camera
Dynamic range is the ratio between the maximum and minimum measurable light intensities. Cameras have different dynamic ranges, depending on the power of the sensor. For instance, the human eye can capture 24 stops of light, while a typical DSLR camera can capture up to 12 stops. The 6K Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera I work with has 13 stops of light! Higher-end cameras, such a what is used on Hollywood film sets, like ARRI cameras or a RED, have up to 17 stops of light.
Taking Full Advantage of Dynamic Range of Your Camera
When you can expose the shot correctly, without losing any detail in the highlights (the brighter part of the image) and the shadows (the darkest part of the picture), you are taking full advantage of your cameras dynamic range. This is why people shoot in RAW formats or 'flat profiles' (i.e. such as S-log and C-log) as it allows for a higher amount of stops of light. Capturing the full dynamic range for your camera is pleasing on the eye, as it's closer to what the natural eye naturally picks up in terms of gradience of light. Taking full advantage of the dynamic range of your camera is an essential component of capturing what is often referred to as a 'cinematic image.'
In this video, I describe the importance of dynamic range and natural light in capturing an interview.
Why Blackmagic 6K Can Deliver Cinematic Quality for Your Business
I recently purchased the Blackmagic Design Pocket Cinema 6K Camera. What this camera allows, is for me to produce true cinematic quality for my clients and personal projects, be it for promotional or instructional commercials, high-end interviews or film features.
6K 12-Bit Raw: Cinematic Goodness
The Blackmagic Design Pocket Cinema 6K Camera can shoot in 6K 12-Bit Raw. What does this mean? Well, for short, it means an overall better image. Mainly, shooting in 6K allows me to deliver a more pixel sharp image, as well as for the ability to ‘punch in’ or zoom in to the image if needed in post. Raw allows me to colour correct and grade with much more freedom, including adjusting aspects such as colour temperature, Exposure and ISO in post.
4K Deliverable: Increasing the Longevity & Sharpness of Your Video
Most clients now desire a 4K deliverable in 2020. Social Media sites such as YouTube are allowing the ability to upload to 4K and higher. New TVs are also now 4K and higher. So when I can deliver 4K footage for my clients, it’s providing for them the current standards needed in 2020 and moving forward into the decade. Furthermore, it allows for the future-proofing of archival footage, substantially increasing the longevity of the video delivered.
What Is 12-Bit?
A 12-bit space is essentially the degree of colour able to be included in the captured footage. Most DSLRs shoot in 8-bit, which means you’re gaining more colour when shooting 12-bit video with a cinema camera. When colour correcting/ grading 8-bit footage, a process that occurs when editing footage in post, colours I have found can quickly degrade. This is especially the case when shooting on the Sony A7RII. Specific colours get too pulled apart, i.e. many colour artifacts are introduced, meaning the image does not look great. The reason for this, is that there is only so much you can push colours, in terms of colour correcting, in an 8-bit colour space. However, a 12-bit is a significant step above what I used to with my DSLR. I can pretty much adjust an image to any individual style or design I want, which allows for greater creative freedom.
Shooting Raw Gives You the Best Image
The fact that I can shoot in Raw, as well as a 12-bit colour space, means I have a lot more room to push the image and colours in post. Raw is essentially the same as what you find if you were shooting a Raw image vs a JPG in photography. All the details are captured in the Raw image, as Blackmagic creates a ‘sidecar file’ which can be read and adjusted in post. It essentially allows for more flexibility to play with, as the video is closest to its original capture. In other words, as the image is less compressed, it allows for greater flexibility in grading and editing of the footage. For more details on what Blackmagic Raw (BRAW) is, see the following video by Blackmagic:
One Minor Downside of Shooting in 6K Raw
Yes, it’s impressive that you can shoot in such a high resolution, but the file sizes and the ability for your computer to process the video can be a bit more challenging. It certainly takes more planning to have an efficient workflow to grade and edit the footage. I’m currently working on ways to improve my video workflow, as when you have much larger file sizes, and your computer needs to process these larger files, it can take more time. I’m confident with my current testing and workflow that my editing will become much more efficient, so I can spend less time editing and more time shooting or enjoying the efforts of my labour.
Conclusion
6K 12-Bit Raw is a game gamer in terms of the cinematic quality I can deliver for clients. This means more professionally, and higher-end promotional commercials and films can be produced using my camera. Indeed it’s an exciting time to an independent filmmaker in 2020!
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