DaVinci Wide Gamut CST Sandwich
Map camera Log into DaVinci Wide Gamut / Intermediate on your entry node and convert cleanly to Rec.709 on your final node so every adjustment in between has full 32-bit headroom.
Editing, Color & Post
Program #079 · Editing & Color
✓ Free Online Intro Included
DaVinci Resolve: Scientific Log-to-Rec.709 Color Grading
Build a repeatable scene-referred Color Space Transform (CST) node pipeline in DaVinci Resolve for accurate skin tones, smooth bright-tone roll-off, and consistent macOS/web exports.
Dropping generic internet LUTs onto Canon C-Log2, Sony S-Log3, or Apple Log footage crushes shadow detail, clips upper stops abruptly, and pushes skin toward unnatural orange or magenta casts. In this course, we construct a clean scene-referred node tree inside DaVinci Wide Gamut / Intermediate, balance exposure and printer-lights white balance before contrast, verify skin on the Vectorscope, resolve QuickTime gamma tag shifts, and save reusable PowerGrade looks.
✓ Free Online Introductory Session
Start with a free online intro consultation for this course: we review the syllabus together, clarify how many sessions you need based on your goals and pace, and decide whether continuing Online ($69 CAD/hr) or In-Person ($99 CAD/hr) suits you best.
First Session
Free Online Intro
Session Rates
$69/hr Online · $99/hr In-Person
Course Structure
Tailored to Your Level & Pace
Instructor & Language
Iman Adlkhah · EN & Persian
Prefer just the written framework instead of live sessions? A standalone $39 CAD PDF guide option can also be requested for this course: select the PDF option below.
Prefer done-for-you commercial filming, kinetic typography, and color grading for your brand? View our Video Production Studio, Client Portfolio, and recent edits on @tehranto.plus on Instagram.
Course Learning Pillars
Core Capabilities Developed in This Course
Every learner starts from a different background. These are the core capabilities this course develops, paced to your goals across the sessions we plan together.
Exposure & Printer-Lights Balance Before Contrast
Adjust exposure and Offset printer-lights Kelvin/Tint upstream of your contrast curve so tonal response behaves like changing ISO and white balance on set.
Vectorscope Skin-Tone Line Discipline
Crop and check skin patches against the Vectorscope skin-tone indicator so faces stay natural even when room walls cast green or warm tungsten tint.
Consistent macOS Tags & Reusable PowerGrades
Apply reliable Rec.709 / Rec.709-A tagging for QuickTime, Safari, and iPhone consistency, and store clean commercial and film-inspired PowerGrade trees in your gallery.
Course Syllabus
Core Concepts & Topics Covered
Below are the main concepts and topics covered in this course. In your Free Online Intro Session, we align the exact depth and number of sessions to your experience and goals.
Topic 01
Scene-Referred Color Science, Scopes & CST Node Structure
Understanding why scene-referred grading preserves tonal latitude compared to display-referred LUTs, and wiring a clean fixed-purpose node tree.
- Configuring Input CST (camera gamut/gamma to DaVinci WG/Intermediate) and Output CST tone/gamut mapping
- Reading Waveform for exposure stops, RGB Parade for color casts, and Vectorscope for saturation density
- Taming intense blue LED and neon fixtures using Gamut Compression before output conversion
Topic 02
Primary Exposure, Printer-Lights White Balance & Contrast Pivot
Establishing clean tonal weight and neutral whites upstream so contrast curves and subtractive color density build depth without muddying shadows.
- Balancing HDR Global exposure and Offset printer-lights keys for photometric white-balance control
- Shaping custom S-curves and contrast pivot points to protect upper stops and shadow texture
- Building rich subtractive color density with Color Slice and HSV/Color Warper tools
Topic 03
Skin-Tone Vector Control, Tracked Windows & Subtle Film Texture
Guiding viewer attention softly toward the subject using tracked Power Windows, clean HSL/3D qualifiers, and restrained halation or film-print curves.
- Isolating skin tones cleanly to align hue and saturation along the Vectorscope skin line
- Tracking feathered radial Power Windows to shape subtle background falloff and eye clarity
- Layering restrained film print emulation, soft bright-tone halation, and fine grain without heavy artifacts
Topic 04
Timeline Shot Matching, PowerGrade Libraries & Delivery Tags
Matching clips across changing daylight and interior angles, organizing group-level looks, and exporting predictable masters for social and broadcast delivery.
- Using Reference Stills and horizontal/vertical gallery wipes for fast shot-to-shot consistency
- Structuring Pre-Clip, Clip, and Post-Clip group grades plus saving reusable Stills Gallery PowerGrades
- Configuring Rec.709 / Gamma 2.4 vs macOS Rec.709-A tags for H.264, H.265, and ProRes masters
Course Reference Overview
Scene-Referred DaVinci CST Node Architecture
Core practical benchmarks and standards covered as part of this course's curriculum.
| Pipeline Stage | Common LUT Mistake | Scene-Referred Method Taught | Image Quality Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Input Color Space | Dropping a mystery Rec.709 LUT directly onto Log | Camera-specific CST into DaVinci Wide Gamut / Intermediate | Full dynamic range preserved without clipped channels |
| Exposure & Balance | Fixing exposure after a heavy contrast LUT clips whites | Upstream HDR exposure and Offset printer-lights balance | Clean neutral whites and natural shadow roll-off |
| Skin & Creative Look | Pushing saturation sliders until faces turn orange | Vectorscope skin alignment paired with subtractive density | Believable human skin inside commercial or film looks |
| Output & Gamma Tag | Washed-out grey MP4 exports in QuickTime and Safari | Tone-mapped Output CST with verified Rec.709 / Rec.709-A tags | Predictable contrast across Mac, iPhone, and YouTube |
Start With Your Free Intro Session
Book Program #079: DaVinci Resolve: Scientific Log-to-Rec.709 Color Grading
Choose a time for your Free Online Intro Session to map out your course path, or book an Online ($69/hr) or In-Person ($99/hr) session directly, or request the $39 CAD PDF guide option.
1. Choose Option & Preferred Time (ET)
Standalone PDF Guide Option ($39 CAD)
If you prefer to study the written framework and reference checklists of this course on your own instead of live coaching sessions, enter your details on the form to request the $39 CAD PDF edition. We will coordinate and send your payment link and PDF guide via email or WhatsApp.
Program FAQ
Common Questions
Do I need the paid DaVinci Resolve Studio license for this course, or does the free edition cover the CST workflow?
The free edition of DaVinci Resolve includes Color Space Transform (CST), DaVinci Wide Gamut, full scopes, Power Windows, and 10-bit ProRes/H.265 export on macOS. In your Free Online Intro Session, we check your camera's Log format and edition of Resolve so every session fits your exact setup.
How does the Free Online Intro Session work, and how many sessions will I need?
Every course begins with a Free Online Introductory Session where we review the core syllabus together, evaluate your current background and goals, and map out how many sessions you actually need and whether continuing Online ($69 CAD/hr) or In-Person ($99 CAD/hr) suits you best. Session count is never a rigid one-size-fits-all number; it adapts to your own level and pace.
Do I have to commit to a multi-session package, or can I get just the PDF guide?
There is zero upfront package commitment: live sessions are booked flexibly session-by-session ($69 CAD/hr online or $99 CAD/hr in-person). If you prefer a self-paced written guide instead of live coaching, a standalone $39 CAD PDF option can also be requested for this topic.
Are courses taught in English, Persian (Farsi), or bilingual?
Your choice: every session with Iman Adlkhah can be conducted 100% in English, 100% in Persian (Farsi), or naturally bilingual with industry terminology.
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