False Color in DaVinci Resolve

False Color is a Studio only tool

False Color is a creative effect that can be used for replicating camera HUDs, infrared sensors, and
custom posterization looks by defining a set number of colors for the clip. The color set can either
match the False Color setting in a specific Blackmagic Design camera or be picked from a list of
creative style presets. The presets can be modified by setting the number of colors used and defining
the tonal range each color represents.

General

– Plugin Mode: This menu is used to switch between using a specific Blackmagic Design Camera’s
False Color setting or accessing creative presets. When Specific Camera Model is chosen, the
Camera Model section is displayed for selecting the camera and settings you want to use. When
Creative is chosen, the Color bands section is displayed for choosing and customizing the preset.

Camera Model

The Camera Model controls are displayed when Specific Camera Model is chosen from the Plugin
Model menu. These menus allow you to match the False Color from a camera configuration.
– Camera: Selects the exact Blackmagic Design camera sensor.
– Camera Mode: Selects the dynamic range setting.
– ISO Level: Sets the ISO or light sensitivity setting.

Color Bands

These controls are displayed when Creative is chosen from the Plugin Model menu. The Color Bands
group of controls are used to select and modify the appearance of the False Color presets.
– Camera: Selects the exact Blackmagic Design camera sensor.
– Camera Mode: Selects the dynamic range setting.
– ISO Level: Sets the ISO or light sensitivity setting.

Preprocessing

This group of controls is used to apply tonal and blur processing to the image.
– Blur: Applies a blur filter to the False Color.
– Black Level: Increases or decreases the shadow range assigned to colors that fall lower on the
False Color legend.
– White Level: Increases or decreases the highlight range assigned to colors that fall higher on the
False Color legend.
– Gamma: Shifts the mid-tone range towards colors that fall lower or higher on the
False Color legend.

Scale/Legend

This section is used to control the visibility and appearance of the False Color legend. The Legend is
displayed to help viewers understand the color representation. Whenever you apply False Color, the
Legend is generated and displayed. When you modify a preset, the Legend automatically updates to
represent the new color scheme.
– Show Scale: Shows or hides the Legend on the left side of the frame.
– Show Values: Shows or hides numeric values on the Legend. These numeric values represent
different scales based on the Value Style menu.
– Show Labels: Shows or hides data point labels on the Legend. The labels identify important data
points along the tonal range, such as black clipping, white clipping, and middle gray.
– Contrast: Increases or decreases the transparency of the Legend’s background underlay.
– Value Detail: Increases or decreases the number of axis value labels displayed on the Legend.
– Value Style: This menu includes three options for the scale used for the Legend’s numeric values.
– Percentage: Uses a percentage scale for the Legend, going from 0% at the bottom
to 100% at the top.
– Hundredths: Uses a Hundredths scale for the Legend, going from 0 at the bottom
to 100 at the top.
– Normalized: Uses a Normalized scale for the Legend, going from 0.0 at the bottom
to 1.0 at the top

Global Blend

– Blend: Lets you dissolve between the image with no False Color applied (0.0) and the image with
False Color fully applied (1.0).

About the Author

Justin Robinson is a Certified DaVinci Resolve, Fusion & Fairlight instructor who is known for simplifying concepts and techniques for anyone looking to learn any aspect of the video post-production workflow. Justin is the founder of JayAreTV, a training and premade asset website offering affordable and accessible video post-production education. You can follow Justin on Twitter at @JayAreTV YouTube at JayAreTV or Facebook at MrJayAreTV