In the realm of digital cinematography, achieving the coveted 35mm film look through color grading can often seem daunting. However, with the right tools and techniques, it’s possible to closely emulate the look and feel of film using footage captured on devices even like the Apple iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max. Today, I’ll guide you through a comprehensive walkthrough using Filmatic AI’s innovative plugin, ColorClone, within DaVinci Resolve, to transform your iPhone footage into a cinematic masterpiece within seconds and entirely for free.
Introduction to ColorClone for 35mm Film Emulation
ColorClone isn’t just another film emulation plugin; it focuses primarily on matching the color response of different cameras, which is often the most challenging aspect of achieving true filmic colors. By integrating this tool with DaVinci Resolve’s included grain and halation plugins, we can enhance the footage further to emulate those spatial characteristics of film that filmmakers covet. We'll even compare it 1:1 directly with actual 35mm film footage to show how close we can truly get.
Please note, ColorClone is only compatible with footage from the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max due to it's Apple Log and ProRes recording capabilities. This method will work with any footage you shoot on your iPhone in Apple Log and ProRes!
Follow along for FREE with the actual footage and free trial!
We're offering a fully-featured free trial of ColorClone, along with the actual clips from our demo video — compatible with the free version of DaVinci Resolve! Download both the software and footage at no cost, and follow along step-by-step.
ColorClone Free Trial download: https://www.filmatic.ai/free-trial
Sample footage download (FREE): https://www.filmatic.ai/myaccount
Download DaVinci Resolve (FREE): https://www.blackmagicdesign.com/products/davinciresolve
Prefer to watch? See the video tutorial below:
Setting Up Your Workflow in DaVinci Resolve
First, let’s set up our project in DaVinci Resolve. You'll want to have your iPhone footage ready alongside a reference 35mm film clip for a direct comparison. The goal here is to apply ColorClone to the iPhone footage to match the 35mm film stock—specifically, Kodak 250D 5207, film negative. Here’s how to get started:
Apply ColorClone to Your Footage:
Select your iPhone footage in the timeline.
Apply the ColorClone effect on a node and set your source camera as the iPhone 15 Pro.
Set the light spectrum to 5600K to match daylight shooting conditions.
Choose Kodak 250D 5207, Cineon log as your target for a log-to-log transformation
Log Transformations:
Perform a Cineon log to Rec. 709 transformation to view the film as it should be seen in the Output Gamma selection.
Compare this transformation directly with the 35mm film clip, also transformed from Cineon log to Rec. 709 as it's selected Output Gamma
Fine-Tuning Color and Contrast
You may notice slight color discrepancies, such as a magenta tint on the iPhone footage, likely due to lens and sensor variances.
Here’s how to adjust:
Add a slight green tint to neutralize magenta and adjust the warmth to match the film’s temperature.
Match contrast by tweaking the contrast settings to align with the film’s punchy look.
Adding Film Characteristics: Halation and Grain
To deepen the filmic emulation, apply halation and grain:
Halation: Add a new node in DaVinci Resolve and apply a halation effect. Adjust the intensity and spread to achieve a subtle glow typical of film.
Grain: Place a grain node after halation to maintain the correct order of operations. Adjust the intensity to match the natural film grain, keeping an eye on the textural differences between the iPhone and actual film.
Simulating Depth of Field with Depth Mapping
Beyond color and texture, film’s spatial characteristics such as depth of field can be emulated:
Use DaVinci Resolve’s Depth Mapping tools to apply a depth of field effect.
Adjust the depth map to blur out elements based on their spatial relation to the focal point, enhancing the cinematic feel.
Final Thoughts
By following these steps, you can dramatically transform your iPhone footage to not just look like film, but to feel like it too, thanks to the power of ColorClone and DaVinci Resolve. Whether you’re a filmmaker looking to match different footage sources or a hobbyist aiming to elevate your video projects, these tools offer an easy solution to professional-grade cinematic results.
Remember, the beauty of digital filmmaking lies in experimentation. Each project presents unique challenges and learning opportunities, so feel free to adjust these settings to best suit your visual style and narrative needs.
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