FAQ: Your Questions, Answered
Account
What types of projects do you work on?
We specialize in cinematic color grading for brands and agencies, focusing on ad campaigns, product stories, and social media content. Whether it’s a one-off project or an episodic campaign, we bring your vision to life.
How does bucket pricing work?
You purchase a block of hours (10, 20, or 50 hours) to use as needed across projects. Hours are valid for 12 months, offering flexibility for both immediate and future needs.
Can I get updates on my project’s progress?
Absolutely! We provide regular updates and track your bucket hours so you always know the status of your project and the remaining time available.
What happens if I need more hours than I purchased?
No problem! You can easily top up with additional hours by purchasing another bucket. This ensures your project keeps moving forward seamlessly.
Are revisions included?
Yes, revisions count toward your bucket hours. This keeps the process straightforward and ensures you stay within your budget.
What’s the typical turnaround time for a project?
Turnaround depends on the project scope, but we provide updates within one business day of receiving a request. Our workflow is designed to prioritize efficiency without compromising quality.
Do unused hours roll over after 12 months?
Unused hours expire after 12 months to keep projects on track. We’ll remind you as your bucket approaches expiration so you can maximize your investment.
How do you ensure the color grade matches my brand’s aesthetic?
We start every project with a detailed consultation to understand your brand's identity and goals. We also use reference palettes and visuals to align our work with your vision.
Can you work on rush projects?
We can accommodate rush projects depending on availability. Rush work may require a higher hourly rate or the purchase of an additional bucket.
What’s included in the free consultation?
During the consultation, we discuss your project’s scope, goals, and aesthetic preferences. We’ll also guide you through our bucket pricing and workflow to ensure we’re the right fit for your needs.
General
What info to include when I contact you for my project?
⁃ The Type of project
⁃ Exact Duration (if you can, include how many cuts)
⁃ Camera/s+codec used (specify if you shot in RAW)
⁃ Delivery format/s you’ll need
⁃ Anything that helps convey needs.
-Possibly link to a version of your project
-Grade references/stills
-Flag what requires extra attention
What is the best format to send my footage?
Lossless format: Quicktime Apple Prores HQ 422/444 or DNxHD
• Ensure its a clean output: no temp. corrections, graphics, transitions, titles, color adjustments, effects.
• Ensure you are not using proxies on your high quality export.
Or send all the original clips and the XML file of the project
How to communicate vision for the color grade?
Vision boards, pre-pro decks, brand guides, reference stills or videos from other films or photoshoots. Samples that are spot on with your vision work best. We do color tests! After you send over assets, I'll send you some stills to refine the look and translate your vision with maximum quality.
How can I transfer you the files?
You can use OneDrive, Dropbox, WeTransfer, filemail, anything that works for you.
How do revisions work? Can I add more?
For revisions I use the frame.io or Wipster platforms. It allows you to mark up/annotate specific frames easily. Yes, in addition to the free revision provided in every package, additional revisions can be purchased as an extra service.
What software / hardware do you use?
DaVinci Resolve Studio, Nobe Omniscope Pro, Film Convert, Frame.io, Ultrastudio 4Kmini, Blackmagic Design Micro Panel, Mac Studio, Blackmagic Cloud Pod, StreamDeck, X-rite calibrated LG-UHD monitors, bias lighting, iPad Pro in Reference Mode, QnAP 16-Bay SSD Drive ~$15K Setup
How do I describe the color I want?
You don't need to know technical terms. I will translate your description to colors. Referencing one or a combination of the words red, magenta, blue, cyan, green, yellow, and orange with specifications in brightness and saturation works great.
What is color correction
Adjusting shot luminance and chrominance of each image to create a consistent, neutral starting point via primary and secondary grades using techniques like normalization, balancing, shot matching, keying and masking.
What is color grading
Thoughtful aesthetic considerations to influence an audience’s emotional perception of an environment. Making a stylized look for your video, create a particular ambient and color palettes depending of the resources of the clip.
What kind of project do you color correct and color grade?
A variety of short form content for web: Advertising, Music Video, Shorts, Docs, please contact me so I can create a custom offer and discuss about color tests.
Do you make color tests?
Yes! After you send over assets, I'll send you some stills to refine the look and translate your vision with maximum quality.
How to shoot with color grade in mind?
High quality LOG footage offers the most latitude and creative flexibility because it preserves highlights and shadows.
For Iphone: Shoot in Apple ProRes
Rec. 709 footage: Clipped data may be unrecoverable. Try and control lighting and settings during shoot. Corrections are possible but limited.
How much time to expect it to take?
It depends. Make sure to budget enough time for color. This is the polishing of your final film/video. Creating consistency across different shots and a look that conveys emotion. You can expect status/work in progress updates within 24 hours.
How to credit colorist, share stills/ help each other out?
Credit is optional: Digital Colorist: Sergio Fermin, Casita Film
We welcome any final versions or social edits for networking and promotion.
How do you actually grade?
The color session happens in a dark, light-controlled room so I can judge color without bias. A proper color suite will have gentle 6500K lighting against a neutral mid-gray wall.
Do I need to know all the technical terms?
No, I will translate your descriptions to colors, but here are some high level terms:
A primary grade is a color effect that controls the entire frame.
A secondary grade is altering part of an image.
Creating a look: emotional and practical narrative implications of a scene
What are some popular terms to know?
Conforming
-Scene Cut Detection
Color Correction:
-Primary Grade: Normalizing, Color Space & Transforms, White Balance, Balancing, Shot Matching
-Secondary Grading: Keying, Power Windows, External Mattes, Magic Masks
Color Grading
Look: Assessment for creating look or adjusting existing look. Lut refinement.
Effects:
-Noise Reduction, Glow, Grain, Stabilization,
Revisions:
-Frame.io
QC: Quality Control report
-Log of updates
Are project files included?
No, Typically, project files are never included.
Why should I contact you prior to making an order?
Every project is unique. It's important to know your requirements and it’s complexity to provide an accurate quote.