[ENG] Colour balance rgb

Darktable 3.6 gives us a new colour balance rgb module. This module is a complete paradigm shift from the previous colour balance module. To understand how it works, we start by defining a few words used in colour science. After, we look at the module in darktable to see what effect the sliders have on an image. To finish, we look at two photos. The second photo is edited completely to show what this module can do.
I spent quite some time researching colour science and I thought I had all the words in my head. As I was recording the video, I noticed that some words came out a bit approximatively. Apologies for that, I hope the video can serve as a stepping stone to using the module.
Link to the gradient file I played with and some raws I used in other videos. Feel free to download and play around : drive.google.c...
If you would like to buy me a coffee and/or croissants, there is a link on this page : adabbleinphoto...
www.adabbleinp...
/ nwinspeare

[@audio2u]

Around 51:40 where you were trying to adjust the highlights, you were actually adjusting the power sliders, which is probably why you weren't getting the results you expected.

[@adabbleinphotography8721]

Thanks Bruce, I got in to Darktable with your videos! Making them is a steep learning curve, lots of minor errors here and there… some I notice and I redo the video and some I miss! In this case, I got where I wanted .... phew!

[@europlatus]

I really appreciate the in-depth look at this module. It's crucial to understand the theory behind it to get the most out of it.

[@adabbleinphotography8721]

Thank you! I agree, nothing like a bit of theory in life!!!

[@nicholaswilliams3091]

Thank you!
This has been one of the most helpful videos I've watched on this subject.
I'm finally beginning to understand this module after struggling with it since it was introduced.
Time to start experimenting.
Just found your channel. Subscribed!

[@adabbleinphotography8721]

Thanks Nicholas, you have plenty of videos to catch up on then !

[@louismolino8674]

Thank you taking the time to do this. You have saved me a lot of time reading through the documentation. Your explanation of the power pivot point's affect on out of gamut pixels was very helpful.

[@adabbleinphotography8721]

Thanks Louis, take note that my model is over-simplified, but it serves its purpose!

[@PaulCollery1]

Another very good video explaining the theory behind this new module. A lot of work went into this presentation.

[@adabbleinphotography8721]

Thanks Paul, a lot of work but all very enjoyable !

[@rambazamba7738]

Very well explained and the illustration on the pictures makes it perfect! This applies to all of your videos. Thank you very much!👍☺️

[@adabbleinphotography8721]

Thank you for your kind words Rambazaba !

[@TorstenUhlmannCrafts]

Thank you so much! You have a nice and calm way to explain things, which seems to resonate with me :)
Just a small hint on changing the sliders: When changing one of the grading sliders you mentioned that you cannot go below or above 50%.
Actually you can if you right click on the slider and enter the percentage value as a number. The right click UI also allows you to more finely move the slider up and down, but you can also use it to set an explicit value. Hope that helps.
And thanks again!

[@adabbleinphotography8721]

Thanks Torsten, funny thing is that I often enter numbers like that in modules but didn't make use of it here. It is strange how one thinks differently when making videos !

[@TorstenUhlmannCrafts]

Now that I'm nearly at the end of your video I see you doing just that, using the right mouse click and entering a number value. That makes my comment a bit expendable. But I still wanted to thank you for the thorough lecture on this subject!

[@AirFuchs1]

Amazing introduction! Thanks for your efforts.

[@adabbleinphotography8721]

Thanks Andre! As I mention, it is only a first step, we all need to keep on learning about colour.

[@marcogiai-coletti354]

Another good tutorial. Good to see both the theory and how you carry that over to a real edit.

[@adabbleinphotography8721]

Cheers Marco!

[@pedrorrodriguez1]

Fantastic series on darktable! Looking forward to the color calibration module one!

[@adabbleinphotography8721]

Thanks Pedro, have you seen it, it is out now. What do you think?

[@pedrorrodriguez1]

@@adabbleinphotography8721 I have seen them! As usual, very thorough and informative. I've been learning quite a bit from your videos. Kudos and keep them coming!

[@plamenkasabov2390]

Valuable and easy to follow presentation. Great!

[@adabbleinphotography8721]

Thanks Plamen!

[@bernym4047]

Thank you for an excellent demo of this module.

[@adabbleinphotography8721]

Thanks Berny!

[@e75system]

looks like University of Darktable, thank you, really good stuff

[@adabbleinphotography8721]

Thanks, I not an engineer though. I do my best to understand how things are working and then I share.

[@wilmermh]

Very clear explained, thank you!

[@adabbleinphotography8721]

Thanks Wilmer!

[@gerschu]

Thank you for the great video and the explanations!

[@adabbleinphotography8721]

Thanks!

[@KuberKoos]

thank you for making these available in English too.

[@adabbleinphotography8721]

It’s a pleasure Kuber !

[@torevalberg3510]

Very good, you got a new subscriber. Love the deeper look into this, and you explain it very well. Are you a teacher by trade?

[@adabbleinphotography8721]

Thanks Tore, I'm a maths teacher by profession. I hope I don't appear too rigid !

[@realrobbyrob]

Great video, thanks for sharing.

[@adabbleinphotography8721]

Thanks Rob (is it Rob?), keep on editing, darktable is fantastic!

[@davidabergel8352]

This is a brilliant and helpful introduction to the module. Thank you so much! Regarding the discussion of the power slider and how it affects highlights and shadows - does adjusting the white point and black point in filmic also impact where the pivot point is?

[@adabbleinphotography8721]

In the pipeline, color balance rgb comes before filmic so the influence would be the other way round. A change in the luminosity using the color balance rgb module would potentially impact the white point in filmic.

[@Eigil_Skovgaard]

Thank you. That was constructive as opposed to Aurélien Pierre's looping the loop.

[@roryanderson5123]

Fab thanks! Exactly what I've been after :)

[@adabbleinphotography8721]

Thanks Rory!

[@samcassidy2441]

Love these videos!

[@adabbleinphotography8721]

Thanks Sam!

[@haiongolf]

great job on explaining the theory first, need to understand this before you can use the tool correctly!

[@adabbleinphotography8721]

Yes, thanks Hai Dau. Let's keep on learning together!

[@jackdeangelis6585]

Very good presentation. I think "lightness" is a property of objects that reflect light (surfaces) whereas "brightness" is a property of objects that emit light (like light bulbs) but I could be completely wrong in this case!.

[@adabbleinphotography8721]

Yes, I think you are correct.

[@C00ltronix]

Image editing start at 36:06 ;-) The forest image is an excellent example of turning a rather dull images to something really nice. On top, it's a good example of an A to Z workflow and very watchable by itself. A bit like the channel "Expressive Photography".

[@adabbleinphotography8721]

Thanks !

[@Eigil_Skovgaard]

What is the theoretical difference between introducing e.g. +50 % global chroma combined with +x % (chroma) shadows - as opposed to +50% global chroma alone?
The question is the same for the saturation and brilliance group, and the question becomes even more complex, if values for midtones and highlights are added, just within the group.

[@hamzamihoub]

What's your opinion on the complexity of this module, and is it artist friendly?

[@adabbleinphotography8721]

This module is so powerful! I don't think it is too complex though once you understand the principles behind it. I find that separating the shadows, midtones and highlights in the last tab is a bit difficult. The shadow and highlights falloff sliders don't do much on most of my images so I just move the midtones left and right to adjust. I think we shall see some evolutions in the updates to come.

[@europlatus]

@@adabbleinphotography8721 I fully agree with you. I love the module but I feel like the masking needs some more work. It can be a struggle to fine tune the balance between shadows, highlights and midtones when colour grading, which becomes more confusing considering that the power is not masked.

[@haiongolf]

Can you share the photo of the three different gradient for those that what to play with the effect in Darktable. This will save people from replicating that picture since you already created it.

[@adabbleinphotography8721]

I put the file in my google drive. The link is now in the description of the video.

[@haiongolf]

@@adabbleinphotography8721 thank you 🙏!

[@philsmith774]

@@adabbleinphotography8721 This is very helpful, thank you.

[@emrg777]

I think AP somewhere actually said that the masks are not used in the 4 way tab its just weighting but I will have to go and look for that ....it came up in either his latest video or on pixls.us.... Edit: I was not exactly accurate...sounds like the mask is used for midtones in the master tab but the power is used in conjuction with an average of the highlights and mids in the 4-way tab ...I guess a nuance really discuss.pixls.us/t/color-balance-rgb-colouring-midtones-in-the-4-ways-tab/25948

[@adabbleinphotography8721]

Thanks Todd, I’ll give it a read.