EYE TRAINING: PAINTOVER

In a previous study on Comparison HERE, we looked at how artists took the next steps to make their shots reach 100%. The most difficult skill I’ve started to learn after college is knowing what the next step is for a shot. It could either be while you’re lighting on a set or finaling a shot for compositing, knowing what the next steps are based on what’s missing take may take practice. A study I like to do is the paint-over. Paint-overs are used in studios and are either literal paint overs a frame and/or photoshop adjustments.

I recommend using low budget films as study material for paint-overs. This exercise is not a critique of the film you’re studying; it’s a way to build your own instinct of seeing how shots can be improved. For this study, I selected shots from High School Musical 1 and 2, mainly to try to match the high budget look of High School Musical 3. It’s easy to do impossible edits in photoshop, but in this exercise, try to keep the adjustments physically plausible within set lighting or post production, etc.

EXAMPLE 1

• warmed the color temperature of the shot to bring out the skin tones

• increased exposure the key light and rim for more value contrast off the bg

EXAMPLE 2

• Added a window light to breakup constant lighting

• increased overall exposure to add bound from window light

• Created the window light at a slant to breakup the orthogonal lines

EXAMPLE 3

• added a dark foreground depth plane to add depth, and make the shot feel less like it’s shot on a set

EXAMPLE 4

• added smoke to add texture, movement and breakup the dark background

Another variation of this study is the Paint Out. It’s an exercise of painting out elements in the shot that is at 100% to see why it works and to try to articulate it. An example I did with How to Marry A Millionaire: