How to color grade a video in Davinci Resolve using vector scopes

This tutorial shows you how to use the vectorscope in DaVinci Resolve to correct color casts, control saturation, and check skin tones. Open the scopes from the color page or choose workspace video scopes on. Right click inside a scope and select vectorscope. The center represents no saturation. As colors become stronger, the trace moves outward toward the red, magenta, blue, cyan, green, and yellow targets. Start with a new serial node for color balance. Look for areas that should be neutral, such as a white wall, gray shirt, or black object. If the entire trace leans strongly toward one color, use temperature and tint or make a small adjustment with the offset color wheel to bring the neutral information closer to the center. Add another serial node for saturation. Increase the saturation control slowly while watching the vectorscope. The trace should expand, but normal footage usually should not be forced all the way into the target boxes. Use the picture and the scope together. If the shot contains a person, open the vectorscope options and enable the skin tone indicator. Skin tones of different brightness levels normally fall close to this line. If other colors make the scope difficult to read, use the qualifier to select the skin temporarily, then enable highlight mode. Adjust the gamma wheel or hue versus hue curve until the isolated trace sits closer to the skin tone line. Here's the part many tutorials skip. A vectorscope measures hue and saturation, not brightness. Keep a waveform or RGB parade open beside it to set shadows, midtones, and highlights. A perfectly centered vectorscope can still belong to an image that is too dark or overexposed. Turn highlight mode off, check the complete image, and compare the grade with the original. You have now used scopes to balance color, control saturation, and check skin tones more accurately.