Using the Color Controls

The Final Cut Pro X color controls introduce a new method of color balancing that seeks to combine the specific control over which parts of the image you’re correcting, with an easier to understand way of making the necessary changes to either add or remove color casts, or tints, in the image. In this exercise, you’ll learn how each of the four color controls effects the image differently.

1. From the Project Library, open the Test Pattern project into the Timeline. If necessary, press Command-7 to open the video scopes. From the Settings pop-up menu, choose RGB Parade. Then close the Event Library and adjust the video scope and Viewer to a comfortable size.

This project consists of a single clip: a ramp gradient from black to white. This test pattern will help you see exactly how the Color controls affect specific areas of your clips.