Color Curves
There are Color Curves for Luma, Red, Green, and Blue that can be opened from the color correction button or added from the Effects Browser.
Like the Color Wheels, the four curves can be collapsed into a single line with buttons to select between them. Also, notice the Mix slider and the important Preserve Luma checkbox, which is on by default.
The curves allow you adjust the intensity of the primary colors and the luminance value. It is most common to use the Luma curve to increase the contrast, pulling down the Shadows, and raising the Highlights into an S-curve.
While the curves are set to adjust the values of the primary colors, red, green, and blue, any curve can be changed, using a color wheel, to work any color value in the image.
To avoid pulling too much sky blue into the overall image you might balance it by pushing up the Red mids.
Each of the curves has an eyedropper that lets you make a selection in the Viewer. The selection will be indicated in the graph to show you where to adjust the curve.
Make a selection with the eyedropper in the Viewer, and the curve will change to the appropriate color, here changing Red to Orange, and indicating the selection point on the curve.
By pushing up the curve in that area you can punch up those color values without effecting the cooler colors in the image that would happen if you added an overall color cast. You can of course add as many points as you want to the ramp to reshape it.
A side note: A feature in 10.4’s scopes is the ability to set a line in the waveform or RGB Parade to use as a reference. Simply skim in the waveform and click to set a reference line.
This makes comparing the levels of elements in clips much easier to match.
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