so, I’ve come to a realization: I’ve no idea what most of the settings in Darktable are going on about, I know what many of them do, but I don’t actually understand what’s going on - the simple bars in most editing apps has been replaced to what I believe is the entire RAW imaging pipeline of a camera at my fingertip
Oh, yeah, and then I realized. I’m an idiot about colour theory too.
So, if possible, could you all share your favourite resources (books, essays, articles, videos, etc.) that would help me maintain a solid understanding of digital image processing & colour theory? pretty please?
For context on what is necessary math-wise to capture and process the image …this two part post is quite good… I think its possible to scan it for context…
Regarding the color grading stuff, I found this one being a really good reference: Alexis Van Hurkman – Colour Correction Handbook, 2nd Edition – Professional Techniques for Video and Cinema. Fun to read and it contains tons of examples. He also published this complementary book: Color Correction Look Book – Creative Grading Techniques for Film and Video. Not bad either, but I like the first more.
I don’t actually have room to put a poster in my work place, it’s all shelves, but I have had similar realisations. Like… I need a colour wheel, and another of three prime colours and seconderies.
I was never a painter/artist. but my only previous experience was in printing. CMYK, and adding colours together. Forty years ago.
It is an interesting rabbit hole, but you need to know very little theory to develop photos. Mostly because theory, in itself, does not help much, beyond what is already encoded in the tone mappers. It is all about a particular photo and aesthetic judgements.
If you understand the concept of gamut (not the math details), and how to use the channel mixer, then the rest is just interesting details with little practical relevance.
