Edit Smarter logo with Larry

June 30, 2025

It's no surprise to any of us that our media industry is under a lot of stress. Worse, WE are under a lot of stress - from too many competitors to falling budgets to fewer projects to constant fears that AI will take our jobs. Worse, we have an industry trade press that delights in making these threats seem even worse than they are. Insecure much?


A few days ago, I read a LinkedIn post by Brian Alves that I turned into my lead story. Because, even in difficult times, there are still ways we can improve how we earn our living.

Discover the latest industry news on my home page. There are several new stories this week, including new storage from OWC.

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Sigh... Our forensic analysis is complete and confirmed that I've lost all tutorials created from May 8 until June 15. Fortunately, all the videos in our store and Video Training Library were recovered because they were on a different server. 


Starting today and continuing for the next few weeks, I'll be re-writing the most popular of these missing articles. (I'm using article titles from my weekly newsletter to let me know what's missing.) 


We are continuing to rebuild. While the site's working, it is held together by digital duct tape. I'll keep you informed as this rebuilding process proceeds.

This week continues showcasing the color grading features in our NLEs with "Video Scopes & Color Grading in Resolve 20."


On Wednesday, we take an in-depth tour of the Color page in DaVinci Resolve 20. From reading video scopes to learning the interface and creating looks, this session will help you improve your images with confidence.


Last week's webinar, "Video Scopes & Color Grading in Adobe Premiere Pro," contained more than two dozen demos, starting at the beginning by showing how to read video scopes, through fixing color problems and working with the new color workspace in Premiere 2025. In an hour, you'll learn a variety of techniques you can use everyday to help your projects look great.

Here are three excerpts from last week's webinar on Premiere.


The first compares saturation with vibrance and explains when to use each one, second, Match Shot is a powerful tool in Premiere to help match color palettes between shots, and, finally, a step-by-step tutorial on how to use keyframes to change color settings in the middle of a clip.

After watching my Premiere webinar, Reed Brown wrote to suggest another way to change color settings.


This works for any NLE, not just Premiere.


Reed's system is fast, but my system is more flexible. Still, when you are in a hurry, this is a good technique to know.


As I start the process of rebuilding missing tutorials, here are the first three.


While cloud vendors keep touting the benefits of the cloud for media storage, results in the real-world indicate that these benefits are limited. Instead, we see the media industry moving to a hybrid approach with "data repatriation." I asked Sam Bogoch, CEO of Axle AI, to explain what this means.


In the past, once a project was done, it was DONE. Today, with social media, projects take on a life of their own with a need to access assets years after a project is complete.


The only way to handle this constant demand is with a media asset manager (MAM). Sam Bogoch, CEO of Axle AI, explains the questions you should ask when considering a media asset manager.

CapCut became famous for animating subtitles. Now, DaVinci Resolve 20 can animate captions as well. In this step-by-step tutorial, learn how you can create these yourself in Resolve.


After 25 years, the LA Creative Pro User Group (LACPUG, née LAFCPUG) held its final meeting last Wednesday. Produced and hosted by Mike Horton for that entire time, it became a touchstone in the lives of editors around the world. While it was a showcase for new technology, a problem-solving workshop, and a chance to meet old-friends; it was above all a community. 


Here's a powerful and poetic tribute to the group written by Luis Flores that perfectly captures my own feelings. 


Until next Monday, stay healthy, stay hopeful and edit well.

TUTORIALS & REVIEWS

» Why Most Editors Are Broke and How to Fix It (Commentary)

  » Tips to making more money on your next project.


» A Tribute to 25 Years of LACPUG (Commentary)

  » A moving tribute to a seminal digital media user group.


» Keyframe Color Changes in Adobe Premiere Pro (Tutorial)

  » Here's how to create a color change in the middle of a video clip.


» A Quick Color Change Technique for Any NLE (Tutorial)

  » Here's a faster way to change color in the middle of a video clip.


» Match Shots Using Comparison View in Adobe Premiere Pro (Tutorial)

  » This quickly matches colors between two clips.


» Saturation vs. Vibrance in Adobe Premiere Pro (Tutorial)

  » This demos the difference and explains when to use each.


» "Data Repatriation" Explained (Interview)

  » Larry Jordan interviews Sam Bogoch, CEO, Axle AI.


» What to Know When Picking Media Asset Management Software (Interview)

  » Larry Jordan interviews Sam Bogoch, CEO, Axle AI.


» Animate Subtitles in DaVinci Resolve 20 (Tutorial)

  » How to create "CapCut-like" animated subtitles.

Video Scopes & Color Grades in Resolve 20


The color capability of Final Cut continues to expand. Watch as Larry Jordan presents over 3 dozen demos on:


  • Color terms and fundamentals
  • Read and modify video scopes
  • Simply and complex color grading
  • Adjust skin tones to make talent look their best
  • Comparison view and custom color presets
  • Color masks and tracking
  • Find and use LUTs


Everything you need - all in one place.

Video Scopes & Color Grades in Premiere


The color capability of Premiere continues to expand. Watch as Larry Jordan presents over 2 dozen demos on:


  • Reading & customizing video scopes
  • The new AI-powered Auto Color tool
  • Using Lumetri Color panel settings
  • How to make primary & secondary corrections
  • Using Match Color to match shots
  • The new color workflow for log and HDR media


Everything you need - all in one place.

TOP 4 TITLES LAST WEEK

ARTICLES


» Configure an M4 Mac for Video Editing


» Feeding Video to a Monitor Wall


» The New Color Workflow in Premiere


» Review: Epson V600 vs V850 scanners


» View all Larry's free tutorials here.

WEBINARS


» 369: Secrets to Faster FCP Editing


» 382: Color Tools in Final Cut Pro


» 380: AI Tools in Final Cut Pro


» 381: AI Tools in Premiere Pro


» See all of Larry's online training here.