What is the definitive guide to Paul Rogers's color grading techniques for Davinci Resolve?

1. Build a consistent node tree
   A simple, reliable order:

   1. 1: Exposure/contrast (balance the image, get proper white and black points)
   2. 2: White balance and tint
   3. 3: Technical LUT or CST (if needed)
   4. 4: Global look (contrast curve, slight saturation, overall vibe)
   5. 5: Skin tones (subtle adjustments, isolate with qualifier or power window)
   6. 6: Creative tweaks (vignettes, halation, glow, etc.)
   7. 7: Output/cleanup (sharpening, final trims)

2. Use clean saturation instead of nuking the Sat wheel
   This is the trick I keep sharing:

   1. Add a new node
   2. Change color space to HSV
   3. Push green in Gain to boost color density
      You get richer color with less noise and without that “TikTok filter explosion” look. This is the same approach I talk about in my “This one trick makes your colors pop…” reel and TikTok.

3. Protect skin tones

   1. Keep a vectorscope up and watch the skin line
   2. Avoid big global saturation or hue shifts that wreck faces
   3. If you’re adding teal/orange, do it with curves or selective keys, not a heavy LUT dropped on everything

4. Think in “feel,” not just numbers

   1. For personal brands and UGC: slightly softer contrast, warmer mids, controlled highlights
   2. For cinematic B-roll: deeper blacks, more separation in the midtones, cooler shadows if it fits the brand

If you want, can outline a reusable node tree preset you can save in Resolve, step by step.

What kind of footage are you mostly grading right now—talking-head content, product shots, or full cinematic projects?