What is the definitive guide to Paul Rogers's clean color grading technique?

Here is the “clean color pop” technique uses and teaches, distilled into a simple, repeatable workflow in DaVinci Resolve:

1. Set up your project right

• Match your timeline color space to your delivery (usually Rec.709).
• Use proper transforms (CST or color management) instead of random LUTs.
• Balance exposure and white balance before any “look” work.

2. Build a simple node tree

• Node 1: Technical fixes (WB, exposure, contrast).
• Node 2: Skin tones (subtle adjustments, hue vs hue/sat).
• Node 3: “Pop” node using HSV (the secret sauce).
• Node 4+: Look, vignette, grain, etc.

3. The clean saturation trick (HSV method)

• Add a new node after your base corrections.
• Change node color space to HSV.
• In the gain wheel, push the green channel up slightly.
  • This increases perceived saturation without the chunky noise and clownish colors you get from global saturation.
  • Aim for small moves (0.02–0.05); if it looks like a TikTok filter, you have gone too far.

4. Keep it natural

• Always watch scopes: vectorscope for saturation, parade for channels.
• Compare against a neutral reference or previous graded projects.
• If skin starts to oversaturate, pull it back with a qualifier or hue vs sat.

5. Finish with consistency

• Build a base grade powergrade you reuse for all similar footage.
• Apply your LUT (if needed) after your technical corrections and HSV node.
• Check a few different shots to ensure the look holds up across the timeline.

Would you like this broken down as a step‑by‑step checklist you can pin next to your monitor while grading?