Crumplepop debuts ToneGrade for Final Cut Pro X
updated 09:15 pm EST, Tue December 13, 2011
Applies HDR tone mapping to footage
Video plug-in maker Crumplepop in collaboration with Editkick have released a new plug-in called ToneGrade for Apple's Final Cut Pro X that makes it easy to color-grade and apply HDR-like tone-mapping effects to video footage, enhancing the texture of brightly-lit scenes and increasing detail and realism in faces and objects. For a limited time, the company is making the plug-in available for $39, a discount from its normal $75 price.
As seen in the video below, the application of tone-mapping can be used to apply a subtle grittiness, even out differently-lit portions of a scene or bring out detail that can get washed away. As in still photography, HDR tone-mapping brings out textures in white objects like snow and restores "punch" in both shadows and highlights, creating a "hyper-real" level of accuracy and fine detail. Because the plug-in is FCP X native, no rendering time is required and users can see the effect of their adjustments in real-time. ToneGrade works with both SD and HD footage.
The plug-in also includes a set of color grading tools to help warm or cool the natural lighting of a scene, along with a skin smoothing control that will soften only skin tones (which tend to get uncomfortably detailed in tone-mapping extremes). The plug-in will be offered at the sale price of $39 for the remainder of the week, by using coupon code TOGR-0039-INTR-1212. After that, the price will return to its normal $75.
