Despite tired eyes, working on deadlines late at night always crystallizes my vision. Of all the expensive stuff in the studio, time is still the premium item. So, when I come across an additional tool that promises greater visual sophistication without a penalty on the clock, I’ll take a look. The humble DVShade is one of those little gems that is becoming a constant companion while working on assignments. If you need to routinely build ‘moods’ in your projects, this plug-in is well worth a look.
DVShade has a laser like focus on its purpose and it doesn’t stray. Simply put, it’s a plug-in that allows you to bring film-like color alterations and gradient color styling to your assets quickly, with common sense controls. To be clear, this is not a color correction plug-in, rather it’s a color destruction plug-in.
In comparison to many excellent plug-ins out there that generate so many different incredible effects that you find yourself looking for any excuse to use them, DVShade might seems almost boring, at first. But don’t let the lack of flash deter you from a second look - especially since it only costs a meager $49.99.
I was initially skeptical about adding another ‘whizmo’ to my FCP workflow because I already have color modification tools with Apple’s Color plus a bevy of plug-ins I already use including Boris, Joe’s Filters, and many of the awesome newer ones via FX Factory and idustrial revolution. However, to my surprise, there was far less overlap than I expected.
Additionally, after viewing the examples online, I was also thinking, “Man, I know how to pull those off without another plug-in.” However, what I came to appreciate quickly, besides the many presets, was the fact that all of the steps and multiple effect layers I would have needed to manually create, were wrapped up in DVShade, ensuring speed of implementation and consistency from sequence to sequence.
That’s worth something at 1a.m. (or even 10 p.m, for that matter).
Ease of Use
Slam dunk. DVShade is a snap to pick up and use even without reading the brief but complete nine page manual. It comes with two notations in your effects pull-down menu, DVShade Presets and DVShade EasyLooks which is simply the same controls without any presets.
No cryptic effect labels or preset names. If you have ever worked with film processing or have a knowledge of how film color effects are pulled off, you’ll quickly come to appreciate what has gone into this plug-in. The 19 presets come with self explanatory names like Amelia, Bad Print, Black & White, Black Diffusion, Cool, Cool Grad, Extreme Contrast, Film, Flat, Golden Dream, Green Fill, Old Print, Sonic Blue, Skip Bleach, Toon Glow, Warm, Warm Grad, White Diffusion, and Yellow Mash.
As you’d expect, using the presets is as easy as falling down. Of course the real value of the presets is to provide a foundation to start exploring the many variations possible by adjusting the effects controls. Applying the presets doesn’t load in a unique set of effects controls per preset, rather it’s always the same controls that are simply adjusted differently. While I appreciate the unique parameters per effect of other plug-ins, it’s actually kind of nice not having to learn a new set up with each application.
All of the effect controls can be key framed and that is what you’d expect from a pro level plug-in. (Note: if you are using Final Cut Express less than version 4, key framing is not an option.) All that to say DVShade doesn’t make you sacrifice any control over the look of your project to use it.
Another nice little feature is on/off check boxes for the different levels that make up the effect controls. I know, I know, it’s basic stuff but it’s also some of the thoughtful, make-it-easy-on-me mentality that permeates DVShade.
