The Offset Podcast EP050: Multiple vs. Single Display Color Suites

It’s our 50th episode!  When we started this project a few years ago, it was mostly out of a desire to ‘make something’. We never thought we’d build up a library with hours of audio and video content. A huge thanks to all our listeners and viewers, we couldn’t have got here without you!  We’re also extremely grateful to our amazing sponsors including Flanders Scientific who have been with us since day one and our newest sponsor Conform.Tools.  These are both amazing companies, with fantastic people and outstanding products - please consider them the next time you need a color critical monitor or workflow tools for your next big project.  We’re excited for the next 50 episodes, but can always use your help - please like and subscribe were ever you find the show, tell your friends and colleagues and if you have an idea for a new episode please consider using our submission form at offsetpodcast.com—————In this episode of The Offset Podcast we’re taking a look at an often debated topic:  Using multiple monitors or a single monitor in a color suite.It used to be in color suites around the world a single top tier CRT monitor was the only one in the room.  But as time went on and CRTs were phased out, a new paradigm emerged - the operators reference monitor and a larger client monitor.  This kind of setup has persisted in color suites for over two decades.While the reference/client monitor setup is ubiquitous, it’s not without issues.  Room setup/positioning becomes vital, managing metamerism issues when using two different display technologies are used can be a battle and perceptual matching between monitors can be challenging.  But what if you could eliminate multi-display issues and depend on a single large reference monitor - well thats not without its own issues!In this episode we’ll explore this topic including covering some specifics including:Recap on traditional color room monitoring setupsGrading theaters - a model for a single display roomMimicking the living room and challenges that presents What’s metamerism and why its such an important topic in multi-display setupsIssues mixing display technologiesThe importance of room layoutsPerceptual matching - what is it and does it work?The downsides of perceptual matchingAnd more!  Check out www.offsetpodcast.com for our entire library of episodesBe sure to like and subscribe to the podcast wherever you found it and be sure to check out our growing library of episodes.  If you like the podcast it'd mean the world to us if you'd consider supporting the show by buying us a cup of virtual coffee -https://buymeacoffee.com/theoffsetpodcastSee you in about two weeks for a new episode.

Please give a warm welcome to our newest sponsor Conform.Tools!  Conform Tools allows you to convert timelines between Premiere, Resolve, and other NLEs while automatically solving all those tedious issues that can add significant time to your workflow. With a growing toolbox of features, you can avoid time consuming trim and transfer issues, and securely send large media files to collaborators at a fraction of the size, in minutes instead of hours.Built by post professionals, Conform Tools helps editors, colorists, and conform artists move faster and finish stronger.Check out https://conform.tools for more info. --------------In this episode, we're continuing our discussions on dealing with archival and stock sources.  In part 1 we explored issues with film sources.  In this episode we're exploring issues with video originated sources. Its always a bit shocking some of the issues that even big productions just accept as 'inherent to source'. While that might sometimes be true, there are lots of ways to fix common issues if you know what to look for.   Some of the specifics we discuss include:Dealing with interlacingBlanking & edgesPixel Aspect Ratio (P.A.R) issuesResolutionCheck out www.offsetpodcast.com for our entire library of episodes + some of the additional assets mentioned in this episode that are available for download.  Be sure to like it and subscribe to the podcast wherever you found it and be sure to check out our growing library of episodes.  If you like the podcast it'd mean the world to us if you'd consider supporting the show by buying us a cup of virtual coffee -https://buymeacoffee.com/theoffsetpodcastSee you in about two weeks for a new episode.

Productions of all types and sizes often rely on archival and stock footage, but not all archival is created equal and some content can be wrought with issues. While its easy to just to say 'inherent to source' and ignore issues with these types of sources, a lot of problems can be addressed in a pretty straight forward manner.  In this episode we're starting a two part series on dealing with archival sources and how to get them looking their best.  We'll start out in this show exploring general issues with archival and stock and then explore film originated archival issues - issues you'll often encounter and ways to address them.  In part 2, we'll focus on video orginated specific challenges. In this episode some of the specifics we'll discuss include:Big picture issues with archival - aspects ratios, resolution, and codecs/containersManaging texture and grain with film orginated archival Film restoration toolsetsPulldown cadence issues and repeated framesAdditional problems with film orginated archival sources - gate weave, color layer separation etcBe sure to like it and subscribe to the podcast wherever you found it and be sure to check out our growing library of episodes.  If you like the podcast it'd mean the world to us if you'd consider supporting the show by buying us a cup of virtual coffee -https://buymeacoffee.com/theoffsetpodcastSee you in about two weeks for a new episode.

It's our first episode of 2026 and the first episode of season 3!  We have a lot planned for the show this year, and we appreciate you, our audience, for being along for the ride. Over the next few months, we'll be dropping some new features for the show, along with some content that we're really excited about - stay tuned!  In this installment of The Offset Podcast, we're doing that cliché, but useful exercise of exploring our business, technical, and creative goals for 2026. Some of the specifics we'll discuss in this episode include:How everyone can get better - but doing it is different than just talking about itEvaluating weak spotsImproved planning - pivots, side hustles and weathering industry ups/downsBeing more methodical about sales and marketingBetter client outreachMore efficient project organizationBeing more open to new tools and techniquesLearning more from other coloristsDefeating procrastination Working smarter, not harderBe sure to like it and subscribe to the podcast wherever you found it and be sure to check out our growing library of episodes.  If you like the podcast it'd mean the world to us if you'd consider supporting the show by buying us a cup of virtual coffee -https://buymeacoffee.com/theoffsetpodcastSee you in about two weeks for a new episode. 

Happy Holidays!It’s our last episode of Season 2 and for the year!  We’ll return in mid-January 2026  for Season 3 with some great new topics, new types of content and much more.If you’ve enjoyed The Offset Podcast help us improve it.  If you have 5-10 minutes we’d love it if you could take our audience survey by visiting this link: https://wkf.ms/4acQMvbThank you to our amazing audience we couldn’t do the show without your support.  Wishing you and yours a great holiday season!————Continuing our recent efforts to address some viewer/listener submitted topics, in this episode of The Offset Podcast we’re exploring a question we got from audience member Jared about how to integrate greenscreen work into a color/finishing pipeline.It’s a great topic, and one as you’ll see and hear Joey gets particularly amped up about!Since we’re a podcast and not a tutorial channel, this episode is more about big picture strategies and techniques then the nitty gritty of particular sliders and knobs, but we still cover a ton. Some of the specific topics we explore include:Success in greenscreen work starts on setKeying on the Resolve Color page vs Fusion pageFusion’s Delta KeyerGetting more comfortable with mattes and transparencyEdge refinement, matte finessing and the difference between the twoCombining keys and using garbage mattesControlling spill with spill suppressionLight wrap, shadow creation and getting better compositesHanding off to a VFX professionalIf you like The Offset Podcast, we’d love it if you could do us a big favor. It’d help a lot if you could like and rate the show on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you listen/watch the show. Also if you liked this show consider support the podcast by 'buying us a cup of coffee' - https://buymeacoffee.com/theoffsetpodcast

In this episode of The Offset Podcast, we’re exploring another viewer/listener submitted question - this time from a viewer named Camilo.Camilo asks about the balance as a colorist of being a technician vs an artist.  Thanks Camilo for the topic - it’s a deep one!Specifics topics we explore in this episode include:Color grading IS technical, but its ALSO very creative.  Most colorists aren't exclusively one or the otherHow you got into post/color plays a large role in how you see yourself and others seen youHow you can fill your technical/creative gaps with conceptual thinkingThe colorist as a fulcrum in a creative/technical seesawHow the pressures of having to 'invent images' vs respecting photography brings technician vs artistry to the forefrontHow video/film projects have less diversity of approach than other artistic mediumsThe power of experimental projectsLearning to understand your own personal strengthsIf you liked this episode, please subscribe, like and rate it wherever you found the show. We'd also love it if you'd consider supporting the show by 'buying us a cup of virtual coffee' https://buymeacoffee.com/theoffsetpodcast 

Did you know you can submit questions or show ideas for the podcast?  If you head over to offsetpodcast.com at the top of the page there is a button to submit an idea for a future episode. You can also use this button to provide feedback about the podcast.  We’d love to hear from you.  Today we’re exploring a question we got from one of our viewers/listeners Jon who writes asking about trends in color grading.  Thanks for the question Jon it’s a good one!  Some of the specifics we discuss in this show include:The challenge of pinpointing trendsHommage vs. copy catWhat’s popular now?Have we become scared of contrast?The magic of ‘90s and early 2000’s looksThinking about future trends by using past looks as a libraryIf you liked this episode be sure to check out our growing library of episodes and like and subscribe to the podcast where ever you find it.  Also, we'd love it if you consider buying us a cup of virtual coffee to help support the show - it means a lot to us.  https://buymeacoffee.com/theoffsetpodcast 

You hear a lot of talk about references when it comes to color grading - but what are references? How do you interpret them to get great results? And, how can references play a role in client communication?It's these topics and more we're discussing on this installment of The Offset PodcastSpecifics discussed int his episode include:What is a reference and what is it good for?References aren’t just good for color - good for all aspects of finishingReferences as a communication toolInterrogating the client about provided referencesInspirational references vs. practical referencesReference evaluation  - color, contrast, texture, mood and focusWorking with references in your color grading appThinking volumetrically with referencesIf you liked this episode, please subscribe, like and rate it wherever you found the show. We'd also love it if you'd consider supporting the show by 'buying us a cup of virtual coffee' https://buymeacoffee.com/theoffsetpodcast 

If you have a craving for the latest, fastest and most powerful hardware and software out there - you’re not alone!  Technology lust is real, and in this episode of The Offset Podcast we’re discussing managing it. Specific topics for this episode include:Staying at or near the technological curveMeasuring desire vs real impact of new gear and softwareThe benefits of being slightly behind the bleeding edge - improvement without breaking the bankHow small improvements can scratch that upgrade itch Monitor upgradesThe underrated value of storage upgradesThe danger of ‘build it, and they will comeThe financial part of upgrades - purchasing, finance, leasing If you liked this episode check out our growing library of other episodes, and we'd love it you could take a moment to like/subscribe where ever you find the show. Also, we'd be grateful if you'd consider supporting the show by buying us 'a cup of coffee' https://buymeacoffee.com/theoffsetpodcast

In this episode of The Offset Podcast, we’re talking about relationships and their importance in the post production industry (or any industry really).  You’ve likely heard the phrase ‘it’s a relationship business’. What that means and how do you go about working on your relationships is what we’re exploring in this show.  Specifics we discuss include:What do we mean by post is a ‘relationship business’?No one is perfect, but trying to always improve relationships should be the goalUsing the concept of the ‘golden rule’ and giving people the benefit of the doubtStages of relationshipsManaging client relationships and the importance of being ‘invested’ in their successThe importance of clear expectations with clientsStewardship and ‘checking in’ with clients between projectsHow project debriefs can be a valuable tool for client relationship growthWorking with other vendors and the delicate dance with client involvementDirect replies vs reply all when it comes to working with other vendors  Using relationships with other vendors as a sales and workflow assetsThe challenges of relationships with co workers & colleaguesPutting the project first with all colleagues - even ones you don’t get along withThe importance of modesty and a positive attitude with co-workersOwning your faults/mistakes and working to rectify themHow you talk about others dramatically impacts your relationships If you like this episode please like and subscribe to the podcast wherever you find it.  Also we'd be grateful if you'd consider supporting the show by buying us a cup of virtual coffee - https://buymeacoffee.com/theoffsetpodcastWe'll be back in another two weeks!