Dehancer vs Resolve's film look creator

Dehancer vs Resolve's Film Look Creator: A Comprehensive Comparison

When it comes to achieving a cinematic film look, tools like Dehancer Pro and DaVinci Resolve’s Film Look Creator offer powerful solutions. In this post, we’ll break down the features, strengths, and weaknesses of both tools to help you decide which one best suits your workflow.

If you’re looking to emulate the timeless beauty of film within your digital footage, this comparison will guide you step-by-step through their capabilities and nuances.

Starting Point: Preparing Your Footage for Film Emulation

Before diving into either plugin, it’s crucial to prepare your footage properly. Whether you're using Dehancer Pro or Film Look Creator, you should always:

1. Convert Your Footage to Rec.709 (or another standard working color space).

2. Apply a basic color grade to achieve a balanced starting point.

For this comparison, I worked with a clip of a car driving through a lush, green forest. This scene provided a great test case, as it includes dynamic highlights, deep shadows, and vibrant green tones that often shift in film emulation workflows.

Dehancer Pro: Detailed Film Emulation and Precision

Dehancer Pro is a feature-rich film emulation plugin designed to replicate the look and feel of analog film stocks with incredible precision. Let’s explore its key features:

Key Features:

1. Film Stock Profiles:
   Dehancer’s standout feature is its extensive library of scanned film stocks. For example, you can emulate Kodak Vision 50D for outdoor scenes or Kodak Vision 500T for low-light settings. Each profile replicates the tonal shifts, grain, and color characteristics of the original film stock.

2. Print Profiles:
   Dehancer includes print profiles, such as Kodak 2383, widely used in the film industry. Applying a print profile allows you to mimic the finishing touches seen in major films.

3. Comprehensive Adjustments:

   • Exposure Compensation: Quickly adjust brightness and color temperature.

   • Film Compression: Tame highlights for a smoother, more cinematic feel.

   • Color Head: Split-tone adjustments for nuanced control over highlights and shadows.

4. Grain and Texture:
   Dehancer offers fully customizable film grain. Choose between grain types like 16mm, 35mm, or IMAX-level fine grain, and adjust size, intensity, and softness for the perfect look.

5. Additional Effects:

   • Halation and Bloom: Replicate the subtle glowing effects around bright areas.

   • Film Damage and Gate Weave: Add realistic film imperfections, scratches, and jitter.

   • Film Breath: Simulate subtle shifts in color and exposure between frames for an authentic feel.

6. Workflow Efficiency:
   Dehancer allows you to export LUTs of your looks, enabling you to apply consistent film grades across projects without reprocessing everything.

Pros:

• In-depth film stock and print emulation.

• Fine-tuned control over every aspect of the image.

• Unique features like Film Damage and Film Breath.

• LUT export speeds up workflows.

Cons:

• Requires a bit of a learning curve due to its depth.

• Higher price point compared to built-in tools.

Resolve’s Film Look Creator: Accessible and Streamlined

With Resolve 19, Blackmagic introduced the Film Look Creator, an integrated effect for users seeking a cinematic film style. While not as robust as Dehancer, it’s a powerful option for most creators.

Key Features:

1. Core Film Looks:
   Instead of offering specific film stock profiles, Film Look Creator provides core looks like Cinematic, Vintage, and Elated. Each one applies preset tonal shifts and color characteristics that can be customized further.

2. Basic Adjustments:

   • Exposure and Color Blend: Adjust brightness and fine-tune how the “film look” blends with the original footage.

   • Grain: Simulates the texture of film, although it’s less detailed compared to Dehancer.

   • Halation and Bloom: Adds glow effects around highlights, though with fewer customization options than Dehancer.

3. Split Tone and Skin Bias:
   The split-tone tool allows you to adjust the hue of shadows and highlights, while skin bias helps preserve natural skin tones during grading.

4. Vintage Effects:
   Additional settings like vignette, gate weave, and flicker help recreate the look of old film stocks.

Pros:

• Simple and intuitive to use.

• Integrated directly into Resolve—no extra plugins required.

• Works well for quick, creative film looks.

Cons:

• Lacks specific film stock and print emulation.

• Limited grain and halation customization.

• Less precise compared to Dehancer.

Final Thoughts: Which Should You Choose?

• Choose Dehancer Pro if:
  You want the most authentic film emulation experience, complete with detailed film stocks, print profiles, and advanced customization options. Dehancer is ideal for filmmakers and colorists who need precision and flexibility.

• Choose Film Look Creator if:
  You’re looking for a quick and easy way to add a filmic touch to your footage without spending extra on plugins. It’s great for beginners or anyone working on a tight budget.

Get 10% Off Dehancer Pro

If you’re ready to invest in Dehancer Pro, I’ve got a 10% discount code for you! Use the code “FARMER” to get 10% off your purchase of Dehancer Pro and take your film emulation to the next level.

Disclaimer: This is an affiliate link, so I’ll earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thank you for supporting the channel!

By understanding the strengths and limitations of both tools, you can decide which one fits your creative needs best. Whether you choose Dehancer Pro or stick with Film Look Creator, there’s no limit to how you can experiment and refine your unique film look.

Make it stand out

Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.