| COLOR GRADIENT |

 

I was skimming through TikTok boringly when all of a sudden, I came across this useful short video of @jpmadeit where she talks about color gradients in movies. She also claimed that getting used to or knowing what palette you are going to use will be very useful before jumping into the post-production stage. With that in mind, I started to analyze things more carefully - but this time, in the aspect of color gradients so that in the end, "Names of Hearts" will have its own. 

I. The Psychology of Color in Film.

I found this photo on Pinterest and thought this was very helpful. Color gradients often play a crucial role in establishing the mood and atmosphere of a scene. Warm, golden gradients, like the orange fading into the purple of a sunset, are often associated with romantic beginnings, hope, and anticipation. Think of the iconic sunset scene in "The Notebook" where Noah and Allie share their first kiss, bathed in the golden glow of a promising future.

Cooler tones, like blues and greens, can create a sense of longing, mystery, or even melancholy. In "Blue Valentine," the film's use of blue-green gradients reflects the emotional distance growing between the couple, mirroring their fading love.

Color gradients can also be used to delve into the character's inner lives and emotions. A shift from a warm, comforting yellow to a cold, unsettling blue might signify a character's growing fear or doubt. In "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind," the use of yellow and blue gradients reflects the couple's fluctuating emotions as they erase their memories of each other.

The very nature of a gradient, with its seamless transition from one color to another, can be seen as a metaphor for the journey of love itself. It can represent the gradual development of a relationship, from initial attraction to deeper intimacy. In "La La Land," the film's vibrant color palette, with its constant shifts and blends, reflects the characters' dreams and aspirations, their ups and downs, and their ultimately bittersweet love story.

While some color gradients are readily apparent, others are more subtle, woven into the background or lighting. Skilled filmmakers can use these subtle shifts to foreshadow plot twists, hint at hidden emotions, or create a sense of unease. In "The Great Gatsby," the green light at the end of Daisy's dock, a symbol of Gatsby's yearning and unattainable love, is often depicted with a subtle green gradient, adding to its mystique and tragedy.

II. TESTING.

However, I understand that no normal life could give out these entire colors - which means that there will be involvement of tools. Most image editing software has a gradient tool for creating and editing gradients directly on images. Adjust colors, blend modes, and opacity for precise control. But also it comes with a very high price. For instance, the platform that I got recommended the most: Photoshop, starts at US$20.99/month, which conveys to VND around 500.000 VND - way too overpriced for me.

That's why I started to invest in cheaper options. On the phone, I managed to find Lightroom - another branch of Adobe Photoshop but many of its features are free. Then I tested out my "editing" skills by trying to make Kevin fit in the thriller color gradient. I don't know how to make the main light sources less tense, but I'm pretty pleased with the first-hand outcome. 

Then I test out some objects that are not living. My first victim was the old pair of white Converse which I rarely wear to school. The difference between those two edits was one was very focused on enhancing the light sources, and the other wasn't. Romance of Slide-of-Life color gradients romanticizes nature by softly showing it, rather than pushing it to the level of unfamiliar. That's what I learned in editing those by looking at references. 

But those are on the phone, how about on a computer/ laptop? 

That's when I found out that Photopia, DaVinci Resolve, and Clipchamp provide free gradient tools for creating and editing gradients directly on images. They can adjust colors, blend modes, and opacity for precise control. Even though GIMP is kind of hard to operate and others are easier to work with - Photopia is the only program that is entirely free, so that might be my solution.

II. FINDING.

So then, what does our color palette look like? 

Finds out later when the products came.