How to Make Video Look Like Film Using BCC 5 FxPlug Filters

(2) BCC Match Grain

• Go to the Effects Tab and twirl down the Video Filters group.
• Twirl down the BCC 5 Effects group.
• Drag the BCC Match Grain filter from this list directly onto the imported video clip in the FCP timeline.
• Double click the clip in the timeline to move it into the FCP Source Window.
• Click on the Filters tab in the Source Window - the BCC Match Grain filter should be below the BCC Deinterlace filter.

• Switch the View pop-up from Final Output to Generated Grain

The filter now displays a preview of the generated grain in the record monitor. This is a live view and will update as you tweak any grain related parameters.

• Switch the Grain pop-up from Monochrome to RGB

Notice that the grain is now colored as opposed to the monochrome black and white look of the default setting. Let's load in a signature grain file into the filter via the Load and Save mechanism built into the filter UI.

• Click on the L button next to the Grain Presets text in the filter UI
• Select the first item in the list, which is labeled 5245 (the number refers to a Kodak grain signature standard)

Observe the grain color and structure

• Click the L button again and select the next item from the list, which is labeled 5246

Observe how different the grain structure is from the previously loaded signature sample. Even though we have loaded a sample match, we can tweak the look of this grain structure using the Grain Size and Grain Filter controls. The Grain Size control alters the physical size of the grain while the Grain Filter intelligently blends this with the original image based on color and luma values inherent in the original clip. The Grain Contrast will be matched to the clip automatically, or this option can be disabled and the grain contrast can then be customized by the user via the Grain Contrast parameter, which only becomes available when the Match Contrast feature is unchecked.

To match the grain from an existing clip, we must proceed to the Sample Controls group.

• Uncheck the Lock Sample checkbox
• Twirl down the Sample Controls group
• Select a clip in the project bin from which you want to pull the grain and drag it into the sample layer image well in the filter UI
• Change the View pop-up to Sample Layer

You should now see the sample layer in the FCP Record Monitor.

• Click on the Sample Center target in the filter UI and position the center of the area that you wish to sample for grain in the Record Monitor window.

• You can adjust the sample size if you need to but in most cases the default setting should be fine.
• Set the Frame Number in the filter UI from which you would like to pull the grain sample
• Change the View pop-up to Generated Grain to see the grain that is being synthesized by the filter
• Adjust the Grain Size and the Grain filter parameters in the filter UI to complete the Match Grain process

For the clip that we are working on, we're going to use a Kodak signature grain file.

• Click on the Lock Sample checkbox to re-enable it (the box should be checked)
• Click the L button in the Grain Presets loader and select the file labeled 5246
• Change the value in the parameter labeled Grain Size from 100 to 50
• Change the value in the parameter labeled Grain Filter from 10 to 15
• change the View pop-up from Generated Grain to Final Output

This will generate a tight smooth grain, which is more apparent in the quarter-tone through shadow regions and not so visible in the extreme highlights.

• Twirl up the filter parameter listing by clicking on the disclosure arrow beside the filter name.

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