Mononodes – REVERSE ENGINEERING THE GRADE Course

Mononodes – Reverse Engineering the Grade is a comprehensive and focused color grading course designed for filmmakers, editors, and colorists who want to learn how to replicate iconic film aesthetics using a streamlined workflow in Davinci Resolve. This course moves beyond simple presets and LUTs, teaching you how to analyze real cinematic references and build visually compelling grades from scratch.

Rather than aiming to exactly match individual frames, the course focuses on understanding the principles behind great color grading by studying images from behind-the-scenes photography of major film productions. These stills are typically captured on DSLRs, while the corresponding films are shot on motion picture cameras with unique color sciences. The goal is to replicate the essence and mood of these looks—not just the surface colors—through practical, analytical techniques.

In Reverse Engineering the Grade, you’ll learn how to analyze scopes such as the vectorscope, develop your eye for color harmony, and apply techniques to create complementary color schemes like the classic “orange and teal” look. Through a minimalistic and methodical node tree setup, you’ll develop grades that are consistent, efficient, and visually appealing across a wide range of footage.

What You’ll Learn:

Part 1 – Foundational Techniques:

Understanding the vectorscope

Exploring color harmony principles

Scope analysis techniques

Four methods for achieving the orange and teal look

Building a flexible and simple node tree

Look development strategies

Part 2 – Real Film Look Case Studies:

Tenet

Jurassic World

Children of Men

Iron Man 2

A Quiet Place

King Richard

Milk

Silence

Skyfall

Each of these case studies will walk you through the process of interpreting the visual language of the film and applying a grade that reflects its mood, lighting, and cinematic tone.

This course is perfect for intermediate to advanced users of Davinci Resolve who want to sharpen their grading skills, speed up their workflow, and understand how color works on a professional cinematic level. Whether you’re grading short films, documentaries, or commercial content, the techniques covered in this course will give you the tools to elevate your visuals with artistic precision and creative control.