I am not a colorist. And I do not want to be one.
But as an occasional solo filmmaker and small business owner I cannot always afford to hire one. A lot of the time I am shooting and editing my own work, and I just need my footage to stop looking like digital plastic and start feeling intentional without spending four hours tweaking curves.
I have used a lot of film emulation tools over the years. Dehancer stood out because it consistently gives me better results with less friction.
This is not sponsored. They did give me the software to review, but I told them up front that if I did not like it, I was going to say that. They were fine with that, which is usually a sign that a company cares more about making a good tool than controlling the message.
If you do end up wanting to try it I have a 10% discount code EARLYLIGHTMEDIA, but hold off for now. We will talk honestly about the downsides first, because for some people, this is the wrong tool.
Why Do We Care If It Looks Like Film?
We do not care about film because it is nostalgic or romantic. We care because film solves problems that digital creates.
Film handles highlights differently. Instead of clipping, bright areas roll off smoothly. Faces, windows, and skies feel forgiving instead of brittle.
Film blooms light. Highlights spread gently instead of staying razor sharp. This softens contrast and makes images feel more cinematic and less electronic.
Film has real dynamic range. It holds detail in the shadows and highlights in a way that feels natural, not technical.
And film is imperfect. Grain, halation, and subtle inconsistencies create texture. That texture feels handmade. Human.
The One Setup Step That Saves Your Computer
I am using Final Cut Pro, but this applies everywhere.
Do not drop Dehancer directly onto your clips. It is processor heavy. Instead, apply it to an Adjustment Layer above your scene. This lets you grade the entire scene at once, toggle it on and off easily, and avoid slowing your system down while editing.
The first thing you do inside Dehancer is tell it what camera you shot on so it can translate Log footage into Rec.709. You want to start from a neutral, predictable place before you do anything creative.
The Only Film Stocks You Actually Need
People freeze when they see the film stock list. You DO NOT need to know all of them. You only need Kodak vision 3 and maybe one more.
Kodak Vision3 500T
This is the backbone of modern cinema. Rich, flexible, and widely used. Even many digital shows emulate this stock because it feels finished without being flashy.
Kodak Vision3 250D
If you are shooting outdoors and 500T feels too blue, this cleans things up quickly. Natural color without losing texture.
Kodak Portra 400
Technically a photo stock, but it works beautifully for video. Warm skin tones and a slightly nostalgic feel that works well for social and lifestyle content.
That is it. Everything else is optional.
The Features That Actually Matter
Film Developer
This simulates how long the film sits in the chemical bath. Longer time means more contrast. I use this early to shape the image before doing anything else.
Film Compression
This is one of the biggest reasons the plugin works for. Digital highlights clip. Film rolls off. This softens bright areas so faces, windows, and skies fade instead of snapping.
Print Film
This is the paper you print on. I almost always use Kodak 2383. It instantly adds a finished, cinematic contrast curve.
Grain
Grain is not noise. It is structure.
Sixteen millimeter is the sweet spot for most indie and documentary work. It feels real without looking sloppy.
Halation and Bloom
Used lightly, these make digital footage feel forgiving and organic. Used aggressively, they get distracting very fast. Restraint matters.
The Biggest Mistake People Make
They turn everything on.
Dehancer is not a “yes-to-all” plugin. Pick a format. Pick a print. Add a little compression. Add a little grain. Then stop.
Taste lives in restraint.
The Downsides, Honestly
It is a little expensive.
It is processor heavy and can give you some lag on older machines.
The interface is pretty busy.Â
Too many features are enabled by default.
If you are a professional colorist, you may not need this.
If you enjoy deep color science, this may feel limiting.
So, Should You Use It?
If you are a shooter editor who wants texture and character without becoming a colorist, this is the best shortcut I have found.
It will not fix bad lighting.
It will not save bad composition.
It will not replace taste.
But when the footage deserves it, it helps you commit and move on.
If you want to try it, here’s a 10 percent discount code EARLYLIGHTMEDIA. Use it only if this fits how you actually work.
If you are already using Dehancer, I am curious. Do you stick to the clean 500T look, or do you experiment with the stranger stocks?
I will see you in the next one.
What Comes Next
Knowing what to shoot is only half the battle.
The next step is learning:
I’ve got deeper videos on all of that, and I’ll link them below.
If this kind of clear, practical filmmaking guidance is useful to you, consider subscribing to our youtube channel.
Make docs.
Move hearts.
Peace.
Darren – Showrunner, Director, Coach
👉 Watch the episode and explore our filmmaking playlist for practical lessons on story, shooting, and editing.
