Prime/Grade is an all-in-one primary grading tool from PixelTools, developed in collaboration with KaurH for DaVinci Resolve. It combines essential exposure, flare, fill, contrast, temperature/tint balancing, and saturation controls into a single interface, allowing colorists to build a clean and balanced image without distributing basic corrections across multiple nodes.

Version 1.3.0 expands this workflow with the new Balance Affects Flare option, additional DJI D-Log, Apple Log 2, and JPLog2 transfer functions, and refinements to the built-in checker workflow.

WHAT'S INCLUDED

• Prime/Grade DCTLe plug-in
• Alternate "No Icon" DCTLe plug-in
• 1 PowerGrade DRX file
• User Guide PDF

FEATURES

• All-in-one primary correction in a single node
• Exposure through Linear Gain, Gain, and Offset
• Flare through Linear Offset and Lift
• PixelTools in-house Fill processing
• S-Curve and Linear Contrast
• Temp/Tint balancing through Linear Gain, Gain, and Offset
• Subtractive, Gamma, and Gain Saturation
• Specular and Specular Range controls
• Balance Affects Flare in version 1.3.0
• 5 integrated image-analysis checkers
• Internal DaVinci Wide Gamut Intermediate processing
• 23 supported transfer functions
• RCM, ACES, and manual CST workflow support
• Broad camera and Log support
• Suitable for fixed node trees and professional grading workflows
• One-time purchase
• No subscription
• Free updates

EXPOSURE

Prime/Grade provides three exposure-processing methods:

• Linear Gain
• Gain
• Offset

Having multiple exposure models within one tool allows the colorist to select the behavior that best suits the footage and the position of Prime/Grade within the grading pipeline.

FLARE

Flare provides two processing options:

• Linear Offset
• Lift

It is designed to shape the lower portion of the tonal range and control shadow behavior.

Version 1.3.0 introduces Balance Affects Flare. When enabled, balancing is processed after Flare, providing additional control over the internal processing order.

FILL

Fill uses PixelTools' in-house design to open shadow detail without flattening the overall image contrast.

It is useful for:

• Opening shadow detail
• Maintaining overall contrast structure
• Shaping darker regions without globally lifting the image
• Balancing footage before look development

CONTRAST

Prime/Grade provides two contrast methods:

• S-Curve
• Linear

S-Curve provides curve-based tonal shaping, while Linear offers a more linear contrast response.

SPECULAR CONTROL

Specular and Specular Range provide dedicated control over strong reflective highlights.

These controls allow specular regions to be managed without unnecessarily changing the complete tonal response of the image.

TEMP & TINT

Temperature and Tint balancing can operate through:

• Linear Gain
• Gain
• Offset

This provides multiple white-balance processing models within the same primary grading node.

SATURATION

Prime/Grade provides three saturation methods:

• Subtractive
• Gamma
• Gain

Subtractive Saturation is designed to maintain a more film-like color response when the image is pushed heavily.

5 BUILT-IN CHECKERS

Prime/Grade incorporates five image-analysis tools directly into the plug-in:

1. Stop-Based False Color

Provides a ±5-stop False Color range for evaluating exposure.

2. Skin Tone Checker

Assists with identifying and evaluating skin-tone regions while balancing an image.

3. White Balance Checker

Helps evaluate white balance and identify unwanted color casts.

4. Middle Gray Checker

Provides a middle-gray reference for exposure placement.

5. Negative Checker

Provides a negative image view that can assist with identifying color and balance issues.

COLOR MANAGEMENT

Prime/Grade processes internally in:

• DaVinci Wide Gamut
• DaVinci Intermediate

It supports 23 transfer functions and integrates with:

• Resolve Color Management
• ACES
• DaVinci Wide Gamut / Intermediate
• Manual Color Space Transform workflows

CAMERA SUPPORT

Prime/Grade can be integrated with footage from major camera systems through color management, including:

• ARRI
• RED / IPP2
• Sony
• Canon
• Panasonic
• Blackmagic Design
• Apple Log
• DJI
• Other inputs supported through RCM or CST

VERSION

Version in use: 1.3.0

Version 1.3.0 updates:

• Added Balance Affects Flare
• Balance can be processed after Flare when enabled
• Added DJI D-Log
• Added Apple Log 2
• Added JPLog2
• Moved Checker Split View to the top
• Removed the Bypass option
• Updated the manual

Important features introduced in version 1.2.0:

• Specular control
• Specular Range control
• Dedicated specular-highlight management

COMPATIBILITY

• DaVinci Resolve Studio 19.1 or later
• macOS
• Windows
• Linux
• The DCTL does not run in DaVinci Resolve Free

NOTE

This description specifically covers the Prime/Grade DCTL version 1.3.0. PixelTools has since added a beta OFX edition to the current Prime/Grade product, but that later OFX component is not treated as part of the DCTL v1.3.0 package described here.