Color Grading

Color grading

Watch as an animation →

Tags

Drama filmAdsMusic video

In plain words

Unify the overall color and contrast to create a mood and a brand tone.

When to use it

Every final cut.

In AI video, like this

Exposure and contrast differ from clip to clip, so match brightness and contrast first, and then apply a look. In ffmpeg you can use eq, curves, and colorbalance, but if you can use Resolve, that is better.

One-click prompt

Match brightness and contrast first, then give the whole timeline one look with cool shadows and warm highlights: ffmpeg -i in.mp4 -vf "eq=contrast=1.08:saturation=1.12,colorbalance=rs=-0.03:bs=0.04:rh=0.04:bh=-0.03" -c:a copy out.mp4. Use the same settings on every clip so the film feels consistent.

Recommended for scenes like these

Travel Vlog ArrivalCafe & Food VlogWork & Workout Routine MontageTransition ReelInterview PortraitProduct Hero AdBeauty & Cosmetics AdFood & Drink AdCar AdBrand FilmPublic Service CampaignSpace & Real Estate PromoPerformance Music VideoNarrative Story Music VideoWedding HighlightThriller: Rising TensionComedy: Reaction GagFantasy: World RevealMusical: When the Song BeginsDisaster: Everyday Life CollapsesSports: The Decisive MomentMartial Arts: Readable Fight ChoreographyHeist: Plan vs. ExecutionSuperhero: The Team AssemblesHero Entrance ShotCentered SymmetryThe Matrix — Rooftop Bullet TimeChildren of Men — Car Ambush Long TakeJurassic Park — Water Glass RipplesInception — Rotating Hallway FightThe Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring — Forced Perspective at Bag EndHarry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone — First Sight of HogwartsPan's Labyrinth — Hidden Wipes Through TreesVertigo — Bell Tower StairwellThe Shining — Big Wheel Hallway, Low-Mode SteadicamThe Shining — Grady Twins HallwaySaving Private Ryan — Omaha Beach D-Day LandingMad Max: Fury Road — Desert Chase with Center Framing1917 — The Continuous-Shot IllusionMission: Impossible — Silent Vault Wire DropThe Godfather — Baptism Cross-CuttingGoodfellas — Copacabana Steadicam Long TakePulp Fiction — The Trunk ShotTitanic — "I'm Flying" Bow Scene at SunsetSingin' in the Rain — Title Number Dance in the RainCrouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon — Bamboo Treetop DuelOldboy — Corridor Hammer Fight in One TakeParasite — Descending Stairs in the RainMemories of Murder — Ending Stare into the CameraThe Host — The Monster's Broad-Daylight Debut on the RiverbankTrain to Busan — Door-Slamming Chase Through the Train Cars

Techniques that pair well

35mm FilmClose-Up (CU)Motivated LightingDepth LayeringPractical Lighting

Example videos

Color Grading 101 - Everything You Need to Know — Explainer: See the basic flow of color grading: match exposure and contrast, then apply a look.
Color Correction vs Color Grading Explained | Cinecom.net — Explainer: Compare the difference between color correction and color grading on the same scene, before and after.
AI Filmmaking Tutorial: 22 Color Grading Prompts That Actually Work — AI: See the results of setting a color look with prompts at the AI video generation stage.
Runhaar — Can AI Actually Help Your Color Grade? I Tested Higgsfield — AI

See it in real films and ads

Film Riot — Color Grading 101

AI-made examples

Runhaar — Can AI Actually Help Your Color Grade? I Tested Higgsfield

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