Have you ever had a “WOW” moment while watching a particularly breathtaking landscape shot in a movie? Not to burst your bubble, but that scene was probably touched by an angel.
By angel, of course, we mean a color grading specialist—or colorist. Here’s what color grading can do for a shot:
Part of the appeal of cinema is to watch excellent shots from extraordinary cinematographers. While that is true, and the camera crew, director, and cast have a huge role in making stellar shots, the color grading team tends to be the unsung hero of every spectacular shot.
Colorists can transform an ordinary shot-on-iPhone-quality video into a real work of art.
Let us walk you through color grading and why it’s so important.
What Is Color Grading?
Color grading is the process of enhancing or altering the colors of shots in post-production. You could think of it as an Instagram filter for videos, except that color grading is more than just a filter.
A skilled colorist will use color correction to almost paint another picture on top of the raw footage. More than just tone alteration, color grading is an art that can help transform scenes and make a video cohesive. It can even help narrate a story.
A great example of excellent color grading is the film Maleficent (2014). Throughout the movie, dark and green denote danger and evil. These effects either consciously or subconsciously help the audience carry along with the film’s plot.
What Is the Difference Between Color Correction and Color Grading?
Though they work similarly, color correction and color grading must not be confused with each other. Color correction is the process of removing any color imperfections that naturally arise during filming.
For example, if many outdoor scenes were shot throughout the day, the sun’s position will significantly impact the appearance of colors in each shot. Color correcting tries to match the colors throughout the film to eliminate these irregularities.
Color grading, then, is something like color correction’s artsy cousin who studied abroad in Paris. They don’t really care whether the colors in the shot are accurate or realistic—they’re trying to make art!
Here’s a 30-second video that sums up perfectly what the difference between color grading and color correcting is.
What Is Not the Purpose of Color Grading?
Now that we know what color correction is, let’s talk about what it’s not.
Simply put, color grading is not the process of filtering out imperfections. You should not approach a color grading project with the intention of:
- Editing out unwanted objects or flaws.
- Adjust scenes for consistent lighting.
- Changing the physical appearance of characters or objects beyond their colors.
- Adding special effects to scenes.
- Reduce or optimize file size.
As you know by now, color grading helps give film projects a distinct personality. You should not approach color grading without an artistic mindset.
If you simply want to correct filming mistakes or imperfections, you should turn to color correction instead.
How Do You Do Color Grading?
Every colorist will have their own unique way of color grading, just like every painter has a distinct style. However, if you are just getting started with color grading, here are some steps to help you be on your way.
Find a Color Grading Software
The first thing you need to do is find and learn how to use professional color grading software. Your iPhone has a few built-in grading tools, but you need professional grading software if you’re serious about color grading your videos.
Some of the best color grading software for video editors are:
These three are industry-standard color grading programs that are sure to help you achieve what you’re looking for.
There are many more programs that are perfectly capable of handling color grading, so if you’re familiar with another video editing software with color grading capabilities—go for it!
Normalize and Color Correct Raw Footage
Once you have color grading software, you’ll want to normalize and color correct your videos. Think of this step as getting your canvas ready.
Because filming is an imperfect science, your raw footage will have different levels of saturation and contrast, resulting in a different appearance throughout. Color correcting will allow you to gesso your canvas, so it is clean and ready for painting.
The following clip will show you how to normalize raw footage for color grading.
Normalizing Raw Footage (from BMPCC4K) in DaVinci Resolve
Begin Color Grading
Once you have a perfect canvas, you can start your painting. Manual color grading will give you the most control over your film, but this will be time-consuming and requires specialized knowledge. Be prepared to spend some time practicing or even taking classes.
If you don’t have the time to learn color grading from scratch, you could also rely on LUTs for your first few color grading jobs.
What are LUTs
LUT stands for Lookup Table, and LUTs are basically pre-made color grades that you can apply to your video. If you’re not trying to make intense stylistic choices and are only looking to enhance the appearance of your videos, then LUTs are right for you.
Use a Vectorscope
Once you’re done color grading, either manually or through a LUT pack, you’ll want to detail, detail, detail. One of the biggest problems colorists face is that monitors have their own interpretation of output colors. Bad (or simply different) color calibration could mean that your project will look different on different screens.
The best way to ensure that your monitor or other factors like ambient lighting aren’t messing with your color grading is by using a vectorscope. Think of a vectorscope as some sort of telescope that allows you to see the true colors of your project.
Most video editing tools have a vectorscope, so take advantage of it when doing the finishing touches on your color grading project.
If you’ve gotten to the end of this guide and still don’t feel confident in your ability to color grade a project—we get it! Color grading is a complex process that requires a combination of soft and technical skills. With enough practice, you will be able to turn a great shot into a “WOW” shot.
If you don’t have the time to pick up color grading as a skill, we got you. Raw Access Media is a full-service digital marketing agency with expert colorists on our team. Get in touch with us to see how we can help.