Quick answer: Colour grading basics: correction vs grading, log footage, LUTs, scopes, skin tones, matching shots and building a consistent cinematic look.
Colour grading is the final creative layer of a film. It shapes mood, guides attention and gives a project its visual identity. Here's how to start.
Correction vs grading
- Colour correction: fixing exposure, white balance and contrast so shots look natural and match each other.
- Colour grading: creating a stylistic look, such as warm and nostalgic or cool and tense.
Always correct first, then grade.
Log footage
Many cameras offer log profiles that record a flat, low-contrast image with more dynamic range. Log footage looks washed out until it's converted and graded, but it gives you far more flexibility.
Expose log correctly (often slightly brighter than you'd think, depending on the camera) to avoid noisy shadows.
LUTs
A LUT (look-up table) converts footage from one colour space to another, or applies a look.
- Technical LUTs convert log to a standard colour space.
- Creative LUTs apply a style.
Use LUTs as starting points, not final grades.
Use scopes, not just your eyes
- Waveform: brightness levels across the frame
- Vectorscope: colour saturation and hue, including the skin tone line
- Parade: red, green and blue levels separately
Screens and eyes can be fooled; scopes can't.
Skin tones come first
Audiences notice unnatural skin immediately. Check skin on the vectorscope and keep it natural, even in stylised grades.
Matching shots
Shots from different angles and times must match. Correct exposure and white balance, then compare shots side by side.
Building a look
- Balance and correct each shot
- Apply a consistent contrast curve
- Add a colour palette (for example, warm highlights and cool shadows)
- Protect skin tones
- Use windows and masks to guide attention
- Add subtle grain or vignettes if they fit
Start in camera
Grading can't rescue bad lighting. Production design, costumes and lighting create most of a film's colour; grading refines it.
Learn colour grading
Editing and colour grading are part of RAP Education's cinematography program and the 18-month photography and cinematography program, using footage students shoot themselves.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between colour correction and colour grading?
Correction makes footage look natural and consistent; grading creates a stylistic look or mood.
What is log footage?
A flat, low-contrast recording profile that captures more dynamic range for grading.
What is a LUT?
A look-up table that converts colour from one space to another or applies a look.
Should I use LUTs?
Yes, as a starting point. Adjust each shot rather than relying on a LUT alone.
What scopes are used in colour grading?
Waveform, vectorscope and RGB parade.
How do I keep skin tones natural?
Check skin against the vectorscope's skin tone line and protect it when applying stylised looks.
Can grading fix bad lighting?
Only partly. Good lighting and production design create most of a film's colour.
Does RAP Education teach colour grading?
Yes, within the cinematography and 18-month programs.
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