Color grading is arguably the single most impactful step in post-production. It’s the difference between footage that looks "home video" and footage that looks "Netflix."
Color correction vs. color grading
Color correction fixes the technical problems — white balance, exposure, contrast. Color grading is the creative pass: warm golden hour, teal-and-orange blockbuster, desaturated indie.
Step 1: Shoot LOG
If your camera supports it, shoot S-Log, V-Log, or C-Log. You preserve dynamic range and gain flexibility in post.
Step 2: Primary correction first
Set black point, white point, midtones. Use the waveform monitor — not your eyes. Aim for skin tones around 70 IRE.
Step 3: Secondary corrections
Use HSL qualifiers to isolate colors — skin, sky, foliage — and adjust independently. This is how you get that impossibly blue sky without affecting skin tones.
Step 4: Apply your creative grade
Layer the look on a separate node so you can dial it in independently. Pull reference frames from films you love.
Color grading is storytelling. The colors you choose set the emotional tone of your entire piece.
