Color grading and color correcting are two important techniques used in video post-production to enhance the visuals of footage. While they sound similar, there are some key differences between color grading and color correcting.
This post will explain what each technique does, when to use them, and how to apply color grading and color correcting tools in Wondershare Filmora to take your videos to the next level.
Color Correction VS Color Grading
If you’re involved in video editing or post-production, you have likely heard the terms “color grading” and “color correcting” used often. While they sound similar, these two processes are distinct with different purposes. Understanding the differences allows consciously applying them to strengthen the visual look of videos appropriately during editing.
Defining Color Correction
In contrast, color correction refers to technically optimizing clips so colors appear as natural and accurate as possible, fixing errors introduced during shooting and ensuring continuity. It aims for precision.
Common color correction tasks involve:
- Balancing inconsistent shots so whites/blacks match
- Fixing imbalanced contrasts between clips
- Removing color casts from equipment issues
- Enhancing positively without creative distortion
- Ensuring true skin tones in changing lighting conditions
While color grading deliberately applies stylistic color changes, color correction removes technical issues so the footage looks as intended keeping alterations subtle. Before creatively grading for aesthetics, properly correcting technical deviations allows a strong foundation.
Think of ideal color correction achieving visual transparency – adjusting until the influence disappears with shots looking realistically vibrant. Grading then consciously reintroduces color artistry.
Defining Color Grading
Color grading refers to creatively enhancing or stylizing the appearance and mood of video footage using color manipulation techniques. It builds upon a technically well-corrected image in order to set visual aesthetics and tone intentionally to align with creative goals.
Examples of color grading objectives include:
- Establishing specific emotive atmosphere or genre style
- Matching consistent visual themes across separate clips
-Differentiating contexts like time periods or locations using color cues
Skilled use of tools like hue adjustments, contrast tweaks, saturation changes and exposure shifts during grading take footage with a neutral baseline to the next level cinematically.
Grading considers the big picture creative possibilities, while purposefully wielding color variables to shape reactions through tailored visual experiences scene by scene emotionally. It sets the overall look and feel.
Color Correction vs Color Grading
In essence, color correction aims for technical precision early in the post-production process so the footage looks naturally accurate as captured on set. Color grading then builds upon this baseline at the end stylistically to intentionally shape reactions through impactful color manipulation in service of the story.
Remember that grading builds upon correction. Always correct inconsistencies first so grading choices supplement rather than distract. The most compelling visuals derive from strategic collaboration between the technical and creative processes.
Now that you understand this core distinction, you can consciously leverage both color correction and grading to bring out the best in your video projects visually! Try using basic correction to set a strong foundation, then explore creative looks through expressive grading.
Color Correction Tool in Filmora
Now you understand the color correction and color grading. So if you want to fix these related issues. You can consider Filmora editor color correction feature. Filmora offers both basic and advanced tools for color correcting video footage. Filmora offers several color correction features to enhance and improve the look of videos.
Here are the key features of Filmora’s color correction capabilities:
Color Correction Presets
Filmora provides over 40 filmic color presets that can be applied to videos. These presets are designed to create different moods and atmospheres, with options for cool or warm videos. They can be easily applied to videos using drag-and-drop functionality.
3D LUTs and Color Schemes
Filmora allows users to create 3D LUTs (Look-Up Tables) for color grading. Users can also change color schemes of images and work with desired color ranges separately. Additionally, industry-standard 3D Lut color projects can be imported for more advanced color correction.
Manual Color Correction
Filmora offers a manual color correction feature that allows users to make precise adjustments to the colors in their videos. Users can see immediate previews of their changes in the Preview Window and have the option to reset all changes with a single button. Advanced color tuning options are also available for more fine-tuned adjustments.
Experience Color Correction
Users can try out Filmora’s color correction capabilities with a free trial of the software. Filmora provides resources for learning both basic and advanced color correction tips. There are tutorials available for understanding color correction basics for S-LOG footage and specifically for Filmora. Additionally, users can explore the power of video color correction in iMovie.
Tips and Tricks
Filmora provides tips and tricks for color correction techniques in videos. Users can learn about color correction in Windows Movie Maker and discover the best color correction and color grading software for 2021. There is also a beginner tutorial available to master video color correction in Vegas Pro, as well as tips for enhancing editing skills with color correction in various software.
Overall, Filmora offers a range of features and resources to help users achieve precise and impressive color correction settings in their videos.
With Filmora’s user-friendly interface, even beginners can start improving their videos with advanced color techniques. Try out the various color tools to make your videos pop.
How to Use Filmora Color Correction
- Open your Video in FIlmora.
- Use FREE 40+ Color Presets for Filmora
- MAKE 3D LUTs with EASE
- Manual Color Correction Made Simple
- After editing you can download the output.
Conclusion
Filmora provides both basic and advanced tools for accurately color correcting footage to fix issues and make clips look natural. Features like color wheels, curves, and HSL secondary enable precise adjustments. The color match tool can then quickly copy grades between clips to maintain consistency across shots from different cameras or lighting conditions.
This improves workflow efficiency compared to manual color corrections. While color correction aims to fix inaccuracies, creative color grading can be applied to stylize footage with Filmora’s LUTs, filters, and other effects. Using color correction and color match together results in professional, polished videos with accurate colors and a unified visual style. Filmora simplifies the color editing process for beginners and experts.