How to do basic colour grading ..?
- Prakash Mishra
- Jun 25, 2023
- 2 min read
Updated: Jun 29, 2023
Basic color grading involves adjusting the colors and tones in a video or image to achieve a desired look or mood. Here's a step-by-step guide on how to perform basic color grading:
Choose the Right Software: Use a video editing or image editing software that offers color grading capabilities. Popular options include Adobe Premiere Pro, DaVinci Resolve, Final Cut Pro, Adobe Photoshop, or Lightroom.
Import the Video or Image: Open your video or image in the chosen software.
Adjust Exposure and Contrast: Start by adjusting the exposure and contrast to ensure the overall brightness and contrast levels are balanced. Use the software's exposure and contrast controls to make these adjustments. Pay attention to the histogram to ensure you're not clipping the highlights or shadows excessively.
Set the White Balance: White balance determines the overall color temperature of your video or image. Adjust it to make whites appear neutral. If your software has an automatic white balance feature, you can start with that and make further manual adjustments if needed. Otherwise, use the color temperature or white balance controls to tweak the settings until the whites look natural.
Adjust Colors: This step involves fine-tuning the individual colors in your video or image. Most software offers color wheels, curves, or sliders to adjust the colors. Here are some common adjustments:
Saturation: Increase or decrease the overall saturation of the colors to make them more vibrant or subdued, respectively.
Shadows, Midtones, and Highlights: Adjust the colors in specific tonal ranges to create the desired mood. For example, you can warm up the highlights for a nostalgic look or cool down the shadows for a colder atmosphere.
Hue and Saturation Curves: Use curves to selectively adjust the hue and saturation of specific colors. This allows you to target specific tones and make more precise adjustments.
Apply a Look or Style (Optional): Many color grading software provide pre-built looks or styles that you can apply to your video or image. These can be a good starting point or serve as inspiration for your own color grading. Experiment with different looks until you achieve the desired result.
Fine-Tune and Preview: After making initial adjustments, review the video or image and make any necessary fine-tuning. Pay attention to skin tones, overall balance, and consistency throughout the footage or set of images. Preview the changes in real-time to see how they affect the final result.
Export or Save: Once you're satisfied with the color grading, export your video or save your image in the desired format. Choose a suitable file format and quality settings based on your intended use.
Remember that color grading is a creative process, and there are no strict rules. Experiment with different adjustments and settings to achieve the look you want. It's also helpful to study color theory and explore tutorials and resources specific to the software you're using to further enhance your color grading skills.
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