What Is Color Grading?
Color grading is the process of altering and enhancing the color of motion picture, video, or still imagery. In film and TV production, it's the stage where footage receives its final "look" — the visual style that shapes emotional tone and narrative atmosphere.
Color Correction vs Color Grading
These terms are often confused, but they serve different purposes:
- Color correction: Technical adjustments to fix problems — matching exposure, white balance, and color between shots. The goal is consistency and accuracy.
- Color grading: Creative adjustments to establish a visual style — shifting colors, adding contrast, creating mood. The goal is artistic expression.
In practice, colorists typically do both: first correcting any issues, then grading to achieve the desired look.
The Color Grading Workflow
- Ingest: Receive footage from editorial, typically as ProRes, DPX, or camera RAW files.
- Conform: Import the edit timeline (AAF, XML, or EDL) and link to source media.
- Primary correction: Balance exposure, contrast, white balance, and color across all shots.
- Shot matching: Ensure visual consistency across scenes and camera angles.
- Secondary correction: Selective adjustments — skin tones, sky color, specific objects.
- Creative grading: Apply the overall look — LUTs, stylistic choices, mood.
- Render: Output final graded footage for delivery or further work.
Color Grading Software
- DaVinci Resolve: Industry standard, free version available, powerful node-based workflow.
- Baselight: High-end system used on major features.
- Nucoda: Feature film and broadcast grading.
- Premiere Pro/Lumetri: Built-in color tools for simpler workflows.
- Final Cut Pro: Integrated color tools.
Files Colorists Work With
Colorists handle some of the largest files in the pipeline:
| Format | Use Case | 1 Hr Size |
|---|---|---|
| ARRIRAW | Camera originals | ~1,500 GB |
| ProRes 4444 XQ (4K) | Grading masters | ~840 GB |
| DPX 10-bit (4K) | VFX/Film scan | ~2,700 GB |
| EXR 16-bit (4K) | HDR/VFX | ~4,000 GB |
File Transfer for Colorists
Colorists face unique file transfer challenges:
- Receiving footage: Getting RAW or ProRes from editorial for grading.
- VFX handoffs: Receiving and delivering DPX/EXR sequences.
- Delivering masters: Sending graded masters back to editorial or for final delivery.
- Client reviews: Sending compressed versions for approval.
At these file sizes, per-GB pricing adds up quickly. A feature film's worth of graded ProRes 4444 XQ masters could cost $200+ with pay-per-GB services. With Handrive, colorists transfer files directly and for free:
- No per-GB fees: Transfer terabytes without cost.
- Direct P2P: Files go straight to the recipient.
- Any format: ProRes, DPX, EXR — all transfer the same way.
Learn about file transfer for color workflows:
File Transfer for Colorists: ProRes, DPX, and EXR →