One frame. Two looks.
Restrained color on the left, a warm, high-contrast look on the right.
Illustrative preview using the same source image, not a comparison with original camera log footage.
Correction before the look
An interview cuts between two cameras. Skin looks cool in one shot and warm in the other. First we match those differences; then we give the whole scene its intended look.
Color with a purpose
The look should fit the content. Natural color can put an interview subject first; a music video may call for stronger stylisation. More saturation or contrast is not automatically better.
What grading can do
Grading connects different shots and directs attention through brightness and color. It cannot replace missing image information: blown highlights with no detail or out-of-focus footage cannot reliably be repaired this way.
Preparing the handover
Ideally the edit is locked before grading begins. We first agree whether original media with an edit handover or a high-quality export is the right starting point.
