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IT4nextgen > Key Concepts > Video Color Correction VS. Color Grading: All You Need to Know

Video Color Correction VS. Color Grading: All You Need to Know

Last Updated March 2, 2023 By Subhash D Leave a Comment

Video editing is, for the most part, fun and a creative process, but when it comes to fixing tones in the footage, it gets a little intimidating, even for experienced enthusiasts. Still, color grading and color correction are essential for creating a professional-looking video. In this post, you’ll find out the difference between color correcting and color grading, and discover 4 surefire ways to tweak colors in a video. Now let’s get started.

Color Correction

Color correction is aimed at making a video look more natural by fixing the mistakes made while adjusting the camera settings. Color correcting might include fixing black and white balance, adjusting exposure, highlights, contrast, and other settings. You can skip color grading while editing your footage, but color correction is compulsory for making a realistic video. 

Color Grading

While color correction implies fixing mistakes, color grading is more about stylizing videos. By changing the overall color scheme of your footage, you can evoke different emotions and create a specific atmosphere in a video. So color grading is as crucial as color correction. If you are wondering what you should do first, begin with color correction – color grading should be done afterward.

4 Ways to Adjust Colors in a Video

Now that you know what these terms stand for, you’re ready to learn how to manipulate color values in your footage. There are lots of ways to do it, but here are the best 4 methods that work for any kind of video. So let’s get down to them. 

With Curves Controls

Curves are a feature that you’ll find mostly in advanced video editors. It might take you a while to figure out how to use them but once you get the hang of it, you’ll be able to use one of the most efficient tools for color correction. There are curves for adjusting contrast, highlights, and shadows, remapping white and black levels, and color grading as well. So how does it work? All you need to do is add a point or several points and bend the line up or down.  

Tuning the HSL

HSL sliders are an easier way to fix tones, and this is why the HSL panel is available in almost any video editor, from complex desktop programs to simple mobile apps. HSL stands for Hue, Saturation, and Luminance. By changing the Hue settings, you’ll adjust the color, and by tweaking the Saturation values, you’ll fix the color intensity. To change the color brightness, increase or reduce the Luminance setting values. 

Using LUTs

LUTs, or Lookup Tables, are a lesser-known yet effective color grading tool. They work as ready-made presets with color adjustments that you can simply apply to your footage as a filter. 

Using Color Wheels

Color Wheels are another popular tool that will come in handy while fixing tones in video clips. You can use this feature for both making dramatic changes and slightly altering the temperature in the footage. Use the Color Shift wheel to change the tone of the whole video to the one you pick. If it’s not enough, adjust other wheels as well, e.g., Midtones, Shadows, and so on.

Summary

This is it. In this article, we talked about different ways to adjust colors in a video. Ready to put the theory into practice? Then find the best video editors and a couple more tips in this guide about how to color correct videos. But before you get down to it, let’s review the key aspects of color adjustment that you should keep in mind. 


Color correction implies technical changes, while color grading is used mainly for creative changes. You cannot perform color grading unless a color correction is done. To adjust colors in a video, you can use Curves and LUTs or change the HSL settings. Now it’s time to try it yourself – install the app that meets your needs and the capabilities of your device, and fix the tones in your footage like a pro. 

Filed Under: Key Concepts

About Subhash D

A tech-enthusiast, Subhash is a Graduate Engineer and Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer. Founder of it4nextgen, he has spent more than 20 years in the IT industry.

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