A film is shot. The footage is edited. Then the color is graded. Color grading is the process of altering and enhancing the color of a film. It is not the same as color correction, which fixes mistakes and makes shots match. Grading is creative. It sets the mood, defines the look, and supports the story. A warm grade feels nostalgic. A cool grade feels clinical. A desaturated grade feels bleak. The color palette is part of the storytelling.

The process uses software like DaVinci Resolve, Baselight, or Adobe Premiere. The colorist adjusts the shadows, midtones, and highlights. They change the hue, saturation, and luminance. They may apply a lookup table, or LUT, to give the footage a specific look. They may isolate a color, like a red dress, and make it pop. They may create a split tone, with warm highlights and cool shadows. The tools are powerful, and the choices are endless.

Color grading is often invisible. When it works, the audience does not notice it. They just feel the mood. When it fails, the film looks garish or flat. The colorist works with the cinematographer and the director to define the look. It is a collaborative craft, and it happens after the shoot, in the dark of the grading suite.