How to Perform Color Grading?

1 July 2025 | 1 July 2025 | 5 min |

In this article :

1. Qu’est-ce que l’Étalonnage ?
2. Les Étapes de l’Étalonnage Vidéo et Photo
3. Les Outils pour Réaliser un Étalonnage
4. Les Astuces pour un Étalonnage Réussi
5. Comment Devenir Spécialiste en Étalonnage ?
Conclusion

Color grading is an essential process in video and photo post-production. It allows you to correct colors, adjust lighting, and give an image or video a consistent atmosphere. Whether you’re working on product photos, promotional videos, or films, color grading is a crucial step for achieving high-quality visuals. This article will guide you through the stages of the grading process and the tools needed to master this technique.

1. What Is Color Grading?

Color grading is the process of adjusting the colors, brightness, and contrast of an image or video after it’s been captured. This work is done primarily in post-production, where colors can be corrected and the visual appearance enhanced based on the desired mood or style. Grading not only corrects issues from the shoot (like exposure or white balance), but also boosts visual impact by altering tones and color palettes.

There are two main types of color grading:

Color correction, which aims to make colors appear more accurate or consistent across different shots.
Creative grading, where color is stylized to create a specific mood or aesthetic (e.g., warm tones, cool tones, sepia effects, etc.).

2. Steps in Video and Photo Color Grading

Preparation and File Import

Before starting the grading process, it’s essential to prepare your files by importing them into post-production software. Whether working with video or photography, it’s best to use high-resolution files for optimal results. File formats may vary (RAW, ProRes, MP4, etc.), but uncompressed or lightly compressed formats are generally preferred to maintain image quality.

Color and Exposure Correction (Color Correction)

The first step in grading is performing a basic color correction. This includes:

Exposure adjustment: Make sure the image is neither too dark (underexposed) nor too bright (overexposed). The goal is to achieve a natural and balanced lighting.
White balance: Adjust colors so that whites appear truly white. This helps eliminate unwanted color casts (e.g., bluish or reddish tones caused by artificial lighting).
Hue and saturation correction: Tweak colors to give the image a natural, consistent appearance. This includes adjusting saturation and color curves to match the project’s standards.
Shot matching: If you’re working with multiple shots, make sure the color and lighting are consistent across all clips. This is particularly important when using different cameras or lenses.

Creating a Visual Look (Grading)

Once the base correction is done, the next step is creating a stylized look. This involves manipulating colors to achieve the desired aesthetic:

Adjusting color curves: Modify the intensity curve for red, green, and blue to create specific effects. For example, you can boost red for a warm tone or emphasize blues for a cooler mood.
Using LUTs (Look-Up Tables): LUTs are preset filters that apply quick color corrections to create a specific style. They are often used to replicate film looks or achieve a consistent visual identity.
Final rendering: After applying your adjustments, check the consistency of the visual look throughout the project to ensure the mood aligns with the creative goals and client expectations.

3. Tools for Color Grading

Color Grading Software

There are several specialized software programs for color grading. Here are the most popular:

DaVinci Resolve: One of the most powerful tools for video color grading, DaVinci Resolve offers professional features for color correction, curve management, and tone adjustments. It’s especially appreciated for its advanced grading capabilities.
Adobe Premiere Pro: Although primarily a video editing software, Premiere Pro includes comprehensive tools for color correction and grading.
Final Cut Pro: This Apple software also provides grading tools, well-suited for post-production on macOS.
Lightroom / Photoshop: For photography, these Adobe tools offer powerful options for color correction, saturation adjustments, and creative filters to fine-tune images.

Monitors and Display Calibration

To achieve high-quality grading, it’s essential to work on a calibrated monitor. Displays must be calibrated to ensure the colors you see during editing match those that will appear on other devices such as TVs, projectors, or cinema screens.

4. Tips for Successful Color Grading

Reference and Comparison: Always use a visual reference (an image or video with proper grading) to adjust your colors and ensure your work aligns with professional standards.
Be Subtle: Grading doesn’t have to be a radical transformation. Sometimes, small adjustments are enough to bring out the best in an image without overprocessing it.
Check Across Multiple Screens: To ensure your image looks correct on all platforms, test your grading settings on different screens and formats.
Pay Attention to Detail: Focus on color harmony, especially skin tones, background hues, and shadows. Precise grading can elevate a good image into a visual masterpiece.

5. How to Become a Color Grading Specialist

Training and Specialized Education
There are several programs in video post-production, film, or graphic design that include modules on color grading. Specialized schools like Les Gobelins or l’EMC offer professional courses focused on image processing and post-production.

Practice and Experience
Color grading is primarily learned through hands-on experience. By working on personal projects or collaborating with videographers, photographers, or directors, you’ll develop your colorimetry skills. The more you practice, the better you’ll get at adjusting colors and crafting visual moods tailored to each project.

Keeping Up with Trends
The color grading industry evolves quickly with new technologies and tools. Following specialized blogs, watching online tutorials, or attending conferences and workshops helps you stay up to date on the latest trends and techniques.

Conclusion

Color grading is an essential step in giving your images and videos a polished, professional look. With powerful tools and strong technical skills, you can transform raw footage into visually cohesive and impactful work. At Rétines, we understand the importance of grading in the creation of high-quality imagery, and we work with expert colorists to ensure outstanding results for every project.

Écrit par Jérémy Carlo

Jérémy Carlo is the editorial director at Rétines, where he ensures the consistency and clarity of all content produced by the studio. His role goes beyond writing—he shapes the tone, structures the messages, and upholds a precise, demanding editorial line that stays true to the identity of Rétines. With a background in visual communication and solid experience in content strategy, he bridges the technical world of photography with clear, no-frills writing.

Jérémy works closely with photographers, art directors, and the commercial team to make sure every word published serves the image, the message, and the brand. From blog articles and client presentations to social media posts and internal documents—everything is filtered through his attentive eye. His strength lies in making complex ideas accessible without oversimplifying, and in highlighting the studio’s work without relying on unnecessary superlatives.

Through his writing, Jérémy helps Rétines exist beyond the image—by giving context to projects, emphasizing the thinking behind each shoot, and bringing to light the technical and aesthetic choices that drive each photograph.