Farvegrading

Farvegrading, often translated as color grading, is the post-production process of adjusting the color characteristics of video footage or digital images to achieve a specific aesthetic and to ensure visual consistency across shots. It is distinct from color correction, which primarily fixes technical issues such as exposure and white balance; color grading applies creative and stylistic choices to the image.

The workflow typically includes primary grading, where the colorist adjusts the entire image set using global controls (lift, gamma, gain, contrast, saturation, and color balance), followed by secondary grading, which targets particular colors, ranges, or regions via masks, qualifiers, curves, and track mattes. Work is often done on log- or RAW-footage, which preserves wide latitude and requires tone-mapping or gamut transformation to deliver to standard display spaces like Rec. 709. Scopes (waveform, vectorscope, histogram) guide accurate balancing and color decisions.

Common tools and formats: DaVinci Resolve is widely used for its grading tools; other software such as Adobe Premiere Pro (Lumetri), Final Cut Pro, and artist consoles are used in professional workflows. LUTs (look-up tables) and color-management pipelines help standardize looks across cameras and shoots. The process is typically non-destructive and part of an iterative collaboration among the colorist, the director, and the cinematographer.

Applications and outcomes: Color grading affects mood, storytelling, and realism; it is essential in film, television, streaming, and advertising. It can be used to maintain continuity across scenes, adapt a look to a director's vision, or tailor material for different delivery formats, including SDR and HDR.