How can you standardize color grading for your video portfolio?

1 Choose a style

The first step is to decide what kind of style you want to apply to your video portfolio. Do you want a warm and vibrant look, a cool and cinematic look, or something in between? Think about the genre, mood, and message of your videos, and how you want your audience to feel when they watch them. You can also get inspired by other videographers, movies, or photos that have a similar style to what you want to achieve.

2 Use presets or LUTs

Once you have a style in mind, you can use presets or LUTs to speed up your color grading process. Presets are pre-made settings that you can apply to your footage in your editing software, such as Adobe Premiere Pro or Final Cut Pro. LUTs are Look Up Tables that map one color to another, and can be used in various software or devices to achieve a consistent look. You can either create your own presets or LUTs, or use some of the many free or paid ones available online. However, make sure you tweak them to suit your footage and style, as they are not a one-size-fits-all solution.

3 Adjust exposure and white balance

Before you apply any presets or LUTs, you need to make sure your footage is properly exposed and white balanced. Exposure is the amount of light that reaches your sensor, and affects the brightness and contrast of your image. White balance is the color temperature of your image, and affects the overall tone and mood of your image. You can use the histogram, waveform, or vectorscope tools in your editing software to check and adjust these parameters. Ideally, you should shoot in manual mode and use a gray card or a white balance tool to get the correct exposure and white balance in camera, as this will give you more flexibility and quality in post-production.

4 Use scopes and reference images

Another way to standardize your color grading is to use scopes and reference images. Scopes are graphical representations of the color and luminance information in your footage, and can help you monitor and correct any issues or inconsistencies. The most common scopes are the histogram, waveform, vectorscope, and parade. Reference images are images that have the style or look that you want to match or emulate, and can help you compare and adjust your footage accordingly. You can use reference images from other videos, movies, or photos, or from your own portfolio. You can use the split-screen, side-by-side, or overlay modes in your editing software to view your footage and reference images simultaneously.

5 Apply color grading in layers

The final tip is to apply your color grading in layers, rather than in one go. This will give you more control and flexibility over your adjustments, and allow you to fine-tune or change them easily if needed. You can use adjustment layers, masks, or nodes to create different layers for different purposes, such as exposure, contrast, color, saturation, or effects. You can also use different blending modes, opacity, or keyframes to modify how your layers interact with each other. By applying color grading in layers, you can create a more nuanced and refined look for your video portfolio.

6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?