How do you correct color casts in your videos?

1 What are color casts?

Color casts are deviations from the true or neutral colors of your video subjects. They can affect the whole image or only certain areas, depending on the source of the color cast. For example, if you shoot indoors under fluorescent lights, your video might have a greenish tint. If you shoot outdoors at sunset, your video might have a warm orange tone. Sometimes, color casts are intentional and used for artistic or stylistic purposes, but other times, they are unwanted and distracting.

2 How to identify color casts?

The first step to correct color casts is to identify them. You can use your eyes and your monitor to spot any obvious color shifts, but you can also use some tools to help you. One of the most common tools is the vectorscope, which is a graphical representation of the color and saturation of your video. The vectorscope shows you how far and in which direction your colors deviate from the center, which represents the neutral gray. Another tool is the RGB parade, which shows you the levels of red, green, and blue in your video. The RGB parade can help you see if any of the channels are clipped or unbalanced, which can cause color casts.

3 How to correct color casts?

There are different ways to correct color casts, depending on the software you use and the type of color cast you have. However, one of the most basic and effective methods is to use the white balance tool. The white balance tool allows you to adjust the color temperature and tint of your video by using a reference point. The reference point is usually something that should be white or gray in your video, such as a piece of paper, a wall, or a gray card. By selecting the reference point, you tell the software to neutralize the color cast and make it match the true color of the reference point.

4 How to fine-tune your colors?

After correcting the color casts, you might want to fine-tune your colors to achieve the desired look and mood for your video. You can use different tools and techniques to adjust the contrast, saturation, hue, and luminance of your colors. Some of the most common tools are the curves, the color wheels, and the HSL sliders. The curves allow you to manipulate the tonal range of your video by creating points and curves on a graph. The color wheels allow you to adjust the shadows, midtones, and highlights of your video by moving the wheels or sliders. The HSL sliders allow you to change the hue, saturation, and luminance of specific color ranges in your video.

5 How to avoid color casts?

To avoid color casts in your video, pay attention to the lighting conditions, camera settings, and filters or lenses you use when shooting. A custom white balance setting on your camera is ideal, as opposed to relying on the auto mode. Additionally, using a gray card or a white balance card to set your white balance before each shot or scene is recommended. To capture a reference frame that you can use later for color correction, try using a color checker or a color chart. Furthermore, it's important to avoid mixing different types of light sources such as natural and artificial or tungsten and fluorescent. Finally, neutral or color-correcting filters or lenses can help reduce or eliminate color casts. Color casts can be an issue but they can be fixed with some basic skills and tools. By following these steps, you can identify and correct color casts in your videos to make them look more natural, consistent, and professional.

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?