Matching colors is super important when making videos. Filmmakers match colors to make sure all the clips in their videos look the same.
Imagine you filmed different scenes at different times of the day and with different cameras. Each clip would look a little different in color, brightness, and light. If you don’t make the color match in each scene, your video might not tell the story you want it to.
That’s why matching colors is so important. If you’re new to video editing, fixing the colors in each clip might seem hard. But with the right tools, it can be pretty quick and easy.
This guide will show you how to match the colors in your video clips so that everything looks the same.
Part 1: What is Color Grading vs Color Correction?
Let’s start by answering a big question: What’s the difference between color grading and color correction? Don’t worry; we’ll keep it simple.
Color Grading vs Color Correction
Color correction means fixing the colors in a video to make them look the way they’re supposed to.
Color grading is when you change the colors in a video to give it a certain style or mood. Now, let’s dive a little deeper into these two techniques.
Color Correction
We’ll talk about color correction first because it usually comes before anything else. When you first film something, the colors might be too bright or not look natural, so you need to fix them.
The main goal of color correction is to make sure the video looks like what you see with your own eyes. For example, if the white and black colors in your video match what you see in real life, then the other colors should look right, too.
But sometimes, if the colors in the original footage are really off, fixing them can be a bit tricky and might require some practice.
How to Color Correct in 5 Steps
Here are five simple steps to help you color-correct your video:
- Normalize Your Footage: Try to make your video look as normal and even as possible.
- Fix Your Saturation: Adjust how bright or dull the colors are.
- Adjust Brightness and Contrast: Make sure the video isn’t too dark or too bright and that the dark and light areas stand out nicely.
- Set Your White Balance: Make sure the whites in your video look white, not too blue or yellow.
- Check Skin Tones: Make sure people’s skin looks natural.
There are more steps you could take depending on your video and how much experience you have with editing. But if you’re just starting, these steps should help you get your video looking good!
Color Grading
Now, let’s talk about color grading. This is the next step after color correction, where you can start making your video look cool and stylish. But remember, color grading is optional, especially if you want your video to look as real as possible.
However, color grading can really help set the mood or tone of your video. For example, you might use darker colors and more contrast to make a horror film feel spooky or bright and unusual colors for a sci-fi movie to make it feel futuristic.
What Are LUTs in Color Grading?
You might be wondering, “How do you get those awesome looks in a video?” One way to do this is by using LUTs.
LUT stands for “look-up table.” Think of it like a cheat sheet for colors that filmmakers and editors use. You can apply a LUT to your video to quickly give it a specific style or look.
While LUTs are great tools, it’s important to understand how they work and how to adjust them to fit your project. With the right use, LUTs can save you time and make your video look amazing.
Understanding Color Grading: How to Color Grade in 5 Steps
Before you start using LUTs in all your videos, let’s go over the basics of color grading. Here are five simple steps to color-grade your footage:
- Normalize Your Footage: Make your video look as even and natural as possible.
- Correct Your Colors: Fix any colors that don’t look right before you start grading.
- Choose Your Look and Style: Decide how you want your video to feel—dark, bright, warm, cool, etc.
- Make Your Color Adjustments: Use your editing program to tweak the colors to match your desired style.
- Check Skin Tones: Make sure people’s skin looks natural, and use a vector scope if you have one to get the colors just right.
Remember, color grading should only be done after you’ve corrected your colors. Once your video looks natural, you can start adding your artistic touch to make it look just the way you want.
Part 2: Why Use a Color-Match Tool?
Color-match tools are helpful for many things, like:
Adjusting Color Balance
If you’re not sure about the colors in your project, you can use a color-match tool to adjust them so they match another image or color you like.
Creating a Consistent Look
You can use a color-match tool to make sure all your video clips look the same by adjusting things like brightness, color strength, and how intense the colors are.
Matching Colors in Product Images
If you’re editing pictures of products, a color-match tool can help you make the colors in the picture match the real product. This helps customers trust what they’re buying and can reduce returns.
Simplifying the Color Matching Process
Some color-match tools can automatically adjust to the best settings for your computer, editing software, and printer so you can focus on making your photos look great.
Part 3: Filmora: The Best Tool for Color Matching
You can use color matching to make sure the colors in your video look the same as in another video. Many people use Wondershare Filmora’s color match tools when they have videos from different cameras or want to fix colors quickly. Here’s how to use AI color matching in Filmora:
Step 1: Import Your Videos
1. Open Filmora and click on “New Project.”
2. Click “Import Media files” to find and add your video files to the media library.
3. Drag and drop both the video you want to match and the video you want to use as a reference onto the timeline.
Image Name: best-results-in-videos-with-color-matching-1.jpg
Image Alt: import video
Step 2: Apply Color Match
1. Click on the first video you want to change.
2. Go to the “Color” panel.
3. Click on “Color Match.” A new window will pop up.
Image Name: best-results-in-videos-with-color-matching-2.jpg
Image Alt: click color match
Step 3: Match the Colors
1. In the new window, use the playback controls to find the exact frame in the reference video that has the colors you want.
2. Click “Match” to make the colors in your current video look like the colors in the reference video.
Image Name: best-results-in-videos-with-color-matching-3.jpg
Image Alt: reference frame
How to Adjust the Color Matching
- Comparison View: Click on “Comparison View” to see your current video on the right and the reference video on the left. This helps you compare the colors.
- Adjust Level: Drag the slider to change how strong the ai color match is, or type in a percentage. Click “OK” to apply the changes.
Image Name: best-results-in-videos-with-color-matching-4.jpg
Image Alt: comparison view
Reset Color Match
If you don’t like how the colors turned out, click “Reset.” This will return your video to its original colors.
Image Name: best-results-in-videos-with-color-matching-5.jpg
Image Alt: reset
Conclusion
Color matching is crucial for creating a seamless and professional-looking video. By understanding color correction and grading and using tools like Filmora’s color match feature, you can ensure all your clips have a consistent look. Whether you’re fixing colors or adding style, these techniques will help your video tell a cohesive and visually appealing story. With practice, AI color matching can become a straightforward part of your editing process.