Colour Correction vs Colour Grading – What’s the Difference?

 

Colour Correction vs Colour Grading – What’s the Difference?

When producing video, colour is as important as composition. But there’s often confusion between two key stages in post-production: colour correction and colour grading. They sound similar, but they serve different purposes.

Colour Correction

Colour correction is about making the footage look natural and consistent. When we film the same scene with different cameras at various angles, the resulting image can differ due to variations in camera manufacture and lighting conditions. The aim is to fix these problems:

• Adjusting the white balance so that whites appear white.

• Matching exposure across clips.

• Ensuring skin tones are accurate.

• Balancing colours so that the footage looks realistic.

Think of it as cleaning your canvas before you begin painting.

Colour Grading

Colour grading goes further—it’s about style and storytelling. Once the footage is corrected, grading gives it a mood:

• Warm tones for nostalgia.

• Cool blues for tension.

• High contrast for drama.

• Soft pastels for dreamlike sequences.

Grading is the creative step that defines the look of your film.

Why the Difference Matters

Skipping correction makes grading messy, while skipping grading can leave your film looking flat. Together, they ensure your video is both accurate and expressive.

The Takeaway

• Correction = technical accuracy

• Grading = creative expression

A good video needs both.