Movie Terms Wiki Filmmaking

Color Grading

The post-production process of adjusting color and contrast to achieve a film’s visual tone.


Technical Workflow

Colorists work in suites using DaVinci Resolve or Baselight, manipulating lift, gamma and gain controls to refine shadows, midtones and highlights.

Narrative and Emotional Impact

Color palettes—cool blues for dystopia, warm ambers for nostalgia—underscore themes and guide audience emotion subtly.

Collaboration

Color grading follows editorial lock and sound mix, with cinematographers and directors approving looks via color-graded dailies.

Notable Examples

Iconic grades include the teal-orange contrast in Mad Max: Fury Road, the desaturated tones of The Matrix and the monochrome stylization of Schindler’s List.


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