Definition
What is color correction?
Color correction is the process of adjusting exposure, contrast, white balance, saturation, and color channels so footage looks technically sound and shots match one another. It creates a reliable foundation before creative color grading.
A correction pass commonly balances black and white levels, removes unwanted color casts, sets neutral tones, and aligns angles from different cameras. Editors use scopes as well as their eyes, because a display or room can make an image appear more neutral or brighter than it is.
Correction is not about making every shot identical at the expense of the story. A room lit by warm lamps should still feel warm, for example. The goal is intentional consistency: preserving motivated differences while preventing accidental shifts caused by cameras, settings, or changing light.
Example in the edit
Interview clips from two cameras are matched by bringing their skin tones, exposure, and neutral wall color into agreement before the editor applies the project’s final grade.
Why editors use it
Accurate correction keeps a sequence from looking patched together and protects viewer trust, especially for skin tones, products, and branded colors. It also makes creative grading more predictable.
Watch and learn
See the technique in context
Selected explanation by Adobe Video
Quick answers
Frequently asked questions about Color correction
What is the difference between color correction and color grading?
Correction fixes technical consistency and natural balance. Grading makes creative choices about the finished mood, palette, contrast, and visual identity.
Should color correction happen before color grading?
Usually, yes. Establishing a consistent technical baseline lets creative decisions hold together across the sequence and prevents a look from exaggerating an existing problem.
Why use video scopes for correction?
Scopes show measurable luminance and color information that can reveal casts, clipping, and mismatches that may be difficult to judge accurately by eye alone.