Color correction: Adjusting the overall color balance and exposure of a shot

Color correction is the process of adjusting the overall color balance and exposure of a shot in order to make it look more visually pleasing and consistent with the overall aesthetic of the film or video. This is an important step in the post-production process, as it can greatly affect the final look and feel of the content.

The process of color correction typically begins by adjusting the white balance, which is the overall color temperature of the shot. This can be done by using color temperature charts, color meters, or by using software tools that allow you to adjust the white balance directly.

Once the white balance is set, the next step is to adjust the exposure of the shot. This can be done by adjusting the brightness and contrast, or by using more advanced tools such as curves and levels. The goal of this step is to ensure that the shot is correctly exposed and that all of the details in the shot are visible.

After the white balance and exposure have been adjusted, the next step is to make any additional color adjustments that are needed. This can include things like adjusting the saturation, hue, and luminance of specific colors, or using color grading tools such as LUTs (lookup tables) to add a specific look or mood to the shot.

It's important to note that color correction and color grading are two different things. Color correction is the process of adjusting the overall color balance and exposure of a shot, while color grading is the process of adding a specific look or mood to a shot through color adjustments. The two are often used together in post-production.

Overall, color correction is a complex and intricate process that requires a great deal of skill, experience, and attention to detail. A well-documented process of color correction should include clear instructions, examples and best practices that help to achieve the desired results.