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WHAT IS COLOR GRADING, AND WHY WOULD YOU USE IT?

Quick Guide
Written by Kevin Landwer-Johan
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 One of the key elements of any good photograph is The process of color grading differs from color
the colors the photographer includes, or the tones, in correction. Color correction focuses on adjusting
the case of black and white images. color temperature, tone, and luminosity values to
achieve a realistic-looking image. In color grading,
Color grading is the process of manipulating the the feeling created is the aim, rather than getting
colors in a photograph during editing. Color grading colors looking realistic. Color grading primarily uses
is often used in video and movie editing to influence controls for hue, saturation, levels, and adjustment
mood and atmosphere. It’s also become very popular curves. Solid color fill layers can also be introduced.
with photographers.
In this guide, I’ll walk you through some reasons you
Filters in apps like Instagram and Snapchat provide may want to color grade your photos. I’ll also offer
instant color grading. These are great for treating some tips on how to achieve the color grading look
your photos before posting them to social media, but you want. I use Adobe Lightroom to color grade
if you want something more tailored and creative, RAW files and refer to it in my examples.
then there are tools you can use to manually color
grade your photos. Recommended Reading: If you want to
learn how to enhance your photos and create
better images, grab a copy of Photzy’s premium
guide: Ultimate Guide to Fundamental Editing.

WHAT IS COLOR GRADING, AND WHY WOULD YOU USE IT? // © PHOTZY.COM 3
 COLOR GRADING ADDS
MOOD TO AN IMAGE

In previous versions of Lightroom you

could use the Split Toning sliders to
manage color. Now the interface has
changed and a new Color Grading
panel has been added. The controls are
different and there are three of them,
rather than two. Much like color grading
in video editing software, the three
circles control the shadow, midtones,
and highlights. To control the hue and
saturation, click and drag anywhere within
each circle.

Ask yourself how you feel when you look

at a photo you want to add color grading
to. Then think about what colors you can
add to help enhance this feeling. Adding
cool colors like blue, purple, and green
tend to make a photo more melancholy
or sorrowful. Introducing warmer hues will
lighten the mood and make it jollier.

Photographs by Kevin Landwer-Johan

WHAT IS COLOR GRADING, AND WHY WOULD YOU USE IT? // © PHOTZY.COM 4
 This process is very subjective. There is no right or color correction and levels adjustments. The bottom
wrong way to color grade an image. Concentrate on includes the color grading tweaks.
controlling the color in the shadows and highlights to
achieve the look and feel you want for each photo. The most noticeable difference is the coloring along
the edges of the bamboo stems.
For the example on the previous page, I wanted to
warm up the image to give the color of the leaves a Key Lesson: Before you begin color
boost to show they have life. I wanted to keep the grading a photo, spend some time thinking
stems of the bamboo dark for contrast of feeling. I about it and considering how you feel looking
adjusted levels in the Basic panel and then used the at it. What kind of mood does the image
Color Grading panel to introduce more warmth. I convey? Then decide how you can best
boosted the yellows in the shadows and highlights enhance this mood. Often, it’s best to work with
and then added more green in the midtones, which the feeling that a RAW image has rather than to
are seen in the two leaves. The top image has basic alter this mood.

WHAT IS COLOR GRADING, AND WHY WOULD YOU USE IT? // © PHOTZY.COM 5
 HELP BUILD YOUR PERSONAL PHOTOGRAPHIC STYLE

One additional method to build your personal The more you experiment using the color grading
photographic style is to be consistent in how you tools in Lightroom, the more you’ll understand how
edit and color grade your photos. I’m sure you’ve much you can achieve. The more you practice, the
scrolled through many Instagram feeds and admired more your style can develop. You can keep it as
the ‘look’ of the photos. Often this ‘look’ is achieved simple as you like or come up with a more complex
simply through applying the same filter to all similar series of steps each time you edit. Whatever you
photos. By managing your color grading manually, decide, keeping your method consistent will certainly
you can develop your own ‘look.’ This can then be help cultivate your style.
saved as a preset that you can apply as easily as a
filter. In the image on the following page I’ve added red
to the shadows and green to the highlights and
It takes time to develop any form of style. The midtones using the Color Grading panel. I also
more consistent you are with every aspect of your adjusted the green and red curves to enhance this
photography, the more evident your style becomes. look.

Keeping a similar type of coloring throughout your

photography portfolio tends to strengthen it. People Key Lesson: Each time you color grade an
see your photos and know they are yours, partly image, save a copy to a folder. Doing this will
because of the color grading. It will take some help you keep track of your changes. Over time
experimenting, but in time you can come up with a you’ll see your personal style developing and be
series of color grades that work well with the types of able to keep it moving in the same direction.
photos you like to take.

WHAT IS COLOR GRADING, AND WHY WOULD YOU USE IT? // © PHOTZY.COM 6
 Photograph by Kevin Landwer-Johan

WHAT IS COLOR GRADING, AND WHY WOULD YOU USE IT? // © PHOTZY.COM 7
 UNITE A SERIES OF
PHOTOGRAPHS WITH
COLOR GRADING

When you have a series of similar

photographs to edit, you can enhance
the cohesiveness of the set using color
grading. Adding the same style of color
grade to a series of photos helps tie them
together. It can keep a viewer’s attention
and lead them through the story the
images tell.

This is particularly effective when you’ve

taken all the images in the same location
and lighting. When the light and contrast
values are similar to start with, the effect
of color grading is more consistent.

Make a selection of images you want

to use in your series. Look at them as a
group and decide the mood you want to
create with color grading. Consider the
Photographs by Kevin Landwer-Johan images together and individually. Keeping
in mind the style you want to create, ask
yourself how it will affect the feel of each
image in your selection.

WHAT IS COLOR GRADING, AND WHY WOULD YOU USE IT? // © PHOTZY.COM 8
 I’ll often create a Virtual Copy of any image I want Key Lesson: Working with RAW files is
to color grade in Lightroom. If I’m not sure of the always preferable when performing any editing.
direction I’ll take with my color grading, then I’ll RAW files contain all the data your camera
create more than one copy. This allows me to captures when you take a photo. This gives you
experiment and then compare the different looks I more flexibility when editing before you start to
can create for each photo. lose quality. Even with RAW files, you need to
take care not to over-edit as this can create
Once you apply all the color grading you want to one
artifacts. Avoid pushing any of the adjustment
of the images and are happy with it, you can copy
sliders to the extremes as this will help maintain
and paste the alterations to all the images in the
image quality.
series.

For the images on the previous page, I color graded Recommended Reading: If you want to
the image on the left and then copied and pasted learn how to enhance your photos and create
the edits to the image on the right so they have a better images, grab a copy of Photzy’s premium
similar feel. guide: Ultimate Guide to Fundamental Editing.

WHAT IS COLOR GRADING, AND WHY WOULD YOU USE IT? // © PHOTZY.COM 9
 TIPS FOR COLOR GRADING
IN LIGHTROOM

Use the ‘Y’ keyboard shortcut in

Lightroom to compare your edits with the
original photo. This will help you decide
if you like the direction you’re taking with
the color grading process.

Color correct each image before you

start to color grade it. Beginning with
well-balanced color works as a good
foundation.

Edit RAW files to maintain the most

flexibility and image quality.

Experiment and practice as much as you

have time for. The more you explore
the process of color grading, the more
interesting styles you can come up with.
Photograph by Kevin Landwer-Johan Don’t be restricted to the suggestions I’ve
made in this guide; explore more of the
Lightroom controls for managing colors.

WHAT IS COLOR GRADING, AND WHY WOULD YOU USE IT? // © PHOTZY.COM 10
 CONCLUSION

Color grading is about developing mood,

atmosphere, and feeling in your photos.
There is no right or wrong way of doing
this. You can be as creative as you like.
Color is one of the main elements of
any good photo. How you treat it when
editing can control the feel you want the
image to portray.

As you begin to color grade, you might

find it challenging to come up with a
‘look’ you like. Don’t give up! Keep
experimenting. Make Virtual Copies and
compare the changes you make to each
one. This helps you develop a style as you
see the effect of the changes you make.

Start simply and slowly. Begin with the

basics. As you become more comfortable,
Photograph by Kevin Landwer-Johan experiment with managing the colors in
your main subject and in the background
separately. This can take your color
grading to a whole new level.

WHAT IS COLOR GRADING, AND WHY WOULD YOU USE IT? // © PHOTZY.COM 11
 Photograph by Kevin Landwer-Johan

WHAT IS COLOR GRADING, AND WHY WOULD YOU USE IT? // © PHOTZY.COM 12
 Self-Check Quiz:

1) How does color grading differ from color correcting?

2) Why is it best to use RAW files when color grading?

3) Is the process of color grading subjective or objective?

4) How do users of some social media apps apply color grading?

5) What is the advantage of saving each photo you color grade to a folder?

6) How can color grading a series of images help unite them visually?

7) What is the keyboard shortcut that allows you to compare the edits you make with the original image?

WHAT IS COLOR GRADING, AND WHY WOULD YOU USE IT? // © PHOTZY.COM 13
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sheets that will help you the #1 thing holding your downloadable (pdf) tutorials on
understand the basics. photography back. everything you can imagine.

Download Cheat Sheets → Take Quiz → Download eBooks →

Want quick photography tips?

Check out our friends at DailyPhotoTips.com they'll send you 1 solid photography tip
to your inbox, 5 days a week. So you can start your day right, with actionable tips to
help you on your creative journey. Subscribe now →
(free for a limited time)

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 ABOUT THE AUTHOR Congratulations! You’ve completed
this Photzy guide!

If you liked this photography tutorial, check

out this premium post-processing guide
where you can learn the fundamental editing
steps that will help make your photos pop:
Ultimate Guide to Fundamental Editing.

Kevin is a New Zealand professional photographer living in the

north of Thailand since 2002. During his career he has worked
in editorial, documentary, and commercial photography. He
now also teaches photography workshops and writes books
and articles. You can read his blog here. He runs photography
workshops based at his home in rural northern Thailand.
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