What Is Color Grading? Why a Movie's Final Look Is Not Just a Camera Filter

How color correction and creative grading shape consistency, contrast, exposure and color relationships after filming, and why grading is more than applying a preset.

The Academy separates cinematography, production design, visual effects, sound and other crafts, reflecting how the final image is built through several departments and post-production stages.

This article was developed from Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences and cross-checked against Academy filmmaking education and professional cinema/cinematography documentation where applicable. Technical standards can evolve, so delivery specifications should always be checked against the current production or exhibition requirement.

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