Color Correction
White Balance & Exposure Correction
Before any creative color grading, correct technical issues: neutralize color casts using white balance tools and fix under/overexposed footage using the waveform scope, not just your eyes — monitors lie, scopes don't.
Matching Shots Within a Scene
Footage from different cameras, times of day, or lighting setups within the same scene must be color-matched so cuts don't jar the viewer with visible color shifts between otherwise continuous shots.
Creative Color Grading
Grading for Mood
Warm tones (oranges, yellows) read as nostalgic or comfortable; cool tones (blues, teals) read as cold or tense; desaturation reads as somber or gritty — grade deliberately toward the emotional tone the sequence needs.
The Teal-and-Orange Look
Pushing shadows toward teal/blue and skin tones toward orange creates a specific, popular cinematic look because complementary colors create pleasing contrast — understand it as one tool among many, not the only valid grade.
Sound Design
Dialogue Levels & Cleanup
Dialogue should sit clearly above music and effects, typically around -12dB to -6dB, with noise reduction applied to remove hiss or hum without making voices sound processed or robotic.
Layering Music & Sound Effects
Build a soundtrack in layers — dialogue on top, sound effects supporting the action, music underneath setting emotional tone — ducking (temporarily lowering) music automatically under dialogue for clarity.
The Graded & Mixed Sequence
Take your Phase 2 structured sequence and apply full color correction (white balance, exposure, shot matching), a deliberate creative grade supporting the sequence's mood, and a complete layered soundtrack with balanced dialogue, music, and at least one sound effect.
Success criteria: All shots are color-matched with no visible jarring shifts between cuts. The creative grade is identifiable and appropriate to the sequence's intended mood. Dialogue is clearly audible above the music bed throughout, with music ducking during any spoken sections.
Phase 3 Practice Exercises
12 exercises to build skill through direct application.
Waveform Scope Reading
Use the waveform scope to identify and correct 3 clips with under or overexposed sections.
- Scope-based correction
- Technical exposure fix
- Objective measurement
White Balance Neutralization
Correct color casts on 5 clips shot under different lighting (daylight, tungsten, fluorescent) to neutral white balance.
- White balance correction
- Color cast removal
- Cross-lighting consistency
Shot Matching Drill
Match the color of 2 clips from different cameras within the same scene so the cut between them is invisible.
- Shot matching technique
- Cross-camera consistency
- Seamless scene continuity
Warm Mood Grade Study
Apply a warm, nostalgic grade to a neutral clip and compare the emotional shift to the ungraded version.
- Mood grading technique
- Warm tone application
- Emotional color impact
Cool Mood Grade Study
Apply a cool, tense grade to the same clip, comparing all three versions (neutral, warm, cool) side by side.
- Cool tone grading
- Comparative mood study
- Deliberate emotional choice
Teal-Orange Grade Practice
Apply a teal-and-orange grade to a clip with visible skin tones, checking the complementary contrast effect.
- Popular grade technique
- Complementary color application
- Stylistic grading
Dialogue Level Calibration
Set dialogue levels on 3 clips to sit clearly between -12dB and -6dB, checking with meters not just ears.
- Audio level precision
- Meter-based mixing
- Dialogue clarity standard
Noise Reduction Application
Apply noise reduction to a clip with audible background hiss, checking the voice doesn't sound artificially processed.
- Noise reduction technique
- Audio cleanup balance
- Natural sound preservation
Music Bed Layering
Layer a music track under a dialogue scene, setting the initial relative volume levels before any ducking.
- Music layering
- Relative level setting
- Soundtrack foundation
Audio Ducking Practice
Apply automatic or manual ducking to lower music volume during 3 dialogue sections, then restore it between them.
- Ducking technique
- Dynamic audio balance
- Dialogue prioritization
Sound Effect Integration
Add and balance 3 sound effects (footsteps, door, ambience) into a scene, checking they support rather than distract from the action.
- Sound effect balancing
- Supporting audio design
- Integrated soundtrack
Milestone Grade & Mix Dress Rehearsal
Complete the full color grade and sound mix on your milestone sequence exactly as it will be assessed.
- Performance readiness
- Full milestone simulation
- Comprehensive technical demonstration