You've seen the difference between a flat, ungraded video and a professional production — even if you couldn't name it. That difference is often colour grading. For Perth businesses investing in video content, understanding colour grading helps you brief your editor better, set realistic expectations, and get a final product that truly reflects your brand.
Colour Correction vs Colour Grading — What's the Difference?
These two terms are often used interchangeably, but they describe different stages of the editing process:
- Colour correction fixes technical problems — exposure issues, white balance inconsistencies, skin tone accuracy. It makes footage look natural and balanced.
- Colour grading is the creative step — applying a specific look, mood, or stylistic treatment. It's where raw, corrected footage becomes cinematic, warm, moody, or energetic.
Professional Perth video editors handle both, typically in that order. Correction first, then creative grading on top.
Why Colour Matters for Brand Video
Colour carries emotional weight. A warm, golden grade says something different from a cool, desaturated corporate look. For Perth businesses, the colour treatment of your video should align with your brand identity:
- A real estate video in Perth's coastal suburbs benefits from bright, warm, high-contrast grades that make properties feel aspirational.
- A corporate brand video might use a cleaner, neutral grade with subtle colour accents matching the company's brand palette.
- A fitness or wellness video might use high contrast and vivid saturation to convey energy and intensity.
What Are LUTs and Should You Care?
LUTs (Look-Up Tables) are preset colour transforms that editors apply to footage to instantly achieve a specific look. They're the editing equivalent of Instagram filters — but far more sophisticated.
Professional editors often start with a LUT as a base and then fine-tune. If your business has worked with a videographer before and has reference footage you love, your editor can reverse-engineer the look or use it as a creative brief. Saying "I want something like our last brand video" is completely valid creative direction.
How to Brief Your Editor on Colour
Most Perth business owners don't think about colour when briefing a video editor — and that's fine. But if you want more control over the final look, here's how to communicate it effectively:
- Share reference videos: Find 2–3 videos whose look and feel you like. These don't need to be in your industry — just videos that match the mood you're after.
- Describe mood, not technical specs: "Warm and inviting" or "clean and corporate" gives your editor better direction than "I want saturation at 40%."
- Share your brand colours: A good editor can incorporate your primary and secondary palette into the grade subtly — in highlights, shadows, or ambient tones.
- Specify skin tone priority: If your video features people, accurate, flattering skin tones are non-negotiable. Make sure this is a stated priority.
What Software Do Perth Video Editors Use for Colour?
Most professional Perth video editors use DaVinci Resolve for colour grading — it's the industry standard, used by major film productions worldwide. Adobe Premiere Pro and Final Cut Pro also have capable colour tools and are common in the local market.
DaVinci Resolve's dedicated Colour page gives editors node-based control over every aspect of the image — far beyond what most hobbyist tools offer. If your project needs precision colour work (e.g., a brand film or commercial), confirm your editor works in Resolve.
Does Colour Grading Cost Extra?
In most Perth video editing quotes, basic colour correction is included as standard. Advanced creative grading — particularly for longer projects, multi-camera shoots, or heavily stylised looks — may be quoted separately. Ask your editor upfront what's included so there are no surprises.
For most social media content and standard business video, the included correction and light grade is more than sufficient. For brand films, commercials, or high-end event productions, investing in dedicated colour grading is worth it.