Color correction vs. color grading: two different steps

Many treat these as one, but they’re two sequential steps.

Color correction is the “fixing” stage: exposure, white balance and contrast so the image looks natural and all shots in a scene match. It’s technical and standards-based.

Color grading is the “feeling” stage: once correct, you craft a mood — warm and nostalgic, cold and industrial, or dramatic. The tools are technical too: color wheels, curves, qualifiers to isolate a color, and power windows to target part of the frame. A calibrated monitor is essential. Correct first, then grade — together with good lighting, this turns raw video into a cinematic image.