Stages of Color Correction
A typical color correction for a shot will probably include the following main stages of adjustment:
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Correcting the tonal range (or contrast ratio)
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Neutralizing color casts
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Achieving consistency between the shots in a sequence
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Achieving a final look
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Different kinds of projects will lead to different emphases among these stages and might even make some of them unnecessary. Different working habits will also affect how these stages are handled. A more experienced colorist might work in a manner that blurs the distinctions between them. For a beginner, it might be better to keep them distinct and achieve an acceptable result for each one before moving on to the next.
The following sections provide some guidelines for each of the main stages:
