Editing videos is a popular hobby and can be a fun way to earn a living. But every good video editor can’t just be a good storyteller. Video editors also need to be proficient in color grading. Let’s see about color grading software.
Most video editing platforms provide built-in color correction and color grading tools. But to get the most out of video coloring, a separate plugin may be necessary. Coloring plugins like Color Finale or platforms like DaVinci Resolve are two excellent options.
But what are the reasons a video editor should consider using these platforms? Is this software really worth it? How can they help improve my videos? And will using coloring software actually make my video editing process longer or can it save me time? These are common questions a video editor might have when considering a coloring plugin or software.
Keep reading to learn 10 reasons video editors should purchase and use professional color grading software.
- Built-in coloring tools don’t offer as many tools as coloring specific platforms. If you’re editing in Adobe Premiere Pro, you’re likely familiar with Lumetri. Lumetri is an awesome tool for coloring videos. You can do decent color correction and color grading with it. But it doesn’t provide nearly as much depth as a coloring-specific platform does. And if you’re editing in Final Cut Pro X, this is especially true. Color grading videos in Final Cut Pro X can be a pain. And not very in-depth. If you want to take your videos to the next level, add a plugin like Color Finale 2 to Final Cut Pro X.
- Working with 4K video requires high attention to details. 4K video is becoming the standard for casual and professional video editors. But the truth is, 4K video doesn’t actually look that much better than traditional 1080 footage… unless it’s been colored well. With more available pixels in 4K footage, being able to fine tune these pixels is a must. That’s where a color grading platform comes in extra handy.
- You can actually edit in some coloring platforms, like DaVinci Resolve. If you’re eager to make your videos look better with more vibrant colors, but you also want to be able to make cuts and add effects in the same platform, you can! DaVinci Resolve is the perfect platform for video editors to cut up videos, add effects, text and pay extra attention to the way the colors look.
- Adding a color grading platform isn’t expensive. One thing that keeps video editors from downloading and using coloring specific platforms is the belief that it costs a ton of money. But that couldn’t be further from the truth! In fact, a program like DaVinci Resolve can be downloaded for free. And Color Finale, our favorite color grading plugin, can be purchased with a single one-time payment. Adobe users who fork over cash each month for the Creative Cloud might be interested in learning this small detail!
- Learning to color correct and color grade better involves an understanding of all the available tools. And in many cases, these tools just aren’t available in traditional video editing platforms. With a program like Color Finale, users can enjoy an extremely wide variety of color correcting and grading tools that will take videos up a notch.
- Many color grading software feature automated coloring tools. Another reason to consider upgrading to a color grading software is that many of these platforms feature automated tools. If you want help in making color corrections, having automated help can be a big bonus. You won’t find this level of color grading help in video editing platforms like Final Cut Pro X without some additional plugins or software.
- You can create your own LUTs for future use. Having a selection of LUTs (look up tables) can be a huge help when trying to edit videos quickly. Instead of color grading each video from scratch, having a selection of LUTs that you’ve created can make editing much more efficient. With programs like Color Finale, users can do just that. Work on a specific look when editing with Color Finale in Final Cut Pro X, and save it. Then, when you edit a similar video in the future, you can skip the color grading step after you color correct, and just use your premade LUT
As you can see, there are plenty of reasons a video editor should consider upgrading to a color grading platform. From being able to customize your look more finely to having automated help and saving LUTs for future use, a coloring platform can be a huge help. Whatever software you choose, just be sure that it works with your current video editing process. Or be prepared to learn something new! Either way, we guarantee that once you’ve made the leap to a new coloring software, you’ll never look back. And people who watch your videos won’t be able to look away.
