Welcome back to the fourth tutorial in our series! In this guide, we’ll show you how to color grade in Premiere Pro.
We’ve already covered how to import, edit, and add transitions. Now that your video is trimmed and organized, it’s time to polish it up with color grading.
Why Is Color Grading Important?
Have you ever watched a movie with a snowy scene that somehow made you feel cold? That’s the power of color grading.
Color plays a huge role in storytelling. Take a look at Arctic (2018) — its icy blue tones make you feel the chill instantly.
In contrast, a bright, golden color palette is often used for warm or nostalgic scenes. Think of the famous wheat field sequence in Gladiator (2000).
Color grading and your film’s color palette are key storytelling tools. They shape how your audience feels and interprets every scene.
How to Color Grade in Premiere Pro
Let’s get started with the basics. First, switch from the Editing tab at the top to Color.
This layout centers your program monitor and enlarges it, giving you a better view of your footage.
On the right side of your workspace, you’ll find the Lumetri Color panel — the main tool for color correction and grading in Premiere Pro.
If you’ve used Adobe tools like Lightroom or Photoshop before, this will feel familiar. The Lumetri controls are very similar — just adapted for video.
Color Correction & Matching Footage
Before grading, check for consistency between your clips. If your camera was set to auto white balance, you might notice that some clips look warmer (orange) or cooler (blue) than others.
Also, footage from different cameras can look mismatched. Use the Lumetri sliders to balance color so everything feels cohesive.
Comparison View
Enable Comparison View to see the clip you’re adjusting side by side with a reference clip. This helps ensure your color balance matches across shots.
To do this, go to Color Wheels & Match in the drop-down menu, then click Comparison View. Your program monitor will now display both clips together.
Auto Match
Premiere Pro’s Auto Match feature is a huge time-saver. Once your clips are lined up on the timeline, follow these steps:
- Choose Comparison View.
- Select a reference frame.
- Choose the clip you want to match.
- Enable Face Detection to prioritize skin tones (optional).
- Click Apply Match. Premiere analyzes and applies the correction automatically.
- That’s it!
Manual Match
To fine-tune clips manually, use the Color Wheels & Match panel. You’ll see three color wheels for shadows, midtones, and highlights.
Drag the center point of each wheel to shift color tones. For example, add blue to shadows and a hint of orange to highlights to balance warmth and contrast.
Experiment with these settings until your footage feels natural and consistent.
Adding Adjustment Layers
Once your clips match, it’s time to apply your overall grade. Instead of editing each clip directly, use an Adjustment Layer — think of it as a filter that sits over your footage.
This makes changes non-destructive, so if you need to tweak or remove your grade, you can simply delete the adjustment layer instead of re-editing every clip.
To create one, go back to the Editing workspace, click the New Item icon in the Project panel, and select Adjustment Layer. Then drag it over your footage on the timeline.
Next, go to View > Display Mode and select Composite Video so your program monitor shows one clip at a time as you scrub through the timeline.
Now, let’s add some contrast and shape to your image using Curves.
Adding Color Grades
With your clips matched, it’s time to get creative. Use the Curves panel to adjust tonal contrast.
By pulling the line upward on the right, you’ll brighten highlights. Pulling it downward on the left deepens shadows. This creates the classic S-curve for cinematic contrast.
In the Lumetri Color panel’s Basic Correction section, you’ll find sliders like Exposure, Contrast, Highlights, and Shadows.
Since the S-curve already boosts contrast, focus on Temperature and Exposure to fine-tune warmth and brightness.
Lastly, explore the Creative section to apply a LUT (Look-Up Table). LUTs can give your video an instant cinematic style.
Click the dropdown next to Look and choose Browse to load a LUT from your computer. Then adjust its intensity using the slider below.
If your shadows look too crushed but you like the overall tone, lower the intensity slightly to find the right balance.
And that’s it! You’ve learned the basics of color grading in Premiere Pro. Experiment, have fun, and develop your own unique look. Next, we’ll show you how to export your final video.
