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XNK Media

Color Grading

A cinematic look that turns raw footage into a visual experience. Professional software, custom LUTs, natural skin tones, and consistency across cameras.

OUR SERVICE

Color that tells a story

Color grading is the stage that separates an "okay" video from one that looks professional. It is not about a filter; it is about atmosphere, emotion, and visual coherence across the whole piece.

We work with professional color grading software on LOG footage (any camera profile: S-Log, V-Log, D-Log, BRAW, R3D, etc.) using a professional workflow: node structure, primary + secondary grade, skin tone isolation, and shot matching across different cameras.

We build custom brand LUTs for you: a set of consistent looks you can reuse on all your future productions, so your content carries a recognizable visual identity.

Professional Color Pipeline

A color pipeline with custom LUTs, skin tone isolation, and cross-camera consistency.

Cinematic grading ACES Workflow HDR Custom LUTs
WHAT'S INCLUDED

A complete grade

The stages of every color grading project.

Primary Grade

White balance, lift/gamma/gain, saturation. Conversion from LOG into a standard color space (Rec.709 or Rec.2020).

Shot Matching

Consistency across different cameras (A-cam, B-cam, drone, smartphone). Every shot looks like it came from the same system.

Skin Tones

Isolation with qualifiers and tracking, plus skin correction for a natural result. Skin stays warm and flattering whatever the grade.

Look & Atmosphere

Creative grade: teal&orange, warm summer, moody night, desaturated commercial. Aligned with your tone and your brand.

Beauty & Cleanup

Frame-by-frame blemish removal, denoise, grain emulation, and a subtle vignette: the final polish for a cinematic feel.

Custom Brand LUT

We deliver .cube LUTs you can apply to your own productions in the future. Long-term visual consistency.

PROCESS

What a grading session looks like

From LOG footage to the final color-graded master.

1

References & Look

You send us 3-5 reference frames (stills or clips) that capture the look you want. We define the creative direction together.

2

Conform & Setup

We receive the XML/EDL from the edit, conform it against the original LOG footage, set up the node structure, and add an ACES workflow where needed.

3

Primary Pass

LOG normalization, white balance, exposure, and shot matching across every shot. Footage standardized for the creative grade.

4

Creative Grade

We apply the cinematic look based on your references. Secondary grades on skin, sky, and local details. A preview is delivered for feedback.

5

Master Export

Render in ProRes 422 HQ / DNxHR 444, SDR + HDR versions on request, and the .cube LUT attached for reference.

Remote Review

Live grading sessions through an online review platform with real-time sync. You watch as it happens and give feedback on a specific frame.

PERSONALIZED OFFER

Priced per finished minute

Color grading is usually priced per minute of finished footage (after the edit). The cost depends on the complexity of the material, the number of shots, and the level of polish you want. We prepare a personalized quote after the briefing.

  • Social reel, 30-60s
  • Video, 2-5 min (corporate, talking-head)
  • TVC spot / commercial: dedicated quote
  • Custom brand LUT: one-time fee

Included in every grade:

Primary correction
Shot matching
Skin tones
Creative look
2 rounds of revisions
ProRes/DNx master
H.264 version
LUT reference
FAQ

Frequently asked questions about color grading

Color correction = the technical fix: white balance, exposure, contrast, saturation, so the footage looks "normal". Color grading = the creative layer: a cinematic look, atmosphere, and the visual identity of the brand. Correction is included in video editing. Grading is a separate service, for anyone who wants a cinema-level result.

Ideally, yes. LOG / RAW (S-Log, V-Log, D-Log, BRAW, R3D) keeps the most information for grading. Rec.709 (baked-in) footage can still be graded, but there is much less room to move. We recommend shooting in LOG on any production.

Yes, the LUT we deliver is yours. You can apply it in any professional NLE or grading software. It works on any camera shooting the LOG profile it was built for. If you run a mixed fleet, we also deliver variants adapted to your different cameras.

A social reel (30-60s) takes 1-2 days. A 2-3 minute corporate video takes 3-5 days. A TVC spot takes 5-10 days. It depends on how complex the look is and how many secondary grades are involved. The timeline is confirmed once we receive the footage.

Yes, for clients delivering to YouTube HDR, Netflix, Apple TV+, or HDR broadcast. An ACES workflow with a derived SDR trim pass. The setup takes a little longer, but it is mandatory if the platform requires HDR10 or Dolby Vision.

Want a free grading test?

Send us 30 seconds of your footage and we'll deliver a before/after with a proposed look. No cost, no obligation.