Color Grading Reference Workflow & Palette Development
Analyze references and build consistent color palettes for multi-shot video grading
What You Can Do
You can analyze mood boards and reference films to establish your project's color language, then build systematic grading strategies that maintain consistency across multiple shots and episodes. Claude helps you translate creative vision into specific color moves, troubleshoot color correction challenges, and document grading decisions for client approval and team collaboration.
Features
extract actionable color data, mood, and technical specifications from reference films and mood boards
build coherent color schemes that serve narrative goals and aesthetic intent
articulate the 'why' behind color choices and create reproducible workflows
develop approaches to maintain color coherence across complex sequences and episodic content
create grading templates adaptable across multiple camera formats and lighting conditions
solve skin tone inconsistency, color casts, blown highlights, and other common grading issues
generate before/after documentation and rationale for producer and director review
Example Output
Reference Analysis Example: Input: "Analyze this still from Blade Runner 2049 for color palette" Output: Detailed breakdown of dominant colors (cool cyan-amber split), highlight/shadow behavior, skin tone handling, and narrative intent behind the grade.
Palette Development Example: Input: "Help me build a grading strategy for a dialogue scene with warm practical lighting and cool daylight" Output: Specific color moves (shadow placement, highlight preservation, skin tone anchor), LUT suggestions, and before/after reference points for consistent application across all shots in the scene.
What's Included
- SKILL.md instruction file with structured grading workflow methodology:
- Reference analysis template for extracting color data and narrative intent:
- Color palette development framework with dominant/accent/highlight specifications:
- Multi-shot consistency checklist for episodic and long-form projects:
- Grading decision documentation template for client collaboration:
- Troubleshooting guide for common color correction scenarios:
Who It's For
- Color graders and colorists working on narrative, episodic, or commercial projects
- Cinematographers planning color workflows with directors and grading teams
- Editors managing color consistency in long-form projects
- Directors of photography translating creative vision into technical grading specifications
- Producers and project managers documenting grading decisions for stakeholder review
Best For
- Analyzing reference films and mood boards to establish project color language
- Developing LUT templates for multi-camera or multi-episode consistency
- Translating director/DP creative intent into specific color correction moves
- Grading complex sequences with varying lighting conditions
- Troubleshooting color correction challenges (skin tones, color casts, highlights)
- Documenting and presenting color decisions to directors, producers, and clients
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