What is the process of adjusting brightness, contrast, and color levels called?

• A. Color grading
• B. Color correction
• C. White balance
• D. LUT application

Answer: (A)

Color grading is the process of shaping the look of footage by adjusting brightness, contrast, and color levels to create a specific mood or style. It isn’t just about fixing issues; it’s about applying an artistic treatment that defines how the scene feels visually. In typical workflow, you’d first handle color correction to bring footage to a neutral, accurate baseline, then use color grading to establish the final aesthetic across shots. White balance corrects the color temperature to keep whites looking neutral, color correction focuses on achieving accurate colors, and LUT application is a tool used within grading to apply a predefined look. The act of adjusting brightness, contrast, and color levels for the desired look is what color grading encompasses.