How to Color Correct Video with BEST 6 Color Grading Software

Jane Zhou updated on May 24, 2024 to Video Editing Tips

Are you looking for a way to color correct videos on your own? This page covers the 6 best color correction software in 2021 for beginners and professionals. You can pick up one and follow the how-to tutorial to correct the video color, making your video a masterpiece with ease.

"How to color correction my video? What's the best free color correction software?"

Some of you may wonder to know "Can I color correct a video" as a beginner with no color grading or theoretical background of color correction. The answer is Yes. With the development of video editing technology, it has become easier for all amateurs to color correct a video using advanced color grading software.

On this page, you will learn the top 6 best video color correction software for both professionals and beginners. Plus, a detailed how-to tutorial for each program is also offered here. Just continue reading and pick up one to make your video a masterpiece with ease.

What Is Color Correction in Video Editing? 

According to Wikipedia and other professionals, color correction is defined as a process that uses color gels, filters, the change of light and color to make a stage, a picture, a television show, or even a movie more natural or fantasy.

Video editors can apply color correction technology to change the video color temperature, gel nomenclature, white balancing, etc., to gain the desired scenes in videos. For example, you can brighten a dark video using color correction. And this kind of technology is mainly used in many Hollywood movies to make scenes from a movie look as natural and as close to the way the human eye views something.

Top 6 Best Color Grading Software Free Download - Beginners and Professionals

No matter you are a professional video editor or a novice without any technical skill, you can always find the right video color correction software in the following parts. The below list of 6 best color grading software can help you efficiently edit and enhance the videos to a fancy effect as you want.

#1. EaseUS Video Editor

Applies to: Color correct video in Windows PC, no technical skills required.

Best for: Video editing beginners

EaseUS Video Editor, judging from its name, is clear that this software is designed for people to create a video. With an intuitive and simple interface, it is easy to operate by all levels of users. While speaking of correcting video color, it enables you to adjust the parameters of contrast, saturation, hue, brightness, etc. with simple clicks.

Moreover, this program offers many basic and advanced editing tools, such as clipping, trimming, zooming, cropping, etc. Plus, a lot of video effects are also available here, which will help you promote your video appearance. To conclude, it is a fantastic video editor for Windows!

Step-by-Step Guide for Video Color Grading on Windows PC:

Step 1. Run EaseUS Video Editor on your computer, select a desired video aspect ratio. Drag or import a video that you want to correct color.

Step 2. Right-click on the imported video and select "Add to Project" to create a new video project. You can also drag the video to the timeline. 

Step 3. Right-click on the video in the timeline, and choose the "Edit" option.

Then click "Color Correction" to adjust the respective settings that are related to color correction, including Contrast, Saturation, Brightness, Hue, Highlight, Shadow.

Step 4. After correcting the video color, you can also add more visual effects such as texts, filters, overlays, transitions, etc., to your video. When you are done, click the Export button and set the desired format for your video, then export and save it on your PC. 

#2. DaVinci Resolve

Davinci Resolve is a professional video enhancing software for color grading. It supports 8K video editing, color correction, visual effects, etc., and you can instantly move between editing, color, effects, and audio with a single click.

With its aid, you can manipulate light and color in multiple ways. Lift, gamma, gain, log and offset color wheel, and contrast controls make it easy to precisely adjust color correction in videos. You can also change the luminance from red, green, and blue channels to create unique looks on your video.

Video Tutorial - Color Correcting using Davinci Resolve

Source from: YouTube; Created by: SonduckFilm

#3. Adobe Premiere Pro 

Being it a professional video editing software for correcting color, Adobe Premiere is widely used by video editors on both Windows and Mac computers to trim, clip, cut TB shows, movies, videos, etc. It also supports users to craft footage into attractive films and videos by adding creating effects.

Moreover, Adobe Premiere Pro contains a color grading feature that allows any user to color correct a video using its Lumetri color panel, color match, and one-click LUTS, features. It enables you to adjust every detail and even automate color correction within just one click.

Video Tutorial - Color Correcting in Premiere

Source from: YouTube; Created by: Cinecom.net

#4. VEGAS Pro

VEGAS Pro works as a non-linear video editor, which brings innovative approaches and editing tools to speed up the workflow, making video editing more efficient and more creative. Apart from that, this program also offers a color grading tool that empowers users to color correct videos in the workflow fast and flexibly. Unified color grading workflow, LUT export, and HLG HDR support make your video look perfect as a film.

Video Tutorial - Correct Video Color using VEGAS Pro

Source from: YouTube; Created by: Dato Aliff Alex

#5. Adobe Premiere Rush 

Adobe Premiere Rush is a cross-platform color correction software that supports Windows, Mac video editing. This program offers professional-quality color grading and color correction tools that will help you achieve the desirable cinematic look for your video clips. All the tools offered allow you to adjust the lighting, contrast, and color of your videos using color wheels and slide arrangements.

More than that, it is more line a minimized application for video editing that users can use to shoot videos on mobile devices, or edit videos, change color, size, font, etc., in the video.

Video Tutorial - Video Color Grading and Filters using Adobe Premiere Rush

Source from: YouTube; Created by: Mike Russell

#6. Final Cut Pro X 

Final Cut Pro X is a Mac-based video editing software that provides professional features to enhance your video like a pro. A dedicated color inspector with color wheels, color curves, hue/saturation curves, and keyframes, etc., allows you to adjust color corrections for your videos over time. The range of video brightness is also adjustable via the HDR footage settings.

Unlike the traditional controls, unique color wheels make it handy and easy for color-correct videos by combining hue, saturation, and brightness into a single, simple interface.

Video Tutorial - Color Correction on Video using Final Cut Pro

Source from: YouTube; Created by: Nitty Gritty Studios

Conclusion

We covered 6 video color grading software for both Windows and Mac users to color correct a video on this page, and you can choose your desired one according to your needs.

If you are a beginner, don't miss EaseUS Video Editor. It's efficient and powerful in the color correction that any level of users can effectively reset the color of a video in only a few simple clicks.

Video Color Correction/Grading FAQS

If you have more questions in color correction or color grading, follow the listed questions, and you will find a brief answer that may release your doubt immediately.

1. Should I color correct before or after editing?

During video editing, it's more advised that you color correct a video after editing. If you color correct the footage before editing, you will cut or delete some elements in the video. As a result, the color-corrected part may also get removed.

Thus, it's wise that you color correct a video after making everything ready. 

2. How do you color correct an image?

There are many ways that you can color correct an image. 

  • On the phone, you can use the Photos app or a professional photo editing app to color correct the photos or images.
  • On Windows and Mac, there are also many image editing software that supports color enhancing your pictures and photos.

3. What is color grading?

Similar to color correction, color grading is a technical process that adds atmospheres, emotions, filters, changing contrast, color, saturation, etc., to improve the appearance of an image or a video for different environments.