Color Grading Comparison: LUT Testing, Grade Matching, Client Reviews
Color grading is both art and science. Whether you're a professional colorist comparing LUTs, a filmmaker matching shots between scenes, or a creator reviewing grades with clients, systematic comparison is essential. This guide covers how to use DualView for professional color grading workflows.
Why Comparison Matters in Grading
In color grading, context is everything. A grade that looks perfect in isolation may not match adjacent shots. A LUT that works on one image may destroy another. The only way to know is systematic A/B comparison.
- Consistency — Ensure shots match across a sequence
- Intentionality — Verify your grade achieves the intended look
- Communication — Show clients before/after clearly
- Efficiency — Test LUTs quickly before committing
LUT Comparison Workflow
Testing LUTs Before Purchase or Use
- Export a representative still from your footage
- Apply the LUT (or LUT preview) in your editing software
- Export the graded version
- Load original and graded into DualView
- Use slider comparison to see the exact transformation
- Enable video scopes to see technical changes
- Check vectorscope for color shifts
- Verify histogram for contrast changes
What to Check
- Skin tones — Do they shift unpleasantly? Check vectorscope.
- Shadow detail — Is it crushed or preserved? Check histogram.
- Highlight detail — Is it blown or protected? Use false color.
- Saturation — Is it boosted to uncomfortable levels?
- Contrast — Does it flatten or crush the image?
Shot Matching
Matching shots between different cameras, lighting setups, or times of day is a core colorist skill. DualView helps by letting you compare shots directly.
Matching Workflow
- Load the "hero" shot (the one you're matching TO) as image A
- Load the shot you're grading as image B
- Enable the color wheel/vectorscope
- Compare where skin tones, sky, and key colors fall
- Go back to your grading software and adjust
- Export and reload B to check progress
- Repeat until the scopes match
When matching shots, always use the same reference frame. If your hero shot has the actor in shadow, match to a shadow frame in the other shot. Context matters.
Client Review Sessions
Showing clients the value of color grading requires clear before/after comparison. DualView is perfect for this.
Live Reviews
Screen-share DualView during video calls. Sweep the slider to show the grade transformation in real-time.
Exported Comparisons
Export a video with transitions between before/after. Send as a deliverable for async review.
Version Comparison
Compare revision rounds. Show clients how their feedback was implemented.
Reference Matching
Compare your grade against the reference the client provided. Show how close you got.
Technical Comparison
Using Scopes for Objective Comparison
Beyond visual comparison, use DualView's video scopes for objective technical comparison:
- Histogram — Compare tonal distribution, contrast
- Vectorscope — Compare color balance, saturation
- False color — Compare exposure placement
- Focus peaking — See if sharpening was added
Checking for Problems
Aggressive grading can introduce issues. Use DualView to check for:
- Crushed blacks (lost shadow detail)
- Clipped highlights (lost highlight detail)
- Banding in gradients (from heavy color manipulation)
- Noise amplification (from lifting shadows)
- Color fringing (from chromatic adjustments)
Export for Portfolio
Color grading before/after videos are great portfolio pieces. Use DualView's export feature to create polished comparison videos:
- Load your best before/after example
- Choose a transition (wipe works well for grading)
- Set a 2-3 second hold on each side
- Export at 1080p or 4K
- Share on your portfolio, Instagram, or YouTube