Video Color Grading
Video color grading is one of the most important picture finishing steps in the video editing process. Color correction ensures the delivered image is rendered correctly and maximizes its creative potential.
Indigo’s skilled team reviews every frame, using top-of-the-line color software to balance and shape the image, imbuing it with professional polish and cinematic tones that leap off the screen.
Of course, color grading videos is just the final part of the pipeline for rendering a beautiful image. To get the best possible results, you need a great video production company to skillfully light and shoot the footage and a video editor to pick the best shots. Indigo’s industry-leading professionals provide all this and much more.
Check out our work and let us know when you are ready start!
Indigo Productions is a Video Color Grading Services Company
Indigo Productions is a New York City based editing, production, and color grading company. Founded in 1990, Indigo has been at the forefront of technological innovation in production and post-production for decades.
If you need to edit, color, or shoot a video, you’re in the right place! Contact one of our production supervisors to get a free quote!
Clients
These clients have clicked Contact Us and turned their ideas into reality!
Video Production Success Stories
Read about how Indigo turned big requests into simple, successful videos:
I hired Indigo for an important shoot at The Metropolitan Museum of Art and The Frick Collection in New York City. I'm happy to say that they did an outstanding job! I'd recommend them without hesitation to anyone who wants to work with a world-class video production company.
— Production Specialist
I am encouraging publishers, marketing teams and media companies to work with Indigo Productions whenever the opportunity is given. Our publishing company in London has commissioned Indigo to prep and shoot a short film in central Manhattan, New York for one of our biggest clients, Salesforce – and the service has been excellent, to say the least.
— Executive Producer
I'm constantly impressed by Indigo Productions, they're an amazing company. As a Preferred Partner & Vendor here at Salesforce, they've created over 50 videos for us over the years. Indigo has a great team of professionals whose work is consistently innovative, visually stunning, and most importantly, masterful in delivering a powerful message.
— Enterprise Director
Indigo did a great job filming some of the biggest names in film and television over 3 intense days in a high-profile 'mission-critical' project. They interacted with everyone with ease and complete professionalism despite an extremely challenging schedule. Everyone who has seen the finished video has raved about it. I recommend Indigo highly.
— Consultant
Indigo was straightforward, responsive, and ready to collaborate. This was my first time producing a live stream, and Indigo was patient with the multitude of questions - big & small - their response time was unparalleled. When it came to the day, we had an A+ crew from Indigo, and the stream went off without a hitch. Thank you, Indigo!
— Production Coordinator
Massively impressed with Indigo's work on our corporate animated explainer video. Starting with our (sad) script, they turned it into an engaging, visual, and attention-grabbing sequence filled with symbols and emotional attachment. Additionally, Max and his team are reasonable and good to work with...we'll be back for more video work.
— Managing Director
Working with Indigo has been fantastic. Indigo brought vision, creativity, flexibility, leadership, and the rare ability to bring our ideas to the screen in the most dynamic way possible. I’m also delighted that they were able to scale up with us as the scope of the project expanded. Two thumbs way up for Indigo!
— Director of Content
Indigo is truly a team; your team. They jumped in with both feet to make something new and exciting happen and went above and beyond in quality, scope & creativity. The head of the company and team is transparent, results-driven, and highly effective. So good I almost want to keep it a secret so I have them all to myself! LOL.
— Senior VP of Worldwide Content
After an extensive search for the right production company for a promotional video for a new fund we were raising, we narrowed our search to 3 firms. The quality of the work we saw on the Indigo website brought them to the top of the list. Indigo was the first company we met with in person, and we knew without meeting the others that Indigo was our choice.
— COO
Madame Tussauds loves working with Indigo! We've hired the team for very unique shoots and despite our many crazy asks and sometimes high-pressure environment, they always produce an amazing final product. When we're working with A-list talent to launch new projects or figures, we know we can count on the Indigo team.
— Marketing Coordinator
Why Companies Need Color Correcting Services
Whether your video is already edited or you are looking for a company to handle all your post-production needs, you should strongly consider commissioning a professional color pass to enhance your video’s look.
Here are some of the types of color services we provide:
Corporate Video
Corporate videos should be polished and professional, with executives looking their best. A well-executed professional cinematic shoot gets you close, but the final touch comes in the color grading. Skin tones are made perfect and an ordinary office space or studio shines in a new light.
Commercial
In a commercial, the product has to pop and brand colors must match marketing guidelines perfectly. A skilled colorist corrects your product to the exact required hue. They also bring out your company colors in the set dressing and lighting, refining what was captured in camera.
Music Video
Music videos are when editors and colorists get to experiment. Unconventional color harmonies, pushed saturations, strong film emulation, and color washes are all in play. The heavier the look, the more essential an experienced colorist is to delivering a pleasing final image.
Documentary
Documentary footage can come from many different camera sources and production often occurs in less than ideal conditions. A skilled colorist will make the shots look cohesive and fix any issues with exposure and color temperature. Importantly, professional video colorists and editors know how far they can push and manipulate imperfect images before they break.
Narrative
The color of a scene defines its emotion, and different palettes convey different meanings. While color should vary to suit the intended purpose of the scene, each scene also has to feel part of the same world. An exceptional editor and colorist will create a signature look for your entire project, and then make thoughtful manipulations under that look on a scene-by-scene basis.
Social Media
Social media feeds are packed with videos. Hiring a professional colorist to polish your video is a fantastic way to make your content stand out. There are many competing standards for online video distribution, such as YouTube vs Instagram, and depending on how you prep your files your footage might not look right. Trust a professional to make sure your video looks its best no matter where it is shown.
The Color Grade Process
Working with Indigo’s editors and colorists is a seamless experience with exceptional service. We walk you through every step of the process and value your feedback. Let’s look at a typical color job.
Step 1: Speak with an editor or colorist
To begin your color grading journey, contact Indigo Productions. Describe your concept, footage, deliverables, and budget. We’ll come up with a plan that works for you.
Step 2: Receive the footage
We’ll need the raw footage and relevant project files to start. The footage can be sent or uploaded. We may ask for a copy of the project file directly or for an XML file that we can import into Davinci Resolve or Baselight. If you don’t have the raw footage, we will evaluate the quality of your footage to see if it is high enough to grade. Typically ProRes 422 or better works well. Just be sure to tell us what camera and color space the footage was originally shot with, if possible.
Step 3: Discuss the vision
Your footage can be made to look countless different ways, and many of these renderings will be pleasing. But what look best communicates your message, tone, and mood? By discussing your high level aesthetic preferences and goals, our colorists and editors will be able to provide a few options that fit your needs, which can then be compared and narrowed down. It’s important to note that some footage just doesn’t support certain looks. If you want complete control and creativity, partner with us for the shoot and we can integrate your look goals from the outset, ensuring a seamless experience.
Step 4: Color the video
Our editors ingest the timeline and footage and get to work. First, they apply an overall look. Then they go shot by shot adjusting exposure, color temperature, saturation, and contrast. Some shots will require secondary adjustments such as vignettes, hue rotations, and tracking. Frequency adjustments can alter skin smoothness or bring out texture in clothes and the environment. If shots took place at different times of day, brightness will be adjusted to match. Day-for-night conversions are even possible!
Step 5 (optional): Live color grading session
Want to get into the minutia of how your video looks? We can book a live color session. You’ll be able to give feedback and suggestions in real time and watch as your vision comes to life. This is a great way to nail those final details. Collaboration is great when grading color.
Step 6: Deliver final footage
Once we’ve completed the grade, it’s time to get the footage back to you. We can export the clips individually, or send you an XML. Please note, some effects from the original edit won’t transfer via XML and will have to be reapplied. If we are editing your video or handling post-production, we’ll export a final version of the video and this step can be skipped entirely.
Common Video Looks
Corporate videos require a different look from commercials which require a distinct look from documentaries. No matter your needs, Indigo will develop a look that works for your video or pull an incredible ready-to-use look from our library.
High-contrast
For a stark image with deep blacks, bright whites, and clear color separation, go for a high-contrast look. Movies are typically high contrast and low saturation. This creates an image that pops but still has natural colors.
Low-contrast
Low-contrast looks are less bold and thrive with more muted tones. They can be flattering to certain skin tones and poorly lit situations. They can also convey a sense of airiness. To give the image some punch, saturations are typically higher.
Film
A filmic look isn’t just high contrast and low saturation. It also means replicating the tones typically derived from film color development’s analog halide process. This means slightly raised blacks, well-exposed whites, a cyan push to blues, and split-toning: warmth in the image’s highlights and coolness in the shadows. Other qualities like halation, grain, and gate weave can be added to taste.
Digital
Digital looks disregard the dogma of cinematic color. Any shade possible can be rendered. Images are cleaner, with less noise and a more true-to-life look. Contrast tends to be moderate, and less dynamic range may be available overall. Sometimes highlights are clipped or shadows are noisy, although well-shot footage in concert with a grade and noise reduction mitigates or eliminates this issue.
Bleach bypass
Bleach bypass is a gritty look famously used by Saving Private Ryan. The image takes on a silver look. This unique rendering works great for flashbacks, dream sequences, and serious subject matter.
Color is Just One Part of Our Video Editing Process
Color grading services can only happen once an edit is picture-locked. When our editors handle your video, the handoff to our colorists is seamless. By applying one of our LUTs at the start of the editing process, you’ll see your images closer to how they will look in the final product, enabling more informed choices about which shots to use in the final video. The timeline will be perfectly conformed and there won’t be any of the headaches that come with transferring footage and files between companies. Let Indigo handle your entire editing and post-production process, including sound design, VFX, and animation.
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FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions About Video Production Services
It all depends on how much footage you have and how drastically you want to alter the image. For example, an hour of footage where multiple subjects need to be tracked and have their hue shifted will take much longer than a five-minute video that just needs a great look applied and small adjustments to each shot. Budget a week or two to editing color to be safe.
Sure! We can send you test images under some looks we have used. We are also happy to share previously completed color jobs. Just be aware, the final work all depends on the quality of your footage. Hire Indigo to shoot, edit, and color your project for the most creative flexibility.
Yes! Our editors are the best in the business. We’re happy to handle both editing and coloring of your video. We are also skilled at writing scripts and production. Whether you are creating a corporate video, sizzle reel, documentary, recap video, social media video, healthcare video, commercial, financial video, motion graphics video, or animation video count on Indigo!
Unfortunately not. We use licensed plugins and proprietary LUTs to achieve the best end results. That means our work won’t transfer over through the project file alone. We are happy to handle the final delivery of the video or send you the graded footage.
Basic color services are included with editing. We’ll fix overexposed highlights, adjust contrast, reign in oversaturated colors, and raise the exposure of underexposed images. However, a more comprehensive and artistic color grade is offered separately.
