Color grading made easy -I'll explain a 2 min process that works every time!
🎬 How to Color Grade in DaVinci Resolve – Step-by-Step for Beginners
Color grading can seem overwhelming – all those wheels, curves, graphs… but today, we’re breaking it down in the simplest way possible.
In this video, I’ll show you exactly how I color grade my footage in DaVinci Resolve, even though I’m not a professional colorist. We’ll go from flat log footage to a cinematic Rec.709 look using nodes, CST, LUTs, and a few creative adjustments.
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✅ What You’ll Learn
• What color grading actually is — and why it matters
• Why exposure and shooting in LOG are the two things you must get right first
• How to set up a 5-node color grading workflow in DaVinci Resolve
• How to use Color Space Transform (CST) to convert LOG to Rec.709 properly
• How to apply LUTs the right way (and not overdo it)
• Simple tweaks for creating night scenes, blue tones, muted colors & midtone detail
• How to compare your graded vs ungraded footage
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🛠️ My Basic Node Structure
1. RAW – untouched footage
2. Exposure – fix highlights, shadows, contrast
3. Look – creative adjustments (hue, tint, contrast)
4. CST – convert LOG → Rec.709 (Gamma 2.4)
5. LUT – add your final look/film style
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⏱ Timestamps
00:00 – Intro
00:25 – What is color grading & do you need it?
01:15 – Two things to do before grading (exposure + LOG)
02:05 – Setting up your nodes in DaVinci Resolve
02:58 – Color Space Transform (LOG to Rec.709)
03:50 – Adjusting exposure & contrast
04:20 – Applying a LUT (like an Instagram filter but better)
05:05 – Creating your look (hue, tint, contrast, midtone detail)
05:50 – Making a realistic night scene (blue tones + muted colors)
06:55 – Before vs After comparison
07:18 – Final thoughts & Outro
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📌 Final Thoughts
Color grading doesn’t have to be scary. You don’t need to use 100% of DaVinci Resolve’s tools — even 20% can give you a beautiful result if you follow a proper workflow. I’m still learning, so if you’re a colorist or know a better way, feel free to help out in the comments!
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