How to Work with a Colorist: A Guide for Producers, DP's and Editors
How to Work with a Colorist
Color grading is one of the final and most impactful stages in post-production. For producers, editors, and DPs, knowing how to collaborate effectively with a professional colorist can significantly elevate your video project—whether it's a commercial, branded content, music video, documentary, or narrative film.
In this guide, we’ll walk you through the essentials of how to work with a colorist, helping you streamline workflows, avoid common mistakes, and achieve a polished, cinematic finish.
Why Working with a Colorist Matters
A colorist does far more than simply adjust colors—they help define the visual tone, create consistency across scenes, and enhance your storytelling. Involving a colorist early in post-production (or even pre-production) ensures better results and fewer workflow headaches. Think of a colorist as a creative partner who helps translate your vision to the screen.
When to Bring in a Colorist
Involving a colorist during pre-production or early post can shape critical technical and creative decisions:
Choosing a codec: If hard drive space is limited—especially on budget-conscious shoots—a colorist can recommend the best codec to balance image quality with file size.
On-set monitoring and look development: A colorist can design a custom show LUT, helping the crew see a consistent look on monitors during production. This also helps the DP shoot with the final grade in mind.
Managing camera matching: On multi-camera shoots (e.g., Alexa and FX3), sensor characteristics vary significantly. A colorist can create camera matching LUTs to align footage across cameras, saving time in post.
Early collaboration like this prevents rework and ensures better results from day one.
What to Prepare Before the Color Grade
Your colorist should provide specific delivery requirements, but being prepared ahead of time will help you stay on schedule—especially under tight deadlines.
There are two common workflows:
Relinking to source media
Clean exports
1. Relinking to Source Media: Provide:
A high-quality reference file (ProRes 422 LT or DNxHD preferred, H.264 acceptable if resolution matches)
Project files: XML (Premiere), AAF (Avid), DRT/DRP (DaVinci Resolve)
Camera original files
LUTs used on-set
2. Clean Export: Provide:
A high-bitrate, lossless export of the film (ProRes 4444 or DNxHQ recommended)
Any EDLs of transitions or optical effects
Ensure settings like "Render at Maximum Depth" and "16bpc" are enabled in Premiere Pro
When to Use Which Workflow:
Simple, single-camera projects: clean export is often easiest
Complex, multi-cam timelines: relinking offers more control
Pro Tip: Use DaVinci Resolve’s Media Management tool to export trimmed versions of source clips—ideal for large or long-form projects.
How a Colorist Works (The Grading Workflow)
Most professional colorists use DaVinci Resolve and rely on a node-based workflow to apply adjustments. The typical process includes:
Technical grade (normalize Log/RAW footage)
Shot matching across the timeline
Creative grading (setting the look)
Secondary corrections (e.g. skin tones, skies, objects)
Film emulation, grain, stylization (if needed)
Final output in the correct color space, codec, and resolution
What If the Grade Isn’t Going in the Right Direction?
Sometimes creative vision evolves—or you may not love the first version. That’s normal! A professional colorist will welcome your feedback and understand the film is ultimately yours. Here's how to get back on track:
Give clear, specific feedback (mention scenes, feelings, references)
Schedule a call or review session
Don’t delay—early feedback saves time
A good colorist wants you to love the result. Open, respectful communication makes a huge difference.
Common Color Grading Mistakes to Avoid
Sending an unlocked edit (always finalize picture lock first)
Providing missing or mismatched files
Exporting in low-bitrate formats for clean workflows
Expecting grading to fix poor exposure, white balance, or focus issues
Tips for a Smoother Color Grading Workflow
Book your colorist early to avoid last-minute stress
Confirm delivery specs and timelines in writing
Agree on the number of revisions in advance
Flag problematic shots or scenes upfront
Trust the colorist’s calibrated monitor (what you see may not be accurate on consumer displays)
Final Thoughts
Working with a professional colorist is more than a technical step—it's a creative collaboration that can dramatically elevate the final look of your project. By preparing your assets correctly, communicating clearly, and trusting the process, you'll ensure a smooth workflow and cinematic results.
Ready to bring your next project to life? Contact ColorGrade to learn how we can support your vision.
Need a free prep checklist for color grading? Download it [here].
