# What is colour correction?

> Colour correction fixes exposure, white balance and contrast so footage looks natural and clips match. See the steps, a worked example and tools for ads.
- **Author**: Marxx
- **Published**: 2026-11-07
- **Category**: Video editing
- **URL**: https://marxx.ai/library-glossary/color-correction

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Colour correction fixes exposure, white balance and contrast so footage looks natural and clips match each other. It comes before [colour grading](/glossary/color-grading).

## The steps

1. **Exposure:** make the shot brighter or darker until the detail shows.
2. **White balance:** remove a colour cast, so white things look white.
3. **Contrast:** set the darkest and brightest parts.
4. **Saturation:** adjust colour strength.
5. **Match:** make every clip in the ad look alike, especially skin tones.

## A worked example

Say clip A is filmed in a shop and reads 4,300 K in its white balance. Clip B is filmed outdoors and reads 6,200 K. A shopper's face looks orange in A and blue in B.

You set both to 5,600 K by eye, until the skin looks the same in both. The two clips now cut together without a visible colour jump. The numbers are made up. Your own clips will differ.

## Why ads need it

UGC and phone footage often comes from different rooms, lights and phones. Correcting each clip makes one ad feel like one shoot. Then a look, or a [LUT](/glossary/lut), sits on top of clean footage.

## Tools

Premiere Pro (now called Adobe Premiere) has Lumetri Color for correction. Adobe says that panel retires in Premiere 27.0 and Lumetri stays as an effect (checked 3 Nov 2026). DaVinci Resolve and Final Cut Pro also have colour tools.

Marxx's [AI video editor](/features/ai-video-editor) can match a clip's colour to a reference clip, which speeds up matching shots. It also has colour wheels and curves. We make Marxx.

## FAQ

### What is the difference between colour correction and colour grading?

Correction makes footage natural and consistent. Grading adds a style on top.

### Can a LUT do the correction?

A LUT applies one fixed colour mapping, so it will not fix a dark or tinted shot. Correct first, then add a LUT.

### Do I need to correct phone footage?

Often yes, especially when clips come from different rooms or phones. Check skin tones first.

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