Beginner Guide to Color Correcting in Davinci Resolve
Open the Color Page
Switch to the Color workspace tab (the color wheel icon) at the bottom of DaVinci Resolve.
Step 2: Locate Your Waveform & Curve Tools
Waveform Scope: On the bottom right panel, locate and view the Waveform scope. This visual readout represents the brightness levels across your video frame.
Curve Tool: In the center panel, locate the Curves - Custom tool.
Color Wheels: Access the Color Wheel tab to control lift, gamma, gain, or primary tonal adjustments.
Step 3: Adjust Shadows & Contrast
Watch the Waveform scope while adjusting your shadow levels.
The bottom of the waveform represents your shadows and contrast.
Adjust the shadow levels so that the bottom of the waveform barely touches the bottom line (0 level) without clipping.
Step 4: Adjust Highlights
Next, check the top of the waveform, which represents your highlights.
Tweak your gain/highlight settings so the top of the waveform sits just below the upper line (1024 level) to avoid blown-out highlights.
Step 5: Fine-Tune with the Curve Tool
Use the Curve tool graph to control specific tonal ranges across your footage:
Lower Section: Shadows and contrast
Middle Section: Midtones
Upper Section: Highlights
Color Correction vs. Color Grading
Important Distinction:Color Correction is strictly for fixing lighting issues—such as correcting video that is too dark or too bright. Color Grading comes after correction. It alters colors to set the mood, style, and atmospheric theme of your film.
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