COLOR GRADING

Although image sensors in cell phones are pretty damn good these days, many of them can’t quite get the color right. Lightworks offers up a host of tools to correct this, most of which are best applied to clips individually. Head to the “VFX” window, and begin by adjusting the overall RGB curve of your clip to give it slightly more contrast, then look for any colors that are blown out or oversaturated—you can pull these down a little either by using individual curves or in the RGB panel.

When you’re happy with each clip, an overall color caste will give your whole sequence that Hollywood “everything is murky” final touch. Use the wheels in the “Main” window to tweak the shadows, midtones, and highlights to match the particular feel you are going for, then drop the saturation right down, and lower the brightness slightly, to get that neutral, gloomy feel that movie editors seem to love so much. Unfold the effect from the clip you’re working on, and then drag it to cover your whole sequence to add consistency.