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Apply Cinematic color grading · Free

AI Color Grading Tool

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Free AI Color Grading Tool

Drop your photo here

or click to browse

Release to upload

Free • No signup

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Popular use cases:
  • color grading
  • cinematic color grading
  • teal and orange
  • film color grading
  • movie color grade
  • LUT alternative
  • color grade photos
  • cinematic look
  • blockbuster color grade
  • indie film color
  • mood color grading
Cost
Free No signup required
Time
Instant results in 15-30 seconds
Works on
Any device - browser, phone, tablet, desktop
Powered by
AI-powered photo editing
Scenario Prompt Time
15-30s
15-30s
15-30s
15-30s
15-30s
15-30s

How it works

  1. Upload Your Photo

    Choose any photo you want to color grade. Works with portraits, landscapes, street photography, product shots, or any image where you want to set a specific mood through color.

    Expect: Takes 5-10 seconds to upload.

  2. Describe the Color Grade

    Tell the AI what cinematic look you want. Reference movie styles (teal and orange blockbuster, desaturated indie, warm romantic), specific color combinations (push blues to teal, shift yellows to orange), or mood (moody thriller, dreamy romance, gritty urban). Be specific about which colors to emphasize or desaturate.

    Tip: Color grading is about color relationships, not individual colors. Instead of 'make it blue', say 'push shadows toward teal while keeping skin tones warm' or 'desaturate everything except reds'. Reference film genres or specific movies for authentic cinematic looks.

    Copy one of these to get started:

    Apply teal and orange color grade Apply teal and orange color grade - push blues and shadows to teal, shift yellows and highlights to warm orange
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    Create desaturated indie film look with Create desaturated indie film look with slightly lifted blacks and muted colors except skin tones
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    Apply warm golden hour grade with Apply warm golden hour grade with peachy highlights, orange undertones, and rich golden tones
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    Give it cold blue thriller grade Give it cold blue thriller grade - push everything toward blue and teal, desaturated, moody shadows
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    10 more prompts
    Apply cinematic blockbuster grade wit... Apply cinematic blockbuster grade with rich contrast, teal shadows, warm skin tones, deep blacks
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    Create vintage film grade - slightly Create vintage film grade - slightly faded colors, warm yellows, cool shadows, lifted blacks
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    Apply moody noir style - high Apply moody noir style - high contrast, crushed blacks, desaturated except for single accent color
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    Give it romantic warm grade - Give it romantic warm grade - soft peachy tones, golden highlights, desaturated blues, dreamy feel
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    Create gritty urban grade - desaturated Create gritty urban grade - desaturated overall, teal and green undertones, lifted blacks, raw feel
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    Apply cyberpunk neon grade - saturated Apply cyberpunk neon grade - saturated magentas and cyans, deep shadows, glowing highlights
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    Create Wes Anderson pastel grade - Create Wes Anderson pastel grade - perfectly balanced pastels, centered composition feel, warm undertones, desaturated primaries
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    Apply dystopian grade - desaturated e... Apply dystopian grade - desaturated except for orange and teal, crushed blacks, sterile feel, high contrast
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    Create golden age Hollywood grade - Create golden age Hollywood grade - rich saturated colors, warm skin tones, deep shadows, classic film look
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    Apply Nordic noir grade - desaturated Apply Nordic noir grade - desaturated blues and grays, cold undertones, muted colors, lifted shadows
    Try This →

  3. Review and Refine

    Check the color-graded result. If you want to adjust specific color ranges (more teal in shadows, warmer skin tones, deeper blacks, lifted highlights), describe the refinements and regenerate.

    Expect: Each generation takes 30-40 seconds.

  4. Download Final Grade

    Download your professionally color-graded photo in high resolution with no watermarks. Perfect for portfolio work, social media, or printing.

Try it free ↓

Free AI Color Grading Tool

Drop your photo here

or click to browse

Release to upload

Free • No signup

See it in action

Before
Before
->
After
After

Prompt: Apply teal and orange color grade - push blues and shadows to teal, shift yellows and highlights to warm orange
Try This →
Before
Before
->
After
After

Prompt: Create desaturated indie film look with slightly lifted blacks and muted colors except skin tones
Try This →
Before
Before
->
After
After

Prompt: Give it cold blue thriller grade - push everything toward blue and teal, desaturated, moody shadows
Try This →
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If something looks off

AI changed the wrong area or something I didn't want changed

Why: The AI couldn't determine exactly which area you meant from description alone.

Try: Tap a marker on the specific area you want to change, then regenerate with the same prompt
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Tip: Markers tell the AI 'I mean THIS one specifically.' Use them when description alone is ambiguous.

The color grade looks unnatural or skin tones turned weird colors

Why: Applying color grades globally can distort skin tones. Professional color grading protects skin tones while shifting everything else.

Try: Add skin tone protection: 'Apply [your grade] while keeping skin tones natural and warm' or 'shift all colors except skin tones to [desired look]'.
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Tip: Skin tones are sacred in color grading. Always mention 'preserve natural skin tones' or 'keep skin warm' when applying aggressive color shifts. This tells the AI to mask skin areas while grading everything else.

The grade is too subtle or barely visible

Why: Without intensity guidance, AI applies conservative grades. Cinematic looks often need bold color shifts to read properly.

Try: Specify intensity: 'Apply strong [grade name]' or 'heavy teal and orange grade with noticeable color shift'. Words like 'strong', 'heavy', 'pronounced' increase effect.
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Tip: Cinematic grades are often bolder than you think. If you're referencing a specific film's look, the colors are probably shifted more than they appear. Don't be afraid to ask for 'strong' or 'heavy' grades.

Everything turned the same color instead of creating color contrast

Why: Color grading creates relationships between color ranges. If you only specify one color, AI might apply it uniformly.

Try: Specify color relationships: 'Push shadows to teal WHILE keeping highlights warm orange' or 'desaturate blues BUT keep reds saturated'. Use 'while', 'but', 'except' to create contrast.
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Tip: Great color grades are about contrast between color ranges. Always specify at least two color zones: what happens to shadows vs highlights, or cool tones vs warm tones. This creates depth instead of a color wash.

The grade looks muddy or lost detail in shadows or highlights

Why: Aggressive color shifts can compress tonal ranges, losing detail. You need to specify contrast and detail preservation.

Try: Add: 'Apply [grade] while maintaining detail in shadows and highlights, preserve tonal range'. Or specify: 'lifted blacks so shadow detail remains visible'.
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Tip: Color grading and tonal range work together. If your grade looks muddy, you might need 'lifted blacks' (not pure black) or 'protected highlights'. Professional grades maintain detail across the tonal range.

It doesn't match the specific movie or TV show look I was going for

Why: Movie color grades combine multiple factors: specific color shifts, contrast ratios, and often film texture. Generic descriptions miss nuances.

Try: Be very specific about the reference: 'Apply Mad Max Fury Road grade - saturated oranges, teal shadows, high contrast, gritty texture' instead of just 'action movie look'.
Try This →

Tip: When referencing a specific film's look, research the actual color characteristics. For example, Blade Runner 2049 uses heavy orange-teal contrast with crushed blacks, while Moonlight uses saturated blues and magentas with warm skin tones. The more specific you are, the closer you'll get.

Quick answers

What's the difference between color grading and color correction?

Color correction fixes problems (white balance, exposure, etc.) to make photos look natural and accurate. Color grading is a creative choice to set a mood or style by intentionally shifting colors for artistic or cinematic effect. This tool does color grading - transforming the mood through creative color manipulation, not just fixing issues.

Do I need to know about LUTs or color wheels to use this?

No! Traditional color grading requires understanding LUTs (Look-Up Tables), color wheels, curves, and complex software like DaVinci Resolve. This AI tool lets you describe the look you want in plain English. Just say 'teal and orange blockbuster style' or 'desaturated indie film' and the AI handles the technical color manipulation.

Can I apply color grading to any type of photo?

Yes! Color grading works on portraits, landscapes, products, street photography, architecture, food - any photo where you want to set a specific mood through color. Different subjects benefit from different grades (portraits need protected skin tones, landscapes can handle more aggressive shifts).

What's teal and orange color grading and why is it so popular?

Teal and orange (also called orange and teal) is the most common cinematic color grade. It pushes blues/shadows toward teal while keeping skin tones and highlights warm orange. It's popular because teal and orange are complementary colors (opposite on the color wheel), creating natural contrast, and because orange flatters skin tones while teal looks cinematic and modern.

Can I reference specific movies or TV shows for the color grade?

Absolutely! Referencing specific films is the best way to communicate the look you want. Say 'Blade Runner 2049 orange and teal grade', 'Wes Anderson pastel aesthetic', 'Mad Max Fury Road warm gritty look', or 'Euphoria saturated purple and cyan'. The AI understands these iconic color palettes.

Will color grading work on photos that are already edited?

Yes, but starting with a relatively neutral photo gives best results. If your photo is already heavily filtered or color-shifted, the new grade will layer on top, which can look muddy. For maximum control, start with a well-exposed photo with natural colors.

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