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How to use color grading effects in After Effects

Color grading fixes exposure and color balance — it’s how you make footage look polished.

Steps to use color grading effects

Apply Effect → Color Correction → Curves to tweak contrast and brightness.

Applying Curves from Effect Color Correction menu to adjust contrast and brightness in After Effects

Use Effect → Color Correction → Levels to balance blacks, midtones, and whites.

Using Levels effect in After Effects to balance black white and midtone values

Apply Effect → Color Correction → Hue/Saturation to adjust or desaturate colors however you need.

Adjusting Hue Saturation in After Effects to fine tune or desaturate colors

One more thing

Use Adjustment Layers for color corrections that apply to multiple clips at once instead of adding the effect to each layer individually.

Related how-tos

How to add adjustment layers in After Effects
How to add gradients in After Effects
How to blur video in After Effects

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