FAST, EASY & FREE! Cinematic Color Grading in CapCut | Video Editing Tutorial

The speaker acknowledges neglecting CapCut users but is now addressing that by demonstrating cinematic color grading in CapCut. The examples provided were created in 5 minutes, showcasing the simplicity and speed of the process. The tutorial emphasizes that users can achieve professional color grading results while using CapCut's free version. The first step focuses on users who shoot in a log profile, explaining that log footage lacks contrast and saturation but captures more information. The speaker explains that if users shoot with a standard profile, they can skip this step. The tutorial begins by adding contrast and saturation to log footage manually, providing step-by-step instructions on using CapCut’s color tools like the curves adjustment to achieve the desired look.

The speaker explains how to make log footage look normal by adding contrast and saturation manually. Users are guided to use the 'color oscilloscope' to access waveforms and vectorscopes, which help make informed decisions. The tutorial instructs users to adjust the Luma curve to create an S-shaped curve that enhances contrast by pulling down shadows and raising highlights. The speaker emphasizes that no single curve will work for all footage, and users may need to tweak the curves depending on their footage and personal preference. The speaker encourages experimentation, noting that there is no exact science to the process and that practice is essential for mastering color grading.

After adjusting the curve for contrast, the speaker demonstrates how to crank up saturation to make the image pop. Users are encouraged to make basic color corrections, such as adjusting the tint and white balance if their footage looks too warm, cold, green, or magenta. The speaker highlights that while color correction can be specific, it often depends on personal preference unless aiming for perfectly clean whites. Once again, the speaker stresses the importance of practicing and experimenting with sliders and adjustments to fully understand how they affect the footage.

Before diving into the core of color grading, the speaker briefly discusses the importance of good music in video editing and promotes 'Audio,' the sponsor of the video. Audio offers high-quality music with a variety of genres, making it easier to find the perfect song through its search features. The speaker also highlights the platform’s benefits in terms of avoiding copyright issues, especially for social media, personal, and client work. A limited-time discount for a subscription to Audio is offered through a provided link.

Returning to color grading, the speaker introduces applying filters as an easy starting point for enhancing footage. Users are guided to choose a filter in CapCut, with many options available even in the free version. However, filters don’t need to be perfect as further adjustments can still be made. Basic adjustments such as white balance, tint, contrast, and brilliance are reintroduced, emphasizing that while these are simple, they should not be underestimated. The speaker encourages users to practice with both sliders and curves, noting that while curves offer more control, sliders are easier to use.

The speaker introduces the HSL (Hue, Saturation, and Lightness) tool, which allows users to fine-tune specific colors in their footage. For example, users can make the sky more teal by adjusting the blue slider or tweak the greens to appear more yellow. The flexibility of the tool allows for precise color control after applying a filter. However, the speaker cautions against overdoing adjustments, as the key to good color grading is making something look 'naturally unnatural' or 'unnaturally natural.'

The final section covers RGB curves, a powerful but complex tool for color grading. The speaker explains that while the Luma curve affects the overall image, RGB curves allow users to adjust individual color channels (red, green, or blue) in the shadows, midtones, or highlights. For example, users can add teal to shadows by removing red. The speaker emphasizes the importance of anchor points to control specific areas of the curve. Once again, caution is advised to avoid making footage look overprocessed. The section concludes with a reminder to practice across different types of footage, such as sunny or cloudy scenes, to master these advanced tools.

The video ends with a final encouragement to practice the tools demonstrated throughout the tutorial. The speaker reiterates that color grading is a skill that can only be learned through hands-on experience. While the speaker has provided the necessary tools and workflow, it's up to the users to refine their techniques through constant experimentation and repetition. The video closes with a thank-you message and an invitation to watch future content.