SCENE 01 / COLOR GRADING
Color Grading
Creative color grading that transforms your footage into cinematic masterpieces with emotional depth and visual impact.
Color grading is the creative process of manipulating color, contrast, and tonal qualities to establish mood, visual style, and narrative meaning. Working in calibrated grading suites, colorists shape the emotional tone of each scene through deliberate color choices that serve the director's storytelling vision.
We coordinate color grading sessions with experienced colorists in professionally calibrated grading environments. Our team manages media preparation, reference material, and scheduling to ensure your production receives the creative color treatment that brings your director's visual vision to life on screen.
Capabilities
Creative Color Grading Excellence
Our expert colorists combine artistic vision with technical mastery to craft unique visual aesthetics that support your narrative.
01
Creative Vision
Unique looks that enhance storytelling and emotional resonance through masterful color manipulation.
Artistry
02
Cinematic Quality
Film-quality grades for theatrical and streaming release that captivate audiences.
Excellence
03
DaVinci Resolve
Industry-standard grading with advanced node workflows and panel control.
Precision
04
HDR Mastering
High dynamic range grading optimized for modern displays and premium platforms.
Future-Ready
Creative Services
Technical Capabilities
Our Color Grading Process
We follow a collaborative creative process that ensures your vision is realized through exceptional color grading.
Creative Brief
We discuss your vision, review references, and establish the creative direction for your project's look.
Look Development
We develop initial looks on key scenes, refining the aesthetic until it matches your creative intent.
Scene Grading
We apply and refine the established look across all scenes, ensuring consistency and emotional impact.
Final Polish
We finalize grades, create deliverable versions, and prepare masters for all required formats.
Why Us
Why Choose Our Color Grading
01.
Artistic Excellence
Award-winning colorists with creative vision and technical skill.
02.
Premium Tools
DaVinci Resolve Studio and calibrated reference displays.
03.
Collaborative Process
Close partnership with filmmakers to achieve creative goals.
04.
Cinema Quality
Theatrical-grade color grading for all productions.
On Location
Cinematic Grading Suites Backed by Australia's Oscar-Winning DPs
Here is how this works in practice. Cinematic grading in Australia draws on a DP roster that has won Best Cinematography Oscars across four decades — Russell Boyd ACS ASC on Master and Commander (2003), John Seale ACS ASC on The English Patient (1996) and the Mad Max: Fury Road grade (2015 — six Oscars including Margaret Sixel's Best Editing), Greig Fraser ACS ASC on Dune (2021) and Dune Part Two (2024) with Lion and The Batman alongside, Mandy Walker ACS ASC on Elvis (Luhrmann 2022), and Ari Wegner ACS on The Power of the Dog (2022 — first woman with a solo nom).
Here is the short of it. Grading happens at Cutting Edge Brisbane and Sydney, Disney Studios Australia, Range Films Sydney, White Chocolate Sydney, Method Studios (Company 3), Heckler, and Rising Sun Pictures Adelaide. Colourists work in DaVinci Resolve Studio (Black Magic Design, Auckland-founded) and Baselight from FilmLight on full ACES pipelines, with Sony BVM-HX310 and Flanders XM311K reference monitors for Rec.709 SDR, DCI-P3 cinema, and Dolby Vision / HDR10+ / HLG HDR mastering.
Here is the breakdown. Trim-pass strategy mirrors the Hollywood-tier stack: a Dolby Vision PQ master at 1000 or 4000 nits drives the streaming deliverables for Stan, Binge, Netflix Australia, Amazon Prime AU, Apple TV+ AU, and Disney+ AU; the HDR10+ trim covers Amazon; HLG covers ABC, SBS, Seven, Nine, Ten, and Foxtel broadcast; Rec.709 SDR covers DVB-T2 free-to-air and DVB-S2 Foxtel satellite; and DCI-P3 covers cinema release through Hoyts, Event, Village, Palace, and Reading Cinemas plus AACTA, Sydney Film Festival, MIFF, Tropfest, Adelaide Film Festival, and Brisbane Global Film Festival.
Here is what that looks like on the ground. Cross-border top grading hands off to Company 3 LA on the 12-hour Qantas LA-SYD overnight, with late-LA sessions landing back on Sydney colourist desks by morning — a workflow standard on Aquaman, Furiosa, Elvis, and Thor: Ragnarok.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
What color grading software do you use?
We primarily use DaVinci Resolve Studio for its industry-leading color tools and workflow flexibility. Our colorists are also proficient in Baselight and FilmLight systems. We match tools to project requirements and can work within your existing pipeline if needed.
Can you create specific film looks or period aesthetics?
Absolutely. We specialize in developing custom looks from subtle naturalistic grades to bold stylized treatments. Whether you need a desaturated thriller aesthetic, warm period drama tones, or futuristic sci-fi looks, we create distinctive visuals that serve your story.
How do you handle HDR grading?
We grade in HDR natively using calibrated HDR reference monitors, then create SDR trim passes for standard distribution. Our pipeline supports HDR10, HDR10+, Dolby Vision, and HLG formats, ensuring your content looks stunning on any display.
Can we participate in remote grading sessions?
Yes, we offer full remote collaboration through calibrated streaming platforms with real-time interaction. You can participate in grading sessions from anywhere, providing feedback as we work through your project together.
Related Services
Productions in Australia that need this often pair it with Color Correction Services, Look Development Services, and Online Conform & QC Services for full coverage. Most projects also draw on Title Design & Credits Services and 5.1 Surround Mixing Services.
On Set
Ready for Cinematic Color Grading?
Let's create stunning visual aesthetics that elevate your storytelling.