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Dec 21, 2025 12:06 PM UTC
Question

Color correction in after effects

Is it possible to use color correction to turn the first image into the second one? If possible, how do I do it?

871014i9BACB29B60F9A424.jpg

871015i8E54C18DA14772DE.jpg

  

3 replies

ToolfarmJP
Community Expert
Community Expert
Dec 23, 2025 1:30 AM UTC
Participating Frequently
Dec 22, 2025 12:50 PM UTC

You can get close with color correction, but the second image isn’t just a color shift—it has contrast remapping, glow, saturation changes, and selective color isolation that go beyond simple correction.

 

Use Levels or Curves:

  • Pull the black point inward hard

  • Slightly lower midtones

  • Keep highlights bright

    2. Increase saturation selectively

    Use Hue/Saturation or HSL:

    • Increase saturation only on:

      • Cyans

      • Greens

      • Magentas

    • Avoid oversaturating yellows (they’ll blow out fast)

      3. Isolate colors (key step)

      Use one of these:

      • Selective Color

      • Color Range selection

      • HSL secondary (in Resolve / Premiere)

        Add glow (this is what makes it neon)

        Duplicate the layer:

        • Apply Gaussian Blur

        • Set blend mode to:

          • Screen, Add, or Linear Dodge

        • Lower opacity until it blooms, not washes out

        Optional:

        • Mask glow so it affects only bright areas

        Boost highlights

        Use:

        • Curves → lift highlights slightly

        • Or Glow / Bloom effect (AE, Resolve)

        This gives the light-emitting look.

        Fine-tune with Color Balance

        Push:

        • Highlights → cooler (cyan/blue)

        • Midtones → slightly magenta

        • Shadows → neutral or slightly blue

        This helps match the color mood of image 2.

       

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Community Expert
Dec 21, 2025 4:33 PM UTC

Instead of color correction maybe you could stack them in the timeline and keyframe the top transparency down to Zero.

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