Anatomy of skin tones across different ethnicities and lighting conditions

How to read skin tones using vectorscopes

Balancing and isolating skin tones

Fixing common skin tone issues (color casts, blown highlights, uneven lighting)

Shadow types: soft vs hard, stylized vs natural

Controlling shadows with lift, gamma, gain

Matching shadows across shots

Using contrast and shadow detail for cinematic depth

Secondary color correction and power windows

HSL qualifiers and skin tone isolation

Custom LUT creation and modification

Matching scenes for continuity and style

Working in log and RAW workflows

Grading real footage: interviews, narrative, fashion, and commercial scenes

Skin tone grading in different lighting scenarios (studio, natural, mixed light)

Matching color grades to camera types (RED, ARRI, Blackmagic, etc.)

Style emulation: Hollywood vs indie vs documentary look

Color grading pipeline: from editing to delivery

Collaborating with DPs and directors on color intent

Exporting for different platforms (cinema, streaming, broadcast)

Capstone Project: Grade a multi-scene short film focusing on skin tones & shadow control

Feedback session or peer review (if applicable)

Submit capstone project

Receive certificate of completion

Optional: Showcase your work on a course gallery or receive instructor critique