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Color Grading Agreement

For productions and colorists agreeing on their work, delivery, and compensation.

Drafted by a Harvard Law attorney.

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About this contract

For productions and colorists agreeing on their work, delivery, and compensation. Editorial changes and restoration are excluded unless agreed. The colorist conforms supplied locked picture, balances shots, and applies the approved treatment to the agreed output specifications.

Key points covered in this contract

  • Picture preparation: who conforms the locked picture and supplies camera originals.
  • Color specifications: color space, reference display, review process, and final outputs.
  • Revisions and extra work: included review rounds versus changes to the approved scope.
  • Rights and handoff: ownership, third-party licenses, and source-file handoff.

Frequently Asked Questions

How is color grading different from film restoration?
Color grading adjusts and matches the look of footage. Restoration repairs problems such as scratches, damage, or missing detail. A project may need both, but hiring a colorist does not automatically include restoration or changes to the picture edit.
What is the difference between a finished video and editable project files?
A finished video can be watched or published. Project files contain the timeline, settings, and links to source material used to create it. They may require specific software, plugins, or separate asset licenses to work. Delivery of the finished video does not automatically include those files.
What counts as one revision round?
A revision round usually means one collected set of feedback followed by an updated version. It is not necessarily one small change. A new direction or added work can be charged separately from revisions, while correcting work that missed the agreed requirements may be treated differently.