ABSTRACT
Darker images may require a lower Pivot value to avoid crushing the shadows too much when stretching image contrast, while lighter images may benefit from a higher Pivot value to increase shadow density adequately. Grading is a creative process where decisions are made to further enhance or establish a new visual tone to the project including introducing new color themes, films stock emulations, color gradients, and a slew of other choices—in other words, the final look of the project. A grad is a filter that starts with a color on one side and gradually fades out to clear or another color. The most commonly used types of grads are neutral density filters, which are often used to balance the exposure between a normal foreground scene and a much hotter sky above the horizon. Offset is sometimes accompanied by a Contrast control which allows the user to alter the contrast of the signal around a selectable pivot point.
