Ffmpeg Color Grading Chromakey

CRITICAL GUIDELINES

Windows File Path Requirements

MANDATORY: Always Use Backslashes on Windows for File Paths

When using Edit or Write tools on Windows, you MUST use backslashes (\) in file paths, NOT forward slashes (/).

Quick Reference

When to Use This Skill

Use for color manipulation operations:

• Removing green/blue screen backgrounds
• Applying LUT color grading
• Color correction and enhancement
• Creating cinematic color looks
• HDR/SDR conversions
• Color keying for compositing

FFmpeg Color Grading & Chromakey (2025)

Complete guide to color manipulation, green screen removal, LUT grading, and advanced color effects with FFmpeg.

Green Screen (Chromakey) Removal

Basic Chromakey

# Remove green screen (standard green 0x00FF00)
ffmpeg -i foreground.mp4 -i background.mp4 \
  -filter_complex "[0:v]chromakey=0x00FF00:0.3:0.1[fg];[1:v][fg]overlay" \
  -c:v libx264 -crf 18 output.mp4

# Parameters:
# - color: The key color (hex 0xRRGGBB)
# - similarity: How close to key color (0.0-1.0, lower = more precise)
# - blend: Edge softness (0.0-1.0, higher = softer edges)

Chromakey Parameter Tuning

# Tight key (clean edges, may leave green fringe)
ffmpeg -i green_screen.mp4 -i background.jpg \
  -filter_complex "[0:v]chromakey=0x00FF00:0.1:0.0[fg];[1:v][fg]overlay" \
  output.mp4

# Loose key (removes all green, may eat into subject)
ffmpeg -i green_screen.mp4 -i background.jpg \
  -filter_complex "[0:v]chromakey=0x00FF00:0.5:0.2[fg];[1:v][fg]overlay" \
  output.mp4

# Balanced (recommended starting point)
ffmpeg -i green_screen.mp4 -i background.jpg \
  -filter_complex "[0:v]chromakey=0x00FF00:0.3:0.1[fg];[1:v][fg]overlay" \
  output.mp4

Blue Screen Removal

# Remove blue screen
ffmpeg -i blue_screen.mp4 -i background.mp4 \
  -filter_complex "[0:v]chromakey=0x0000FF:0.3:0.1[fg];[1:v][fg]overlay" \
  output.mp4

# Chroma blue (common broadcast blue)
ffmpeg -i footage.mp4 -i background.mp4 \
  -filter_complex "[0:v]chromakey=0x0047AB:0.3:0.15[fg];[1:v][fg]overlay" \
  output.mp4

Sample Green Screen Colors

Advanced Chromakey with Despill

Green spill removal (green reflection on subject):

# Remove green screen with despill
ffmpeg -i green_screen.mp4 -i background.mp4 \
  -filter_complex "\
    [0:v]chromakey=0x00FF00:0.3:0.1,\
    colorbalance=gs=-0.1:gm=-0.1:gh=-0.1[fg];\
    [1:v][fg]overlay" \
  output.mp4

# More aggressive despill using hue filter
ffmpeg -i green_screen.mp4 -i background.mp4 \
  -filter_complex "\
    [0:v]chromakey=0x00FF00:0.3:0.1,\
    hue=s=0.9[fg];\
    [1:v][fg]overlay" \
  output.mp4

Colorkey Filter (Transparency)

Colorkey creates actual transparency (alpha channel) instead of compositing:

# Create transparent video (WebM with alpha)
ffmpeg -i green_screen.mp4 \
  -vf "colorkey=0x00FF00:0.3:0.1" \
  -c:v libvpx-vp9 -pix_fmt yuva420p \
  output_transparent.webm

# Create transparent PNG sequence
ffmpeg -i green_screen.mp4 \
  -vf "colorkey=0x00FF00:0.3:0.1" \
  frame_%04d.png

Colorkey vs Chromakey

LUT Color Grading

Apply 3D LUT

# Apply .cube LUT file
ffmpeg -i input.mp4 \
  -vf "lut3d=cinematic.cube" \
  -c:v libx264 -crf 18 output.mp4

# Apply .3dl LUT
ffmpeg -i input.mp4 \
  -vf "lut3d=film_look.3dl" \
  output.mp4

# Specify interpolation method
ffmpeg -i input.mp4 \
  -vf "lut3d=lut.cube:interp=trilinear" \
  output.mp4

LUT Interpolation Methods

# High quality LUT application
ffmpeg -i input.mp4 \
  -vf "lut3d=film.cube:interp=tetrahedral" \
  -c:v libx264 -crf 18 output.mp4

Blend Original with LUT

# 50% LUT strength
ffmpeg -i input.mp4 \
  -filter_complex "\
    [0:v]split[a][b];\
    [a]lut3d=cinematic.cube[graded];\
    [b][graded]blend=all_expr='A*0.5+B*0.5'" \
  output.mp4

# Variable LUT intensity using colorbalance
ffmpeg -i input.mp4 \
  -vf "lut3d=lut.cube,colorbalance=rs=0:gs=0:bs=0" \
  output.mp4

Popular LUT Styles

Create common looks without external LUTs:

# Teal and Orange (blockbuster look)
ffmpeg -i input.mp4 \
  -vf "colorbalance=rs=0.1:gs=-0.1:bs=-0.2:rm=0.05:gm=-0.05:bm=-0.1:rh=0.1:gh=-0.05:bh=-0.15" \
  output.mp4

# Vintage/Retro
ffmpeg -i input.mp4 \
  -vf "curves=preset=vintage,eq=saturation=0.8:contrast=1.1" \
  output.mp4

# High Contrast Cinematic
ffmpeg -i input.mp4 \
  -vf "eq=contrast=1.2:brightness=-0.05:saturation=1.1,unsharp=5:5:0.8" \
  output.mp4

# Desaturated/Bleach Bypass
ffmpeg -i input.mp4 \
  -vf "eq=saturation=0.5:contrast=1.3:brightness=-0.02" \
  output.mp4

# Warm/Golden Hour
ffmpeg -i input.mp4 \
  -vf "colortemperature=5000,eq=saturation=1.2:brightness=0.05" \
  output.mp4

# Cool/Moonlight
ffmpeg -i input.mp4 \
  -vf "colortemperature=8000,eq=saturation=0.9:brightness=-0.05" \
  output.mp4

Color Curves

Preset Curves

# Vintage look
ffmpeg -i input.mp4 -vf "curves=preset=vintage" output.mp4

# Cross process (film developing effect)
ffmpeg -i input.mp4 -vf "curves=preset=cross_process" output.mp4

# Negative image
ffmpeg -i input.mp4 -vf "curves=preset=negative" output.mp4

# Increase contrast
ffmpeg -i input.mp4 -vf "curves=preset=strong_contrast" output.mp4

# Lighter
ffmpeg -i input.mp4 -vf "curves=preset=lighter" output.mp4

# Darker
ffmpeg -i input.mp4 -vf "curves=preset=darker" output.mp4

# Linear contrast
ffmpeg -i input.mp4 -vf "curves=preset=linear_contrast" output.mp4

# Medium contrast
ffmpeg -i input.mp4 -vf "curves=preset=medium_contrast" output.mp4

Custom Curves

# S-curve for contrast (RGB)
ffmpeg -i input.mp4 \
  -vf "curves=all='0/0 0.25/0.20 0.5/0.5 0.75/0.80 1/1'" \
  output.mp4

# Lift shadows, lower highlights
ffmpeg -i input.mp4 \
  -vf "curves=all='0/0.05 0.5/0.5 1/0.95'" \
  output.mp4

# Per-channel curves (R, G, B)
ffmpeg -i input.mp4 \
  -vf "curves=r='0/0 0.5/0.6 1/1':g='0/0 0.5/0.5 1/1':b='0/0 0.5/0.4 1/1'" \
  output.mp4

# Crushed blacks (film look)
ffmpeg -i input.mp4 \
  -vf "curves=all='0/0.03 0.15/0.15 0.5/0.5 0.85/0.85 1/1'" \
  output.mp4

Color Balance

colorbalance Filter

# Warm highlights, cool shadows
ffmpeg -i input.mp4 \
  -vf "colorbalance=rs=-0.1:gs=-0.05:bs=0.1:rh=0.1:gh=0.05:bh=-0.1" \
  output.mp4

# Parameters:
# rs/gs/bs = red/green/blue shadows (-1 to 1)
# rm/gm/bm = red/green/blue midtones (-1 to 1)
# rh/gh/bh = red/green/blue highlights (-1 to 1)

Common Color Balance Presets

# Orange and Teal (cinematic)
ffmpeg -i input.mp4 \
  -vf "colorbalance=rs=0.15:bs=-0.15:rh=0.1:bh=-0.1" \
  output.mp4

# Warm overall
ffmpeg -i input.mp4 \
  -vf "colorbalance=rs=0.1:rm=0.05:rh=0.1:bs=-0.05:bm=-0.03:bh=-0.05" \
  output.mp4

# Cool shadows, warm highlights (split toning)
ffmpeg -i input.mp4 \
  -vf "colorbalance=rs=-0.1:bs=0.1:rh=0.15:bh=-0.1" \
  output.mp4

Hue and Saturation

hue Filter

# Rotate hue by 30 degrees
ffmpeg -i input.mp4 -vf "hue=h=30" output.mp4

# Increase saturation
ffmpeg -i input.mp4 -vf "hue=s=1.5" output.mp4

# Decrease saturation (desaturate)
ffmpeg -i input.mp4 -vf "hue=s=0.5" output.mp4

# Adjust brightness
ffmpeg -i input.mp4 -vf "hue=b=0.1" output.mp4

# Animated hue rotation
ffmpeg -i input.mp4 \
  -vf "hue=h=t*36" \
  output.mp4  # Full rotation every 10 seconds

eq Filter (Comprehensive)

# Full color adjustment
ffmpeg -i input.mp4 \
  -vf "eq=contrast=1.1:brightness=0.05:saturation=1.2:gamma=1.1" \
  output.mp4

# eq parameters:
# contrast: 0-2 (default 1)
# brightness: -1 to 1 (default 0)
# saturation: 0-3 (default 1)
# gamma: 0.1-10 (default 1)
# gamma_r/gamma_g/gamma_b: per-channel gamma

White Balance

colortemperature Filter (FFmpeg 5.1+)

# Warm up (lower temperature)
ffmpeg -i input.mp4 \
  -vf "colortemperature=temperature=5000" \
  output.mp4

# Cool down (higher temperature)
ffmpeg -i input.mp4 \
  -vf "colortemperature=temperature=8000" \
  output.mp4

# Neutral daylight
ffmpeg -i input.mp4 \
  -vf "colortemperature=temperature=6500" \
  output.mp4

Manual White Balance

# Using colorbalance for white balance
# Correct blue cast (add warmth)
ffmpeg -i input.mp4 \
  -vf "colorbalance=rs=0.1:rm=0.05:bs=-0.1:bm=-0.05" \
  output.mp4

# Correct yellow/orange cast (add blue)
ffmpeg -i input.mp4 \
  -vf "colorbalance=rs=-0.1:rm=-0.05:bs=0.1:bm=0.05" \
  output.mp4

Color Space Conversions

SDR Color Spaces

# Convert BT.601 to BT.709
ffmpeg -i input.mp4 \
  -vf "colorspace=bt709:iall=bt601-6-625:fast=1" \
  -c:v libx264 -crf 18 \
  output.mp4

# Force color space metadata
ffmpeg -i input.mp4 \
  -color_primaries bt709 -color_trc bt709 -colorspace bt709 \
  -c:v libx264 -crf 18 output.mp4

HDR to SDR Tone Mapping

# Basic HDR to SDR (BT.2020/PQ to BT.709)
ffmpeg -i hdr_input.mp4 \
  -vf "zscale=t=linear:npl=100,format=gbrpf32le,\
       zscale=p=bt709,tonemap=tonemap=hable:desat=0,\
       zscale=t=bt709:m=bt709:r=tv,format=yuv420p" \
  -c:v libx264 -crf 18 sdr_output.mp4

# HDR10 to SDR with better quality
ffmpeg -i hdr10_input.mp4 \
  -vf "zscale=t=linear:npl=100,format=gbrpf32le,\
       zscale=p=bt709,tonemap=tonemap=reinhard:param=0.4:desat=0,\
       zscale=t=bt709:m=bt709,format=yuv420p" \
  -c:v libx264 -crf 18 output.mp4

Tone Mapping Algorithms

Selective Color Manipulation

Color Isolation (Selective Desaturation)

# Keep only red, desaturate rest (Sin City effect)
ffmpeg -i input.mp4 \
  -vf "hue=s=0,\
       split[a][b];\
       [a]hue=s=0[bw];\
       [b]colorkey=0xFF0000:0.3:0.1[red];\
       [bw][red]overlay" \
  output.mp4

# Isolate specific color range using selectivecolor
# Note: Use colorchannelmixer for more control

colorchannelmixer

# Convert to grayscale with proper luminance weights
ffmpeg -i input.mp4 \
  -vf "colorchannelmixer=.3:.59:.11:0:.3:.59:.11:0:.3:.59:.11" \
  output.mp4

# Sepia tone
ffmpeg -i input.mp4 \
  -vf "colorchannelmixer=.393:.769:.189:0:.349:.686:.168:0:.272:.534:.131" \
  output.mp4

# Swap red and blue channels
ffmpeg -i input.mp4 \
  -vf "colorchannelmixer=0:0:1:0:0:1:0:0:1:0:0:0" \
  output.mp4

# Boost reds, reduce blues
ffmpeg -i input.mp4 \
  -vf "colorchannelmixer=1.2:0:0:0:0:1:0:0:0:0:0.8:0" \
  output.mp4

Professional Grading Chains

Film Emulation

# 35mm Film Look
ffmpeg -i input.mp4 \
  -vf "\
    eq=contrast=1.1:saturation=0.95:gamma=1.05,\
    curves=preset=cross_process,\
    colorbalance=rs=0.05:bh=-0.05,\
    noise=c0s=3:c1s=3:c0f=t:c1f=t,\
    unsharp=3:3:0.5" \
  -c:v libx264 -crf 18 film_look.mp4

# Kodak Portra Style
ffmpeg -i input.mp4 \
  -vf "\
    eq=saturation=0.9:contrast=1.05,\
    colorbalance=rs=0.1:gs=-0.02:rm=0.05:gm=-0.02,\
    curves=r='0/0.02 1/0.98':g='0/0 1/1':b='0/0.02 1/0.95'" \
  output.mp4

# Fuji Film Style
ffmpeg -i input.mp4 \
  -vf "\
    eq=saturation=1.1:contrast=1.05,\
    colorbalance=gs=0.05:bs=0.08:gm=0.02:bm=0.05,\
    curves=g='0/0.02 1/1'" \
  output.mp4

Modern Cinematic

# Blockbuster Orange & Teal
ffmpeg -i input.mp4 \
  -vf "\
    eq=contrast=1.15:saturation=1.1:brightness=-0.02,\
    colorbalance=rs=0.12:gs=-0.04:bs=-0.15:rh=0.08:bh=-0.12,\
    curves=all='0/0.02 0.5/0.5 1/0.98',\
    unsharp=5:5:0.6" \
  -c:v libx264 -crf 18 cinematic.mp4

# Moody/Dark Cinematic
ffmpeg -i input.mp4 \
  -vf "\
    eq=contrast=1.2:brightness=-0.08:saturation=0.85,\
    colorbalance=bs=0.1:bm=0.05:gh=-0.05,\
    curves=all='0/0.05 0.5/0.45 1/0.9'" \
  output.mp4

# High Key Bright
ffmpeg -i input.mp4 \
  -vf "\
    eq=contrast=0.9:brightness=0.1:saturation=0.9:gamma=0.85,\
    colorbalance=rs=0.05:gs=0.02:bs=0.02" \
  output.mp4

Music Video Styles

# Neon/Cyberpunk
ffmpeg -i input.mp4 \
  -vf "\
    eq=contrast=1.3:saturation=1.5:brightness=-0.05,\
    colorbalance=rs=0.2:bs=0.2:rm=-0.1:bm=0.15,\
    unsharp=5:5:1.0" \
  output.mp4

# VHS/Retro
ffmpeg -i input.mp4 \
  -vf "\
    eq=saturation=1.2:contrast=0.95,\
    chromashift=cbh=2:cbv=2,\
    noise=c0s=10:c1s=5:allf=t,\
    curves=preset=vintage" \
  output.mp4

# Dream/Ethereal
ffmpeg -i input.mp4 \
  -filter_complex "\
    [0:v]split[a][b];\
    [a]gblur=sigma=15,eq=brightness=0.1[blur];\
    [b][blur]blend=all_mode=screen:all_opacity=0.3[out]" \
  -map "[out]" -c:v libx264 -crf 18 dream.mp4

Animated Color Effects

Time-Based Color Changes

# Gradually warm over time
ffmpeg -i input.mp4 \
  -vf "colorbalance=rs='0.1*t/30':bs='-0.1*t/30'" \
  output.mp4

# Pulsing saturation
ffmpeg -i input.mp4 \
  -vf "hue=s='1+0.3*sin(t*2)'" \
  output.mp4

# Day to night transition
ffmpeg -i input.mp4 \
  -vf "\
    colortemperature=temperature='8000-3000*t/30',\
    eq=brightness='-0.2*t/30':saturation='1-0.3*t/30'" \
  output.mp4

Troubleshooting

Common Issues

Banding in gradients after grading:

# Add dithering
ffmpeg -i input.mp4 \
  -vf "lut3d=lut.cube,format=yuv420p10le" \
  -c:v libx264 -profile:v high10 -crf 18 output.mp4

# Or add subtle noise
ffmpeg -i input.mp4 \
  -vf "lut3d=lut.cube,noise=c0s=2:c0f=a" \
  output.mp4

Color shift after encoding:

# Force color space flags
ffmpeg -i input.mp4 \
  -vf "your_filters" \
  -color_primaries bt709 -color_trc bt709 -colorspace bt709 \
  -c:v libx264 -crf 18 output.mp4

Chromakey green fringe:

# Use despill with colorbalance
ffmpeg -i green_screen.mp4 -i bg.mp4 \
  -filter_complex "\
    [0:v]chromakey=0x00FF00:0.25:0.1,\
    colorbalance=gs=-0.15:gm=-0.1[fg];\
    [1:v][fg]overlay" \
  output.mp4

This guide covers FFmpeg color grading and chromakey operations. For transitions see ffmpeg-transitions-effects, for shapes see ffmpeg-shapes-graphics.