Color Correction is the technical process of adjusting the colours in a video or image to achieve accurate, neutral, and consistent representation of the scene as it was intended to be captured. It is the first stage of colour work in post-production, focused on fixing problems rather than applying a creative look, and it establishes a clean, balanced starting point from which further creative colour grading can be applied.

In practice, colour correction addresses issues such as incorrect white balance, which causes footage to appear too warm or too cool; inconsistent exposure between shots from the same scene; skin tones that appear unnatural due to lighting conditions; and colour casts introduced by the camera's sensor or the environment. Colourists use tools including waveform monitors, vectorscopes, and histogram displays to assess colour accuracy objectively rather than relying solely on visual perception, which can be influenced by the viewing environment. The goal is footage that is technically correct before any stylistic decisions are made.

In AI video and image generation, colour correction becomes relevant during post-processing, particularly when combining AI-generated elements with live-action footage or when multiple generated clips need to appear as though they were shot in the same environment. Understanding the distinction between correction and grading helps creators approach the colour pipeline in the right order, ensuring technical accuracy before pursuing aesthetic goals.