Colourlab
Colourlab.ai is an AI-powered tool designed to revolutionize the art of color grading in film and content production. It ensures seamless color grading through ...
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What is Colourlab?
Colourlab AI is an AI-powered color grading software designed for filmmakers, colorists, editors, and content creators who want fast, professional-grade color correction without manual guesswork. It automates tedious tasks like balancing shots, matching colors across sequences, and applying cinematic looks, allowing users to focus on creative grading rather than technical adjustments.
The tool features an in-house rebuilt AI Color Engine (Gen-3) that operates natively in ACES color space, offering 16-stops of dynamic range analysis and full float output for highest color fidelity. Key features include Auto Balance (one-click neutral shot balancing), Auto White Balance, Instant Style Transfer/Match from any image, Region Match for grading specific image areas, Precision Exposure Control, Look Designer for creating custom film stock simulations, Grain Lab for texture emulation, and seamless DaVinci Resolve sync for real-time workflow integration.
Colourlab AI works as both a standalone desktop application and as a plugin for DaVinci Resolve, Adobe Premiere Pro, and Final Cut Pro. All processing happens locally on your device—nothing is uploaded to the cloud—ensuring privacy and faster performance. It supports RAW files from 40+ camera brands through built-in Tinman integration and handles 4K/8K footage in real-time.
The software is ideal for editors and filmmakers who want quick cinematic results (Creator edition), as well as high-end finishing artists and colorists needing advanced tools like Look Designer, Grain Lab, and integration with Nuke, Baselight, and Flame (Pro/Studio editions). It's trusted by Hollywood content creators and top post-production studios.
Colourlab pricing
Pricing model: Paid
Colourlab AI offers three main tiers: Creator, Pro, and Studio. Creator edition costs $15/month or $150/year (perpetual license $299-$300). Pro edition costs $49/month or $495/year (perpetual license $995 via B&H). Studio edition (includes Look Designer & Grain Lab) costs $49/month or $499/year (perpetual $999). Education pricing is free with discounts for students/faculty. No permanent free tier is advertised, but a free trial is available without credit card required. Annual billing offers discounts compared to monthly. All plans include desktop application, plugin support, and local processing.
Colourlab pros
- 22x faster processing in version 3.5 with real-time performance
- In-house AI Color Engine rebuilt from ground up for 10x precision
- First neural engine operating natively in ACES color space
- One-click Auto Balance for neutral shot balancing
- Instant style transfer and match from any image or reference
- Region Match for precise grading of specific image areas like skin tones
- Precision Exposure Control with targeted area adjustment
- Look Designer plugin for custom film stock emulation
- Grain Lab included in Pro for authentic texture emulation
- Seamless DaVinci Resolve sync with live grading integration
- Works as standalone app or plugin in Resolve, Premiere, Final Cut Pro
- All processing happens locally—media never leaves your device
- Built-in RAW support for 40+ camera brands via Tinman
- Supports professional color spaces: ACES, DaVinci Wide Gamut, HDR, Rec.709
- Handles 4K and 8K footage in real-time without lag
- No credit card required to start free trial
- Batch matching for entire timelines in single click
- Automated color management even with unknown camera sources
- 16-stops dynamic range analysis with full float output quality
Colourlab cons
- Creator edition does not support Camera RAW files
- Windows NVIDIA and AMD GPU optimization still pending on Mac M1
- No free permanent tier—only free trial without credit card
- Requires DaVinci Resolve 18 or 19 Studio version for full plugin functionality
- Mac OS 13 or higher required (not compatible with older macOS)
- NVidia GPU recommended for optimal Windows performance
- Pro edition perpetual license only available via reseller B&H
- Price higher than similar photo editing software (54% above average)
- Learning curve for beginners new to color grading workflows
- Cloud collaboration features limited compared to cloud-native tools
Frequently asked questions about Colourlab
What is Colourlab AI?
Colourlab AI is an AI-powered color grading software that automates balancing colors, matching shots, and creating cinematic looks for films and videos. It serves colorists, editors, filmmakers, and content creators with tools like Auto Balance, AI Color Matching, and film emulation.
Does Colourlab AI work with DaVinci Resolve?
Yes, Colourlab AI has seamless integration with DaVinci Resolve through its Resolve Sync feature and OFX plugin. The Creator version supports Resolve 18 or 19 (Studio version required for full functionality), allowing real-time grading without imports, exports, or rendering.
Is Colourlab AI cloud-based or local processing?
All Colourlab AI processing happens entirely on your device locally. Your media never leaves your machine—nothing is uploaded to the cloud. This ensures complete privacy, faster performance without cloud latency, and no cloud costs passed to users.
What is the difference between Creator and Pro editions?
Creator edition is for editors and filmmakers with core AI features, plugin support for Resolve/Premiere/Final Cut, and desktop app. Pro edition includes everything in Creator plus Look Designer & Grain Lab plugins, advanced color space/CDL support, and integration with Nuke, Baselight, and Flame for high-end finishing and VFX.
Does Colourlab AI support RAW files?
Colourlab AI Creator does not support Camera RAW files. For RAW playback and support, you need Colourlab Pro or the Tinman add-on. The Pro version includes built-in RAW support for 40+ camera brands through Tinman by Calibrated.
What color spaces does Colourlab AI support?
Colourlab AI supports all professional color spaces including ACES (native support in Gen-3 engine), DaVinci Wide Gamut, HDR, Rec.709, and more. The Gen-3.2 engine operates natively in ACES with 16-stops dynamic range analysis and full float output.
Can I try Colourlab AI before buying?
Yes, you can try Colourlab AI 3 Pro at no cost with no credit card required. A free trial is available instantly without payment details. The website states 'Get started instantly—No credit card required' for testing the software.
What are the system requirements for Colourlab AI?
Mac OS 13 or higher (Intel version for Intel Macs, ARM version for M1/M2/M3). Windows 10 and 11 fully supported. DaVinci Resolve 18 or 19 Studio version required for plugin. NVidia GPU recommended for optimal Windows performance. For RAW support, need Pro edition or Tinman add-on.
How does AI Color Matching work in Colourlab?
The Gen-3 AI Color Engine uses a multi-modal neural network that analyzes reference images or footage and instantly applies matching color grading. You can match shot-to-shot, import any image as reference, or use the look reference library. The engine operates in ACES space with 16-stop dynamic range for precision matching.
Does Colourlab AI work on Windows?
Yes, Colourlab AI 3 is available for both Windows 10/11 and macOS 13+. The software was rebuilt to support Windows in addition to Mac, with full plugin support for Resolve, Premiere, and Final Cut on both platforms. NVidia GPU is recommended for best Windows performance.