Colourlab AI

What is Colourlab AI?

Colourlab AI is an AI-powered color grading tool designed to speed up common finishing tasks such as matching shots and correcting exposure and white balance. It aims to help editors and colorists achieve consistent color across timelines with automated tools based on studio color science.

The product is offered in Creator and Pro versions, and it can run either as a plugin or a standalone desktop app. According to the site, Colourlab AI processes media locally on the device, and supports multiple professional color spaces.

Key Features

Automated color matching across sequences: Matches shots across an entire timeline with a single click for more consistent results.
Auto Balance (one-click color imbalance fixes): Applies technically neutral, slider-free adjustments intended to make color-ready starting points for creative grading.
Auto White Balance detection and correction: Detects and corrects white balance using visual models, including for mixed lighting scenarios.
Match from any image / reference frame: Uses a still frame or any selected shot as a color reference to match the look to other clips.
Supported workflow formats and color spaces: Supports professional color spaces including ACES, DaVinci Wide Gamut, HDR, and Rec.709.
Local processing: “All processing happens locally,” so media is not described as being uploaded to external services.
Version 3.5 performance: The site states Version 3.5 is 22× faster with “real-time performance,” measured on an Apple Mac M1 (Windows GPU optimization is noted as pending).

How to Use Colourlab AI

Start with a free trial (the site indicates “Start Free Trial” and “No Credit Card Needed”).
Choose the version based on your workflow: Creator for editors/filmmakers finishing inside their editor timeline, or Pro for more advanced finishing and VFX-related pipelines.
Run Colourlab AI as either a plugin or standalone desktop app (the site describes both options).
Select reference material (e.g., a shot, still frame, or a timeline look reference) and use the automated tools (Sequence Matching, Auto Balance, and Auto White Balance) to generate consistent color across your timeline.
Apply results and continue grading inside your existing color grading/editor workflow.

Use Cases

Sequence-wide shot matching for editorial timelines: Use sequence matching to balance entire timelines in a single operation when multiple shots need consistent color.
Fast exposure and color imbalance correction: Use Auto Balance to correct technical imbalances without manually adjusting multiple sliders.
White balance fixes in mixed lighting: Apply Auto White Balance to detect and correct white balance even when lighting conditions vary across a scene.
Look transfer from a reference still or clip: Match the look of one image (or a chosen still frame/shot) to other clips in your project.
Post workflows that need different integration depth: Use Creator when you want automated grading inside an NLE timeline, or Pro when you need additional look and grain tooling and deeper integration options.

FAQ

What platforms does Colourlab AI support?

The site lists support across Mac, Windows, and Linux for Colourlab AI Pro. Windows GPU optimization is described as pending, and performance is stated using an Apple Mac M1 measurement.

Does Colourlab AI run as a plugin or standalone app?

Yes. The site states it can work as a plugin and/or a standalone desktop app.

Is my media processed locally?

Yes. The site explicitly says that “all processing happens locally,” and describes the product as running entirely on your device.

What professional color spaces are supported?

The site lists support for ACES, DaVinci Wide Gamut, HDR, Rec.709, and “and more.”

What’s the difference between Creator and Pro?

Creator includes the core Colourlab AI features and is positioned for finishing inside editing timelines. Pro includes everything in Creator and adds advanced integration tools (described as LookDesigner and GrainLab plugins), plus deeper support options such as RAW support via Tinman by Calibrated Software (40+ camera brands are mentioned on the site).

Alternatives

Manual color grading workflows in NLE/DaVinci Resolve: Built-in grading tools can be used without additional AI layers, but they typically require more manual shot-by-shot work compared with automated matching.
Dedicated color grading applications (standalone grading): Standalone grading suites focus on detailed control and look development; they may not provide the same one-click AI matching/balance tools described for Colourlab AI.
Other AI-assisted post-production color tools: Tools in the AI color/grading category can automate parts of the finishing process, but differ by which platforms they integrate with and how they handle sequence matching and reference-based grading.
RAW/DCC finishing pipelines with CDL and color management tools: For teams that already standardize on CDL/managed pipelines, alternatives may emphasize color management and look transforms rather than AI-driven sequence matching and auto white balance.