Colourlab Ai

Colourlab Ai is software for real-time color grading, look design, and film emulation. Its Balance feature sets exposure, white balance, and contrast to a neutral starting point, while Match with SMH adjusts shadows, midtones, and highlights independently. Styles can apply grading instructions across related shots, and users can describe a desired look to search ranked results from their library. Colourlab AI 4 says matching, analysis, and looks run locally on Mac rather than in the cloud. It works with DaVinci Resolve, Adobe Premiere Pro, Final Cut Pro, and Avid Media Composer through OpenTimelineIO; the homepage also lists support for more than 40 camera brands. The maker says its metadata sits above the image file without permanently changing it. The software is aimed at colorists, editors, filmmakers, and content creators. Creator costs $14/mo, and the listed 7-day free trial does not require credit card details. The free public beta requires an Apple Silicon Mac; Windows support is listed as coming in October.

Colourlab Ai focuses on color grading and look design, with tools for matching shots and searching a look library. The public beta has a Mac hardware requirement, while Creator is listed at $14/mo.

Colourlab Ai suits colorists, editors, filmmakers, and content creators working with color grading and look design. Its integrations and grading tools may be relevant to users of the listed editing applications.

Colourlab Ai is color-grading software for shaping looks and bringing shots into balance across a sequence. It suits editors, colorists, filmmakers, and creators who want grading tools alongside their editing workflow. Its strongest case is the combination of shot-level matching and look design; the main caveat is that the free beta requires an Apple Silicon Mac.

Overview

Colourlab centers on real-time grading, look design, and film emulation. Its metadata sits above the image file rather than permanently altering it, which helps keep grading decisions separate from source imagery. Support for more than 40 camera brands also gives it a broad role in camera-based post-production.

Colourlab AI 4 says its matching, analysis, and looks run locally on Mac, not in the cloud. That is a useful distinction for users who want processing on their own device, although the public beta's Mac-only hardware requirement limits who can try it at no cost.

Key features

• Balance: Automatically sets exposure, white balance, and contrast toward a neutral starting point. This can accelerate an initial correction pass, but it is a foundation for creative grading rather than a finished look.
• SMH shot matching: Matches shadows, midtones, and highlights independently. That tonal separation is useful when shots need more than a broad overall adjustment.
• Timeline styles: Applies grading instructions across related shots in a sequence, a practical way to maintain visual continuity without treating each shot as an isolated task.
• AI look search: A written description returns ranked looks from the user's library. It can help locate a direction in a sizable collection, though the results come from that library.
• Editing and camera workflows: Colourlab AI 4 works natively with DaVinci Resolve, Adobe Premiere Pro, Final Cut Pro, and Avid Media Composer via OpenTimelineIO. The Pro tier adds specific sync options, including Pomfort Livegrade Studio, and the software has built-in support for more than 40 camera brands.

Pricing

Colourlab offers a 7-day free trial without requiring credit card details. The paid plans are billed monthly, so the entry price is accessible without an annual commitment stated here.

• Colourlab AI 4 Public Beta — free: Free during public beta, with a new beta build every 14 days through September. It requires an Apple Silicon Mac; Windows support is coming in October. This is the no-cost way to explore the beta, but its hardware and platform restrictions rule it out for many users.
• Creator — $14 a month: Includes Premiere Pro and After Effects sync, Final Cut Pro sync, Auto Color, AI Color Matching, AI References, Timeline Intelligence, and a library of show looks. It is the clearest fit for individual editors who need core matching and those integrations without DaVinci Resolve sync.
• Pro — $39 a month: Adds DaVinci Resolve sync, Pomfort Livegrade Studio sync, Blackmagic SDI support, Tangent control support, and a native Look Designer interface to everything in Creator. Colorists who rely on those connections have a reason to step up; others may not need the extra cost.
• Studio — $49 a month: Includes everything in Pro, plus Look Designer and Grainlab Resolve plug-ins for Windows, macOS, and Linux, and a Look Designer Premiere Pro and After Effects plug-in for macOS. It is aimed at users who specifically need those plug-ins across the stated workflows.

Creator, Pro, and Studio are paid monthly plans; the public beta is a temporary free option rather than a general free plan.

Platforms

Colourlab supports macOS, Windows, and Linux, with HDR finishing, camera RAW support, color management, collaboration tools, and plug-in support. The public beta's Apple Silicon Mac requirement is narrower than the broader platform support, so beta access should not be confused with the full platform reach.

Who it's for

Editors and filmmakers who want automatic balancing, shot matching, and sequence-level looks have the most direct use for Colourlab. Colorists may find the higher tiers more relevant when their work depends on Resolve, Livegrade Studio, SDI, or Tangent control support. Creators who need a free, broadly compatible option should look elsewhere, while Mac users interested in trying the beta can start without a trial card requirement.

Pros and cons

• Pros: Independent tonal matching and timeline styles address both shot-to-shot consistency and continuity across sequences.
• Pros: The Creator tier includes matching tools and sync with Premiere Pro, After Effects, and Final Cut Pro for $14 a month.
• Pros: Local Mac processing and non-destructive metadata offer a workflow that keeps grading separate from the source image.
• Cons: The free public beta requires Apple Silicon Mac hardware, limiting access despite broader Windows and Linux support for the product.
• Cons: DaVinci Resolve sync and several hardware and professional workflow connections start at Pro, raising the monthly price to $39.

Alternatives

Browse video color grading software for more options. Baselight is worth considering if a free license or 14-day fully functioning trial is a priority. DaVinci Resolve is the better fit for someone seeking a free plan on Linux, macOS, or Windows, with a one-time Studio upgrade priced at $295. Mistika Boutique offers a free educational plan with all features but H264-only renders, while its Personal plan is €99 a month. ColourSpace has a free ZRO option for manual calibration and display verification, but it has no LUT capability. Dolby Vision Professional Tools provides free command-line tools for Dolby Vision processing and QC. fylm.ai has a free tier for one user and three cloud projects, which may suit someone seeking a low-cost cloud-project workflow. Hance is a free option with built-in looks and browser-based operation. Assimilate Live Looks is another paid option, with monthly subscription pricing.

Verdict

Choose Colourlab Ai if you want a focused grading workflow that combines neutral balancing, independent tonal matching, and sequence-wide looks, especially when its editing integrations match your setup. The Creator plan makes those core tools accessible at $14 a month, but users who need Resolve sync or the professional hardware connections must budget for Pro, and anyone seeking a broadly accessible free option should compare alternatives.