Give your next clip a film look.
Choose a look for your clip, adjust its strength, and compare it with the original as it plays. Halation uses the same colour controls for photos and video, entirely on your device. Start with a short standard-range clip.
OriginalNocturne
Want to see the colour first? Try Nocturne on this still photo.
Grade a clip in four steps
- Open a standard-range clip. Choose a photo or video on the homepage and select an MP4, MOV or WebM file. Nothing is uploaded. If your phone recorded HDR, convert it to SDR in another editor first.
- Pick and adjust a look. Try Cinematic for cooler shadows, Golden for warmth, or Nocturne for city lights. Lower Look intensity for a subtler result. Exposure and Temperature are good next adjustments.
- Compare while watching. Use the playback button to pause or play, and the timeline to inspect another moment. Drag across the frame or hold B to compare. In Film, keep Grain restrained if a smaller export matters.
- Export to your device. Choose Source, 1080p or 720p and Standard or High quality, then Export video. Check the estimated size first. Cancel stops the export without changing the original clip.
Check the whole shot before saving
For a night exterior, start with Nocturne and pause on a frame containing both a light source and a dark area. Lower Look intensity if the shadows become too blue. Adjust Exposure for the subject, then check Highlights and the Halation amount around lamps. The preset does not track subjects or adapt automatically as the lighting changes.
Scrub to the beginning, middle and end, then play the clip. Look for faces changing colour as they pass under a light, highlights becoming too broad, and grain distracting from movement. A single still frame cannot reveal these problems. If one grade cannot suit two very different lighting conditions, split the clip in another editor and grade each part separately; Halation has no cuts or keyframes.
For a first test, choose 720p and Standard quality. Check the estimate, save the clip, and play the downloaded file with sound. Check orientation, duration and audible sound where the source has it. Then return to Source or 1080p if you need more resolution. The estimate guides the choice; it is not a guaranteed final file size.
What is saved?
Halation normally exports MP4. When only a WebM-compatible encoder is available, it saves WebM instead. Audio is retained when supported by the output format, but may be re-encoded. You can also pause on a moment and choose Save this frame to save a graded JPEG.
Before you start
Inputs are MP4, M4V, MOV or WebM, up to 2 GB. The browser must be able to decode the codec inside the file: a .mov extension alone does not guarantee playback. Video dimensions must fit the device's graphics limit.
Export needs WebCodecs and a suitable encoder. Halation checks the browser's capabilities and explains when export is unavailable; preview and saving a frame may still work. Try a current Chrome, Edge or Safari if export is unavailable in your browser.
HDR export is not supported. Convert HDR, Dolby Vision or HLG footage to standard range first. Outputs are assembled in memory, and estimated exports over 1.5 GB are refused. A short clip is the best first test; choosing 720p can reduce the memory and time needed. Halation does not trim clips or edit audio.
When playback or export fails
- The file opens but video export is unavailable: the browser may decode the clip without providing a suitable encoder. Read the editor's message. Preview and Save this frame can still be available even when Export video is disabled.
- The browser cannot decode the clip: MP4 and MOV are containers, not a promise about their contents. Convert to an SDR H.264 MP4 in your source application, then try a short copy. Changing the filename extension will not convert the codec.
- An HDR warning appears during export: stop and convert the source to SDR in another application. A browser preview that looks acceptable does not establish that the file is safe to grade as SDR.
- Export uses too much memory: choose a smaller output size, reduce Grain, or shorten the source in another editor. Cancel stops the current export; the source file stays unchanged.
- The saved clip has unexpected sound: audio is kept only when the output format supports it and may be re-encoded. Halation has no audio repair or mixing controls. Compare the downloaded clip with the source in a player.
If you still cannot finish, send a bug report with the browser, file type, dimensions and exact message. Your original video is not needed for an initial report.
Understand the controls
Read about Cinematic's teal and orange palette, the glow around highlights, and diffusion. For still images, use the film-look photo guide.