Recruiter's Glossary

Examples: HSL Qualifier • Baselight • Split Screen

Color Keys

Term from Color Correction industry explained for recruiters

Color Keys are visual reference points used in video and film editing to establish the overall look and feel of a project. Think of them like a paint-by-numbers guide for video colors. When someone works with Color Keys, they create sample frames that show how the final video should look in terms of colors, contrast, and mood. This helps maintain consistency throughout a film or video project. Color Keys are particularly important in movie production, advertising, and television where maintaining a consistent visual style is crucial. They're part of the color correction and color grading process, which is like giving a final polish to how everything looks on screen.

Examples in Resumes

Developed Color Keys for major advertising campaigns to ensure brand consistency

Created Color Keys and Color References for feature film color correction workflow

Established Color Key standards across multiple episodes of streaming series

Typical job title: "Color Graders"

Also try searching for:

Colorist Digital Colorist Color Correction Artist Color Grading Artist Post-Production Artist Look Development Artist

Where to Find Color Graders

Online Communities

Professional Networks

Industry Events

Example Interview Questions

Senior Level Questions

Q: How do you approach creating Color Keys for a project with multiple creative stakeholders?

Expected Answer: Should explain their process for collaborating with directors, cinematographers, and clients, showing how they balance creative vision with technical requirements and handle revisions.

Q: How do you ensure Color Keys maintain consistency across different viewing platforms?

Expected Answer: Should discuss understanding of how colors appear differently across various screens and how they adjust Color Keys to work well on multiple platforms while maintaining the intended look.

Mid Level Questions

Q: What's your process for developing Color Keys from client references?

Expected Answer: Should be able to explain how they interpret client requests and reference materials to create appropriate Color Keys that match the desired style and mood.

Q: How do you handle Color Keys for different scenes within the same project?

Expected Answer: Should demonstrate understanding of maintaining overall consistency while adapting Color Keys for different moods, locations, or time periods within a project.

Junior Level Questions

Q: What is the purpose of Color Keys in post-production?

Expected Answer: Should explain that Color Keys are visual guides that help maintain consistent color and look throughout a project, like a blueprint for the final appearance.

Q: How do you organize and document Color Keys for a project?

Expected Answer: Should describe basic methods for saving, labeling, and sharing Color Keys with team members, including version control and documentation.