How to prepare AI video files for a colorist

Before you begin

Agree the handoff format with the colorist before rebuilding or transcoding the project. Different finishing workflows need different materials; there is no single exchange file that guarantees every effect will transfer.

Separate the reference from the source

The reference export shows what the finished edit should look and sound like. Include visible timecode if agreed, and identify whether its temporary grade is a target, a rough suggestion or something to disregard. Label it clearly so it cannot be mistaken for an original source.

The source folder should preserve the highest-quality originals you actually have. Keep filenames stable and retain the generation exports. Re-encoding a compressed file into a larger format does not restore missing detail, although an agreed intermediate format can still be useful for the workflow.

Explain anything the timeline cannot explain

List speed changes, freeze frames, reframes, composites, transitions and any shots with baked-in processing. An exchange file may carry some edit information while losing the intent or appearance of an effect. Identify the affected timecodes instead of leaving the colorist to discover each exception.

If a shot's color changes during the generated motion, say so. Distinguish a source problem from an intentional light change. The same applies to flicker, drifting faces or unstable lettering: flag them before the final delivery date.

Write a useful color brief

“Make it cinematic” is too broad to guide a finish. A better brief identifies the emotional direction, a few approved references and the things that must remain readable. For example: cold industrial surroundings, natural-looking skin, and enough separation to see a black coat against a dark wall.

Specify the intended destinations and whether you need separate versions. Ask the colorist to confirm the delivery color space, codec and resolution rather than inventing settings from an unrelated tutorial.

Do a small conform check first

Send a short section containing a normal cut, a speed change and a transition. Ask for confirmation that the reconstructed sequence matches the reference. Resolve those issues before transferring a large project or booking the final grading session.

A useful folder structure is simple: originals, project exchange, reference export, graphics and a one-page handoff note. Put the project version and date in that note. Keep one authoritative edit so nobody grades an older cut by accident.

For a directed AI film, finishing starts with the production plan. When requesting a project, include the release destinations and your existing editor or colorist. That allows the visual treatment, source handling and final handoff to be designed together.