Create adjustment layers

Add an adjustment layer above the VFX track and apply a universal color grade node to the layer. Name the layer ‘Base Grade’, set its opacity to 90 percent, and key only to video tracks V1–V3. Render a small test from 00:10:00 to 00:11:30 to check that the grade affects all cut clips evenly, then commit the layer and note the change in the project log for tomorrow’s color pass.

Before sending to color, make the adjustment layers clear and reviewer-friendly. Create one adjustment layer named Base Grade for global corrections, another named Skin Tone Protect to sit above and mask faces, and a third named Look for creative LUTs. Add track notes explaining which layer should be disabled for client preview and flag any clips where the base layer clips highlights. Export a short clip with and without the Look layer for comparison.

I added a Base Grade adjustment layer and the director previewed the cut, saying the whole piece looks flat. I don’t know whether the problem is the global grade, a LUT on the layer, or an isolated clip’s exposure. What’s the quickest diagnostic sequence I should run with the adjustment layers and what do I tell the director so they can expect a clear fix by tonight?

We keep creating duplicate adjustment layers and inconsistent layer order across sequences, forcing repeat fixes in color. I want one habit to stop that churn. Which single convention about naming, stacking order, and where to place adjustment layers will prevent mistakes and who must enforce it in our edit workflow?