How do you use the Comparison View in Premiere Pro for color adjustment?

March 12, 2026 · caitlin

Using Premiere Pro’s Comparison View for color adjustment helps you achieve consistent and professional color grading across your video clips. This powerful feature allows you to compare your current clip’s color grade against a reference clip, ensuring a seamless look for your project.

Mastering Color Adjustment with Premiere Pro’s Comparison View

Achieving a consistent and professional color grade across your video project is crucial for storytelling and visual appeal. Premiere Pro’s Comparison View is an invaluable tool that simplifies this process. It enables you to directly compare your current clip’s color adjustments against a reference, ensuring a cohesive look from shot to shot. This guide will walk you through how to effectively use this feature for optimal color correction and grading.

What is Premiere Pro’s Comparison View?

Comparison View is a display mode within Premiere Pro’s Lumetri Color panel. It shows two video frames side-by-side: the current clip you are working on and a reference clip. This reference can be a still image, a previous clip in your timeline, or even a frame from another video.

This visual comparison is essential for tasks like:

Matching the color and exposure of different shots.
Ensuring continuity in lighting and mood.
Applying a consistent color look across your entire project.

Setting Up Comparison View for Color Grading

To begin using Comparison View, you first need to access the Lumetri Color panel. This panel houses all the tools for color correction and grading.

Accessing the Lumetri Color Panel

Open your project in Premiere Pro.
Select the clip you want to color adjust in your timeline.
Navigate to Window > Lumetri Color. The Lumetri Color panel will appear.

Selecting Your Reference Clip

There are a few ways to set up your reference frame within the Lumetri Color panel. This choice depends on what you’re trying to match.

Using a Clip from the Timeline: If you want to match the current clip to a previous shot in your sequence, simply play your timeline and stop on the frame you wish to use as a reference. Then, within the Lumetri Color panel, click the "Create Static from Playhead" button. This captures the current frame as your reference.
Using a Still Image: You can also load a still image (like a reference photo or a graded frame saved as a still) into your project. Then, drag that still image onto the track above your current clip in the timeline. Select your current clip, and in the Lumetri Color panel, use the eyedropper tool next to the "Reference" dropdown to select the still image from your timeline.
Using the "Load Still" Option: Alternatively, you can load a still image directly from your computer. In the Lumetri Color panel, click the dropdown menu next to "Reference" and select "Load Still." Browse to your image file and select it.

Utilizing Comparison View in the Program Monitor

Once your reference is set, you’ll see the Comparison View option appear in the Program Monitor. This is where the magic happens visually.

Activating Comparison View

In the Program Monitor window, look for the "Comparison View" button. It typically looks like two overlapping rectangles. Click this button to activate the view.
You will now see your current clip on the left and your reference clip on the right.

Navigating and Adjusting

With Comparison View active, you can now make your color adjustments in the Lumetri Color panel. As you move sliders and make changes, you’ll see them reflected on your current clip. This allows for real-time visual feedback against your reference.

"Swap" Button: Use the "Swap" button (often an icon with two arrows) in the Program Monitor to temporarily switch which clip is on the left and which is on the right. This can be helpful for a quick double-check.
"Enable/Disable Comparison View": You can toggle Comparison View on and off easily to see your original clip without the reference.

Practical Color Adjustment Workflow with Comparison View

Let’s walk through a common scenario: matching the color of a second take to the first take of a scene.

Shoot: Film your scene, ensuring consistent lighting as much as possible.
Import and Sequence: Import your footage into Premiere Pro and place your clips on the timeline.
Select First Take: Select the first take (which will be your reference) and make your initial color adjustments using the Lumetri Color panel. Aim for a look you’re happy with.
Select Second Take: Now, select the second take of the same scene.
Set Reference: In the Lumetri Color panel for the second take, click "Create Static from Playhead" to set the first take’s graded frame as your reference, or load a still of the first take.
Activate Comparison View: Turn on Comparison View in the Program Monitor.
Adjust Second Take: With both clips visible, adjust the color and exposure of the second take in the Lumetri Color panel. Use the Basic Correction and Curves sections to match the white balance, exposure, and contrast of the first take.
Refine: Zoom in on details, check skin tones, and ensure the overall mood is consistent. The side-by-side view makes it easy to spot discrepancies.

Key Lumetri Color Tools to Use:

Basic Correction: Adjust exposure, contrast, highlights, shadows, whites, and blacks.
Creative: Apply LUTs (Look-Up Tables) for a specific stylistic look.
Curves: Fine-tune color and tonal range with precision.
Color Wheels & Match: Use these for more advanced color balancing.

Benefits of Using Comparison View

The advantages of incorporating Comparison View into your workflow are significant. It moves you beyond subjective guesswork and towards objective, repeatable results.

Consistency: Achieve a uniform look across all your shots, which is vital for professional-quality video.
Efficiency: Save time by seeing your adjustments in context, reducing the need to constantly switch between clips.
Accuracy: Make precise color matches that are difficult to achieve by memory alone.
Professionalism: Elevate the production value of your videos with polished, consistent color grading.

Advanced Tips for Color Matching

For even more sophisticated color work, consider these tips:

Use a Graded Still: Save a still frame of your perfectly graded shot and use it as a consistent reference for all subsequent shots.
Zoom In: When making fine adjustments, zoom into both the current and reference clips to check details like skin tones or subtle color shifts.
Monitor Calibration: Ensure your monitor is properly calibrated. An uncalibrated monitor can lead to color inaccuracies that will be amplified by your grading.