Match Levels Preset

In this tutorial I’ll go over a technique I use every time I need to blend footage from different sources.

If you’ve ever wondered how to integrate a CG render, from 3dsMax, Maya, Houdini, etc. into an After Effects comp. Or how to match the color of a logo, sign, etc, made by a graphic designer in Photoshop or Illustrator, and match it into real footage without the colors looking weird, this is my method of choice.
Download Preset

Timecodes:

• 0:09 – Quick overview
• 0:43 – Tutorial Starts
• 1:05 – Step 1: Apply the ‘Match Levels’ preset to the layer whose look you want to match to the others.
• 1:27 – Step 2: Turn off the ‘Levels’ effect
• 1:44 – Step 3: Use the picker to select the Input White and Input Black colors. These are the brightest and darkest points of the layer you want to modify.
• 2:14 – Step 4: Use the picker to select the *Output* White and Input Black colors. These are the brightest and darkest points of the target layer (or base layer).
• 3:07 – Some examples
• 3:16 – Info about the multiplier