You have a brand color palette. You’re using it in your social posts, website, and even your LinkedIn company page.
But what do you do with videos? How do you incorporate brand colors in videos?
Well, this post aims to answer just that.
At editvideo.io, we’ve dealt with a plethora of videos and learned our fair share of ‘branding’ a regular video. We’ll be sharing how we do it for our clients and what some other expert video editors have to say on the subject.
Let’s get started!
Table of Contents
What if you don’t use brand colors in a video?
The world wouldn’t end. There are plentiful YouTube channels out there that do not have a logo even — let alone a brand or brand’s color palette.
You know, those lyrics channels and funny-clips-compilation accounts? They get plenty of subs and views.
But the drawback? These channels:
- Usually earn low
- Generate below-average passive income from YouTube
- Aren’t headed somewhere big!
They’re shallow.
If you’re building a similar presence on YouTube, there’s no harm in ignoring brand colors. But if you want to build a name on the platform (and be able to speak of what you do for a living in front of friends and family), you must have a brand identity.
And to build a brand identity, you need:
- Brand name (YT channel’s name, for example)
- Brand mission and vision (usually what you’ll write in your YT About section)
- Target audience
- Brand vibe (including brand color palette!)
These elements will make your channel appear more aesthetic and recognizable to the audience. When you align it all with your target audience’s pain points and interests, the elements may even build an emotional connection between you and your audience.
So, if you haven’t decided on your brand colors yet, we recommend beginning your journey with Neil Patel’s short guide:
Or if you just want to be running a YouTube channel, we recommend reading this detailed guide: How to pick the right brand colors for your YouTube channel?
And if you already have a brand color palette in place, dive into the next section!
How to incorporate brand color palette in videos?
You can incorporate your brand color palette in videos either when filming or when editing. Here’s how to do both:
When Filming
1. Props and Background
One of the most straightforward ways to infuse your brand’s colors into your videos is by selecting props and backgrounds that align with your color palette.
For example, if your brand features a vibrant blue as a primary color, consider using blue furniture, backdrops, or accessories in your video shoot. This creates an immediate visual connection with your brand.
2. Main Subject
Ensure that your main subject (whether it’s a person, product, or element of your story) incorporates your brand colors. How exactly? Consider using clothing, makeup, or product design that aligns with your brand color palette.
Say if your brand’s primary color is red, you can dress your talent in red attire or feature red packaging. It will reinforce your brand’s identity to the viewers.
3. Framing
Pay attention to the framing and composition of your shots. Make sure that the dominant colors in your frame are consistent with your brand’s color palette.
Here are a few examples that explain how to do it:
- If your brand is associated with earthy tones, frame your shots such that they include natural landscapes or props that feature those colors.
- If your brand is associated with serene, ocean-inspired blues, frame your shots to include soothing blue skies or waterscapes.
For indoor filming, consider filling the background with brand-colored props. But do not overfill the frame. It may distract the viewers.
When Editing
1. Color Grading
Color grading is a pivotal step in ensuring your video aligns with your brand’s color palette. Here are actionable steps to make the most of it:
- Select a Reference Image: Begin by selecting a reference image or screenshot from your brand’s marketing materials that showcase your color palette. Use this as a guide during the grading process to ensure consistency.
- Balance Color Channels: Adjust the balance of red, green, and blue color channels to match your brand’s hues. This may involve subtle tweaks or more pronounced changes.
- Use Color Wheels: Most video editing software offers color wheels or color grading tools. Experiment with these to fine-tune specific colors in your footage. Increase or decrease saturation, brightness, and contrast to match your brand’s color intensity.
- Create Custom LUTs: Develop custom Look-Up Tables (LUTs) that feature your brand’s color palette. Apply these LUTs to your footage for a consistent and branded look across all your videos.
Review and Adjust: After initial grading, review your footage in different lighting conditions and screen settings. Make necessary adjustments to ensure your brand colors appear as intended across various devices and viewing environments.
2. Text and Graphics
This one appears easy but isn’t. The idea is to incorporate your brand colors into any text or graphics that appear in your video. It may include:
- Titles
- Subtitles
- Captions
- Any other on-screen text
We recommend choosing a dark or complementary font color. If you use the same color as the background or black (just because you can’t think of any other) — the text might get blended and may never catch the viewer’s attention. Feel free to play around with bold colors when doing this one.
Here’s an example to give you some inspo:
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3. Visual Vibe
Lastly, consider the overall visual vibe of your video. This includes the use of filters, overlays, and transitions. Ensure that these elements complement your brand’s color palette.
For example, if your brand is known for its sleek and modern aesthetic, use clean and sharp visuals in your video.
Too much work? Send it over!
Easier said than done. We know.
While we can’t ease the filming part for you, we can definitely take care of the editing part.
In fact, even if you film a video with no branding colors in sight, we can fix the video so it oozes your brand vibe at each second.
How?
Well, the pro editors on our team have an experience of more than 10 years and can adjust ANY video to desired colors. Be it color grading, transitions, overlays, text, graphics, aesthetic effects —- we can do it all. In as little as $295 (for four videos).
Interested in getting all that stress off your head and owning a powerful brand? Start your free 14-day trial now!
