A Guide to Finding and Using RAW Footage for Color Grading

"Does anyone know where I could download multiple ungraded log or RAW videos for me to practice my editing and color grading skills?" - Reddit user

You just got into color grading, and now you’re itching to practice. But there’s one problem—you don’t have any good footage to work with. Finding the right RAW footage for color grading can be a challenge, especially if you’re looking for high-quality clips without spending a fortune.

The good news? There are plenty of places to get free RAW footage for color grading practice. In this guide, we’ll show you where to find RAW footage for color grading free downloads and how to use them. Keep reading for more.

Part 1. What Is RAW Footage for Color Grading?

RAW video footage is unprocessed digital data captured by a camera sensor. Unlike regular video, it doesn’t undergo in-camera processing like color correction or sharpening. RAW footage may look dull at first, but it provides the best quality for editing. Unlike compressed formats, it retains all original details, giving full control over color, contrast, and exposure.

But are you wondering why many use RAW footage? It offers several advantages:

• Retains more color and tone details for better post-production.
• Allows precise adjustments to colors and contrast.
• Captures more light and dark details, reducing overexposure and deep shadows.
• Modern cameras provide advanced noise reduction.
• Can be adapted to new formats and standards as technology evolves.
• Enables experimenting with different styles and looks.
• Helps fix issues like exposure or white balance mistakes.

However, it requires significant storage space and advanced editing tools to process. Thus, it takes longer to render and export than other formats.

Part 2. How to Use RAW Footage for Color Grading?

Color grading enhances the color, contrast, and overall look of video footage. It differs from color correction, which focuses on fixing color issues for a natural appearance. In color grading vs. correction, grading is about creating a specific mood or style.

Editing RAW files isn’t easy, especially for beginners. Before starting, you need to ensure your computer can handle the extra workload.

1. Check your specs. A dedicated GPU helps speed up playback, but high-end models can be very expensive. Your CPU also needs to be powerful, and you’ll need plenty of RAM and storage to avoid crashes or slow performance.

2. Storage is another big challenge—RAW files are huge. Even with compression, you’ll use up gigabytes of space fast. This means higher storage costs, longer transfer times, and slower post-production.

3. See your RAW video format.

• REDCODE RAW: Developed for RED cameras, it offers full control over metadata (ISO, white balance) and various compression options. It’s widely compatible with editing software.
• ARRIRAW: ARRI’s format prioritizes top-tier image quality and metadata control but results in larger file sizes. It works seamlessly with high-end post-production systems.
• ProRes RAW: Apple’s solution balances raw quality with smooth playback. However, it lacks standard ISO and white balance controls in post.
• Blackmagic RAW: Offers strong metadata control and broad software compatibility. However, its partial in-camera debayering limits future color science refinements.

You can manage RAW Footage with nodes in DaVinci Resolve. Using nodes for color management in DaVinci Resolve gives more control than relying on Project Settings. Here’s how to handle multiple RAW formats in one project.

Step 1: Start by setting the output to Rec. 709 Gamma 2.2 using a Color Space Transform (CST) at the Timeline level. This ensures all footage is mapped correctly for final delivery.

Step 2: Go to Project Settings and Camera RAW.

Adjust each format separately:

• ARRIRAW: No changes are needed. It defaults to LogC3 or LogC4 (Alexa 35).

• Blackmagic RAW: Set Decode Using to Project, Color Space to DaVinci Wide Gamut, and Gamma to DaVinci Intermediate. No CST is needed.

• RED RAW: Ensure bit depth is 16-bit and set Decode Using to Project. Use IPP2, REDWideGamutRGB, and Log3G10 for Color Science, Color Space, and Gamma Curve.

Step 3: Use Group Pre-Clip to apply input color transforms before grading. Right-click the RAW clip and choose Add into a New Group.

• ARRI: Apply a CST from ARRI Wide Gamut 3 / LogC3 to DaVinci Wide Gamut Intermediate.

• RED: Apply a CST from REDWideGamutRGB / Log3G10 to DaVinci Wide Gamut Intermediate.

Now, all RAW footage is correctly mapped. You can now allow consistent grading across different camera formats.

Part 3. How to Repair Corrupted RAW Footage for Color Grading?

Imagine spending hours capturing the perfect shot, only to find that your RAW footage won’t open or play. RAW footage can get damaged for many reasons, including sudden power loss, faulty storage devices, interrupted file transfers and software crashes.

It’s frustrating, but don’t panic—there are ways to fix it. A quick and easy way to troubleshoot damaged RAW footage is by using Repairit Video Repair. This tool can recover broken video files, making them usable again for editing and color grading.

The repaired video is highly compatible with editing software and can be recognized and imported normally for secondary creation, such as editing, color grading, special effects, and rendering.

Take a look at Repairit’s other amazing features:

• Fixes damaged, unplayable, or corrupted RAW videos in just three steps.
• Maintains resolution, frame rate, and color grading with a high success rate.
• Uses a reference video with the same format and settings to restore severely corrupted RAW files.
• Fix multiple RAW files simultaneously for efficiency.

Follow the steps below for a professional mode repair of your RAW footage.

Step 1: Open Repairit. Hit the Professional Mode and press Start to enter.

Select Add or drag and drop your corrupted RAW footage.

Step 2: Click Repair to start fixing your RAW footage. Wait a few seconds for the process to complete. Once done, preview the repaired RAW footage before saving.

Step 3: Click Save and browse a saving location folder. Avoid saving the RAW footage in the same location where they were lost. Once repaired, the video will be fully compatible with editing programs like DaVinci Resolve, Adobe Premiere Pro, and Final Cut Pro. You can then continue with color grading, special effects, and rendering without issues.

Part 4. Where to Find Free RAW Footage for Color Grading Practice?

Looking for the best websites to download RAW video footage for editing? Let’s explore the 5 best options. When choosing a website, consider the following aspects:

1. Video footage library
2. Frequency of new uploads
3. Quality of free RAW footage
4. Search and filtering options
5. Ease of use
6. Preview quality
7. Number of available downloads

1. Pexels

Pexels offers a vast library of high-quality RAW videos, making it a popular resource for creatives. This program offers free, unlimited RAW video downloads with no sign-up required. It provides a diverse collection of high-quality videos with a simple, watermark-free download process. However, search filters are minimal. It sorts only by orientation, size, and color.

While Pexels focuses solely on photos and videos—without audio or illustrations—you can create accounts to save favorites and track downloads. The content is free to use, but commercial use requires caution due to licensing considerations. Despite limited search options, Pexels remains a valuable resource for RAW video footage.

2. Pixabay

Pixabay is a free stock media platform offering a vast collection of high-quality RAW videos, images, and audio. Users can download RAW video footage without needing an account. The tool offers unlimited free downloads of high-quality RAW video footage, including HD and 4K options. You can easily search videos using filters for effects, resolution, and date for a smooth browsing experience.

All downloads are watermark-free, and users can save and organize their favorite media files in collections. While content is free for both personal and commercial use, it's important to check licensing restrictions.

3. Videezy

Videezy is a top platform for downloading free 4K and HD RAW footage, especially for nature, landscapes, and aerial videos. However, most clips are available in MP4 format, with both free and premium options.

Premium clips are marked with a green "Pro" tag, and free videos require attribution. You can credit Videezy.com in video broadcasts like YouTube or add the provided code to your website when using their clips.

Part 5. Tips for Choosing the Right RAW Footage

Selecting the right RAW footage is key to improving your color grading skills. Here are some important factors to consider when choosing footage for practice:

1. Check the software compatibility. Ensure the RAW format works with your editing software, whether it’s DaVinci Resolve, Adobe Premiere Pro, or Final Cut Pro. Some formats, like.BRAW (Blackmagic RAW) or .R3D (RED RAW) require specific plugins or native support.
2. Practice with diverse scenarios. Choose footage that includes a mix of indoor, outdoor, cinematic, and log formats. This variety helps you master different lighting conditions and grading challenges.
3. Consider resolution and format. Higher resolutions like 4K, 6K, or 8K give you more detail to work with but require a powerful system. Pick a format that balances quality and performance.
4. Look for well-exposed footage. Overexposed or underexposed clips can be difficult to recover, so start with properly exposed RAW clips before tackling extreme adjustments.
5. Choose footage with a flat color profile. Log formats (e.g., LOG, Rec. 709, Rec. 2020) retain a more dynamic range, making them ideal for color grading practice.
6. Use footage from different camera brands. Working with RED, Arri, Blackmagic, and Sony RAW footage helps you understand how different cameras handle color and dynamic range.
7. Start with shorter clips. Long RAW files can be heavy on storage and processing power. If you're just starting, begin with short clips to avoid slow performance.

Conclusion

To master RAW footage for color grading, you need the right tools and techniques. Understanding RAW formats, using quality footage, and applying proper grading methods can improve your editing skills. But if your RAW files get damaged, Repairit Video Repair can restore them while keeping resolution, frame rate, and color intact. Whether you're practicing or working on a project, keeping your files error-free ensures a smooth editing process.