Normalize Before You Stylize
Correct exposure, white balance, and contrast before applying a creative look.
The move: normalize the image before you stylize it. Plan the neutral target Choose a reference shot, a skin reference, and the delivery viewing context. The target is not "perfectly neutral"; it is "stable enough that the cut reads as the same scene." Name the thing you are protecting: skin, wardrobe, product color, window detail, or mood. Do the smallest correction Use exposure, contrast, white balance, and saturation before reaching for heavy keys or stylized curves. A small primary correction keeps the signal intact and makes later local moves easier to reason about. Study the cut, not the still Scopes…
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