Scopes

What are scopes?

Scopes in video editing are visual tools used to measure and display different properties of your video footage, such as brightness (luminance) and color (chrominance). Waveform monitors, vectorscopes, and histograms are some examples of scopes.

What are scopes in color grading?

Scopes in color grading are tools used to measure and analyze color and brightness. They help ensure proper exposure, color balance, and contrast in footage. 

What do scope numbers mean?

• Waveform: 0 to 100 represents brightness (0 = black, 100 = white).
• Vectorscope: Measures color saturation and direction. The farther from the center, the more saturated.
• RGB Parade: Shows intensity for red, green, and blue channels (0 = no intensity, 100 = full intensity).

How to read waveform scopes

• 0–100 scale: 0 is black, 100 is white.
• The graph represents brightness across the frame.
• Peaks at 100 indicate overexposure; values near 0 indicate underexposure. Aim for a balanced distribution of shadows, midtones, and highlights.