Split-tone Preview

What is split-toning?

Split-toning adds different colours to the shadows and highlights of an image independently. The shadows receive one hue — often cool (blue, teal, green) — while the highlights receive another — typically warm (amber, orange, gold). The result is a colour contrast that adds cinematic depth and visual interest without changing the overall exposure.

Why the teal-orange split is everywhere

Teal and orange are complementary colours, sitting opposite each other on the colour wheel. Human skin tones are primarily orange, so a teal shadow creates natural contrast that draws attention to faces. This is why nearly every Hollywood blockbuster from the 2000s onwards uses some version of this split — it works with human subjects almost universally. That said, over-use has made it a cliché; subtler splits (muted green/gold, deep blue/warm white) often feel more distinctive.

How to choose a split-tone for your footage

Start with the mood: cool shadows suggest tension, mystery, isolation. Warm shadows suggest intimacy, nostalgia, comfort. Then pick a highlight colour that either contrasts (complementary) or harmonises (analogous) with the shadow. Keep saturation low — a subtle split-tone usually reads as “cinematic”, while a heavy one reads as “filtered”.