Baselight

Overview

Baselight is a colour-grading and finishing system for film, television, commercials and broadcast. It suits freelancers and facilities handling demanding finishing work. Its strongest case is depth across grading and mattes; the trade-off is a specialised workflow and, on macOS, substantial recommended hardware.

Key features

A multitrack timeline with layered architecture and implicit alpha handling gives complex finishing projects room to develop. X Grade in version 6.0 supports multiple localized corrections within one layer without creating a key or matte, which can reduce setup for targeted adjustments. Chromogen is designed for scene-referred looks from modern wide-dynamic-range camera data.

Face Track uses machine learning to find and track faces, with the option to copy corrections across a timeline. Version 7 adds matte creation and refinement tools, a channel system for hundreds of mattes, and Transform Matching for scaling, rotation and translation. HDR finishing, camera RAW support, managed colour and plugin support broaden its use in finishing pipelines, though output is capped at 4K.

Baselight M connects with Baselight CONFORM and Baselight ASSIST, making it the relevant macOS edition for facilities that need those links and multi-user interconnectivity. Mac hardware support includes specified AJA Kona, Io4k/Plus and T-Tap/Pro devices, plus Blackmagic Ultrastudio and Decklink devices. Connections over 10/25/100GbE to other Baselight systems or FLUX Store support facility workflows. FilmLight also includes 24/7 user support for Baselight for macOS, alongside phone and email help, project advice, training, installation and consultancy.

Pricing

The free Baselight M trial runs for 14 days and is fully functioning, making it the clearest way to evaluate the facility edition. Baselight also offers a free licence, but its scope and duration are not defined, so it is not a dependable basis for planning a workflow.

The Baselight S custom-duration licence costs $90 for 1 day, $510 for 10 days or $2850 for 100 days, with a maximum term of 365 days. It includes full grading features but excludes advanced collaboration tools; the falling daily rate favours longer bookings, while short-term users can limit their commitment.

The macOS quarterly subscription is $2500 per quarter, and the annual subscription starts at $7500 per year. Both offer S and M: S omits advanced collaboration, while M includes multi-user interconnectivity. Choose S for solo work; facilities needing connected users should budget for M. The $50 starting price in the pricing note does not identify an edition or term, so the listed licence and subscription terms are more useful for comparing options.

Platforms

Baselight runs on Linux and macOS, with the stated hardware integrations and system requirements applying to its macOS system. FilmLight recommends macOS 14–15 or macOS 26 Tahoe on Intel or Apple Silicon, at least 64GB unified memory, and an external Thunderbolt NVMe enterprise SSD with at least 8TB reserved for cache. That is a serious infrastructure commitment, particularly for an individual considering Baselight S. Windows is not a supported platform.

Who it's for

Baselight S is the better match for a single freelancer who needs full grading features without advanced collaboration. Baselight M is for facilities that need multi-user interconnectivity and connections to CONFORM or ASSIST. The toolset and hardware guidance make Baselight a poor fit for casual grading or anyone seeking a low-spec system.

Pros and cons

• Pro: X Grade can make localized work more direct by avoiding separate keys or mattes for multiple corrections in a layer.
• Pro: Face tracking, extensive matte tools and Transform Matching support detailed finishing tasks.
• Pro: M connects multi-user workflows with CONFORM and ASSIST.
• Con: The recommended macOS configuration calls for 64GB unified memory and 8TB of cache storage, a substantial entry requirement.
• Con: S lacks advanced collaboration tools, so connected facility workflows require M.
• Con: Output is limited to 4K, which may rule it out for work requiring higher resolution.

Alternatives

Compare video color grading software if you want to consider a wider set of tools. Colourlab AI is worth considering if Windows support or a free trial matters; its public beta is free but requires an Apple Silicon Mac. DaVinci Resolve is a fit for readers seeking a free-plan option across Linux, macOS and Windows, with a paid Studio edition at $295 once.

fylm.ai suits readers who want a free plan with three cloud projects and access to all tools. Dolby Vision Professional Tools is a more focused option for command-line Dolby Vision processing and QC. Mistika Boutique may appeal to readers who want a free educational plan with all features, H264-only renders and community support. ColourSpace is an alternative for manual calibration and display verification on its free ZRO plan, which does not include LUT capability. Hance offers a free option with built-in looks and one-file-at-a-time export. Assimilate Live Looks is another paid alternative with a monthly subscription.

Verdict

Choose Baselight if your work depends on detailed grading and finishing, and you need either a solo S licence or M's facility connections. Its layered workflow and focused correction tools are compelling strengths, but the recommended macOS setup is demanding and S cannot provide advanced collaboration. Look elsewhere if your priority is Windows support, output above 4K or a lighter hardware commitment.