Steal the Look: A Quick Trick for Matching Color Grades in Photoshop

Tired of building color grades from scratch? This quick tip shows how to use Photoshop’s Auto Curves to match the mood of any image or campaign—fast and fuss-free.

When you're working on a new image and want to give it that polished, cinematic vibe—sometimes the best inspiration comes from an existing campaign or reference image. But how do you quickly capture that same mood without spending hours adjusting sliders?

In this quick tip, I’ll show you one of my favorite Photoshop shortcuts: using the Auto Options in Curves to mimic the color grade of a reference file. It’s an often-overlooked feature, but when used right, it becomes a fast and flexible way to explore color styles, match a look, or give your image that “editorial finish.”

Check out the video here:

It’s not a one-click magic fix—but it’s pretty close. And it gives you a great starting point for dialing in a grade that feels cohesive, consistent, and full of visual flavor.