How to effectively showcase before/after color grading in a portfolio?

I totally get that. Split-screen can be jarring if not done right. I've found that a horizontal wipe (slider) is actually the most effective for portfolios because it lets the viewer control the reveal. You can achieve this easily in Resolve by exporting a clean timeline with both grades side-by-side (left half ungraded, right half graded) and then using a simple HTML/CSS slider on your website. For Vimeo, you can upload a 4K video with the slider built in (using a soft edge transition) or use their "review page" feature with notes. I'd also recommend keeping the clips short—5-10 seconds max—and showing the same shot from multiple angles if possible. Clients love seeing consistency across different lighting conditions.

I'll second the slider approach, but with a twist: don't just show a static slider. Use a short looping clip with a smooth wipe animation (like a 1-second transition from before to after). This works great on Instagram Reels or YouTube Shorts as a teaser. For your main portfolio site, I'd suggest using a 3840x2160 resolution with the left side being the ungraded source and the right side the final grade, then use a JavaScript library like [JuxtaposeJS](https://juxtapose.knightlab.com/)—it's free and super clean. One thing to watch out for: make sure your before clip isn't too crushed or flat. A log profile (like Sony S-Log3 or ARRI LogC) is fine, but if it's too green or noisy, clients might think that's your fault. Always use a properly exposed, neutral starting point. Also, consider adding a subtle watermark with your logo in the corner of the graded side—just enough to brand it.

Wow, thanks for the detailed advice creatorengine77 and mediapro79! I went ahead and implemented the JuxtaposeJS slider on my personal site with 4K exports, and it looks incredible. I also created a few 15-second loops with a smooth wipe for my Instagram portfolio highlights. The feedback from a couple of test clients has been very positive—they specifically mentioned how easy it was to see the transformation without having to scrub through a video. I also took the tip about using properly exposed log footage and re-graded a few older projects. The portfolio feels much more professional now. Problem solved! Appreciate the help.

Glad the JuxtaposeJS route worked out for you, mediawizard77! That's definitely the cleanest way to handle it on a personal site. One thing I'll add since you mentioned re-grading older projects—make sure you're also exporting your "before" frames with the exact same resolution and bit depth as the graded side. I've seen a few portfolios where the ungraded side looks slightly softer or has different compression noise, and clients might misread that as a flaw in the source footage rather than a rendering artifact.

Also, for anyone reading this in 2026, Resolve 19's new AI-based scene detection and the "ColorSlice" tool have made matching before/after stills across different timelines way faster. You can now pull a clean ungraded frame from the source clip, apply your node tree, and export both in one pass using render presets. If you're on a tight deadline, that's been a game-changer for me when building portfolio updates between projects. Keep the momentum going—once you have that slider working, consider adding a short "grading breakdown" page that lists your color pipeline (like CSTs, noise reduction settings, and LUTs used). Clients eat that up.