Render Raw 1.3.6 Review: Color Correction & Effects Add-on for Blender

Color grading in Blender has always been a pain. You either export to external software like DaVinci Resolve or struggle with Blender’s limited color tools. Render Raw 1.3.6 fixes that by bringing a full color grading system directly inside Blender.

This post breaks down what Render Raw does, its core features, workflow, and whether it’s actually worth using.

What is Render Raw for Blender?

Render Raw is a color correction and grading add-on for Blender designed to give you full control over your render colors without leaving the software.

It replaces Blender’s default color workflow with a more advanced system based on a “raw workflow”, allowing you to adjust colors before and after the view transform.

The main goal is simple:
Get better colors without exporting to external tools.

How Render Raw Works (Raw Workflow Explained)

The core idea behind Render Raw is using Blender’s Raw View Transform.

Normally, Blender applies color transforms like AgX or Filmic at the end, which limits how much control you have. Render Raw changes that.

• It accesses raw pixel data from the render
• Applies color grading both before and after transformation
• Gives you deeper control over highlights, saturation, and tones

This workflow is similar to how professional tools handle color grading.

Key Features of Render Raw 1.3.6

Unified Color Grading Panel

Render Raw gives you a single control panel for all color adjustments, similar to Lightroom or DaVinci Resolve.

You get:

• Exposure and contrast
• White balance (temperature and tint)
• Saturation and color balance

All inside Blender, no node mess.

Pre-Grade and Post-Grade Controls

This is where it gets powerful.

• Pre-grade controls (safer):
  • Exposure
  • Contrast
  • Color balance
• Post-grade controls (more aggressive):
  • Highlights and shadows
  • RGB curves
  • Detail adjustments

This split gives you flexibility while keeping your image intact.

Real-Time Viewport Preview

Thanks to Blender’s viewport compositor, you can:

• See color changes instantly
• Adjust grading live
• Avoid constant re-rendering

This makes the workflow fast and practical.

Advanced Color Controls

Render Raw includes deeper tools like:

• Per-hue adjustments
• Color boost system
• Saturation with perceptual control

These help you fine-tune tricky colors like reds and oranges, which often look dull in default Blender setups.

Built-in Effects

Beyond color correction, you also get effects like:

• Film grain
• Vignette
• Lens distortion
• Glare and dispersion

These help achieve a cinematic look directly in Blender.

Presets and Workflow Speed

You can:

• Save custom looks
• Reuse grading setups
• Apply styles instantly

This is useful for maintaining consistency across projects.

Performance and Compatibility

Render Raw works inside Blender and supports modern versions (minimum around Blender 4.x).

Because everything runs inside the compositor:

• No need for external software
• Faster workflow
• Real-time adjustments

It’s designed to simplify the pipeline rather than complicate it.

Render Raw vs Blender Default Color Management

Blender’s default system (AgX, Filmic) is technically good but limited in control.

Problems with default:

• Colors can look dull
• Hard to tweak specific tones
• Limited grading tools

Render Raw solves this by:

• Giving full manual control
• Allowing pre and post adjustments
• Providing a professional grading workflow

Who Should Use Render Raw?

Best for:

• Blender artists doing final renders
• Cinematic and product rendering
• Artists who hate exporting to Photoshop or Resolve
• Anyone serious about color grading

Not ideal for:

• Beginners who don’t understand color basics
• Users who already rely on external grading tools

Limitations of Render Raw

Let’s keep it real:

• Requires understanding of color grading
• Post-grade controls can break your image if abused
• Not a replacement for full compositing software in complex pipelines

It gives power, but you need to know what you’re doing.

Final Verdict: Is Render Raw Worth It?

Render Raw is not just another Blender add-on. It fixes one of Blender’s biggest weaknesses: color control.

What you get:

• Professional-grade color tools
• Faster workflow
• No need for external software

If you care about how your renders look, this is a solid upgrade.

If you don’t touch color grading seriously, you won’t fully benefit from it.

Official Link

https://superhivemarket.com/products/render-raw