Preserves a selected color while desaturating all other colors in the image.
The result is a mostly monochrome image in which one color (or a narrow range of colors) remains visible.
This effect is often referred to as selective color in still image editing and is used for emphasis or visual isolation rather than color correction.
Parameters
Color
Selects the reference color to preserve.
-
Can be chosen:
- From the color palette
- Directly from the image using the picker in the preview
-
The chosen color defines the center of the preserved color range.
Important behavior
- The filter operates in color distance, not by named hues.
- Picking a color from the image usually produces the most predictable result.
Distance (0.0 - 100.0%)
Controls the tolerance around the selected color.
-
0.0%
Only pixels extremely close to the selected color are preserved.
Most of the image becomes grayscale. -
Low values (5% - 20%)
A narrow color range is kept. Subtle variations of the selected color may be lost. -
Medium values (20% - 50%)
A broader range of similar hues is preserved. This is often the most usable range. -
High values (50% - 100%)
Many colors remain unaffected. At high values, the effect becomes weak or nearly invisible.
Note:
Distance controls how strict the color selection is, not how strong the desaturation feels.
Keyframes
The Distance parameter can be keyframed.
This enables:
- Gradual reveal or isolation of a color
- Animated transitions between monochrome and color
- Emphasis shifts over time
Visual characteristics
- Non-selected colors are converted to grayscale
- Selected color range remains fully colored
- No change to geometry or luminance
- Sharp transitions may appear if Distance is too low
Comparison and context
Chroma Hold vs Color Grading
- Chroma Hold isolates color by similarity
- Color grading adjusts colors globally or tonally
Relation to “Selective Color” in image editors
- Conceptually similar: one color is preserved, others are muted
- Chroma Hold operates dynamically and can be animated over time
Important distinction:
This filter does not recolor pixels; it selectively desaturates them.
Recommended use cases
- Highlighting a subject or object by color
- Creating dramatic or stylized visuals
- Drawing attention in narrative or documentary footage
- Transitional effects between color and monochrome
Limitations
- No control over edge softness or feathering
- Can produce hard boundaries between color and grayscale
- Sensitive to lighting changes and color noise
- Not suitable for precise color isolation in complex scenes