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Colormetric Labs Helios Grade 1.10.0 Download – Complete Guide
Colormetric Labs Helios Grade 1.10.0 is a professional OpenFX plugin designed for DaVinci Resolve users who want to add film-inspired color, light behavior, texture, and finishing character to their footage. Instead of relying on a single baked LUT, Helios Grade provides separate controls for film print profiles, halation, diffusion, glow, mist, grain, split toning, color density, sharpening, and other grading adjustments.
For users searching for Colormetric Labs Helios Grade Download, the official product provides a free, watermarked version with no time limit, allowing users to test the complete plugin before purchasing a license. The licensed version is perpetual and can be activated on up to three computers.
Helios Grade is available for Windows and macOS and is designed to work inside the Color page of DaVinci Resolve. It supports DaVinci Wide Gamut workflows and uses platform-specific acceleration such as Metal on macOS and OpenCL on Windows.
What Is Colormetric Labs Helios Grade?
Helios Grade is an OpenFX color-grading plugin developed by Colormetric Labs for DaVinci Resolve.
The plugin is designed for situations where technically correct digital footage still looks overly clean, flat, or synthetic. Rather than applying one fixed look, Helios Grade gives the colorist individual controls for different aspects of a film-inspired image.
Its tools can be used to shape:
- Highlight behavior
- Film-style color
- Color separation
- Halation
- Diffusion
- Glow
- Mist
- Film grain
- Print contrast
- Split toning
- Color density
- Vignettes
- Sharpening
The plugin works directly inside the Resolve grading workflow, allowing users to keep the effect editable instead of baking the look into an exported image.
Key Features of Helios Grade
Helios Grade combines several film-look and finishing tools into a single OpenFX plugin.
Film Print Profiles
Helios Grade includes a collection of film-inspired print profiles designed to provide different color and contrast characteristics.
The current official product page describes 84 distinct print looks organized into different groups. These include film-inspired profiles and specialized looks intended for different grading situations.
The profiles are not simply intended to function as one-click LUTs. They can be blended into an existing grade so that the colorist can control how strongly the print character affects the image.
Halation
Halation simulates the characteristic glow or light response that can occur around bright areas in photographic film.
It can be useful around:
- Bright practical lights
- Strong highlights
- Backlit subjects
- Sunlight
- Bright skin highlights
Helios Grade provides controls that allow the effect to be adjusted instead of applying the same intensity to the entire image.
Glow
The Glow module focuses on bright areas of the image.
Users can adjust parameters such as threshold, radius, tint, and amount to control how highlights bloom.
This can help make practical lights, specular highlights, and other bright areas appear softer.
Diffusion
Diffusion can soften the overall appearance of footage while retaining important image information.
It can be useful for creating a more photographic appearance, especially when digital footage appears excessively sharp.
Mist
The Mist controls can introduce a softer atmospheric quality to the image.
Depending on the settings, mist can reduce the clinical appearance of digital footage and create a more blended relationship between highlights and surrounding areas.
Vignette
Helios Grade includes a configurable vignette with controls for size, roundness, and feathering.
A subtle vignette can help direct attention toward the central subject without noticeably changing the overall grade.
Sharpening
The sharpening module provides additional control over image definition.
The plugin documentation describes an unsharp-mask approach with a refining control intended to reduce excessive sharpening on flat areas, skin, and grain.
Split Tone
Split toning provides independent color influence over shadows, midtones, and highlights.
For example, a colorist might use:
- Cooler shadows
- Neutral midtones
- Warmer highlights
Helios Grade also provides skin protection to help prevent unwanted color changes from affecting faces.
Color Density
Color density tools provide an alternative to simply increasing global saturation.
Helios Grade includes vibrance, cyan/magenta/yellow density, bleach-bypass controls, and chroma rolloff controls.
These controls can be useful when footage needs richer color without making every part of the image excessively saturated.
Input Trim and Printer Lights
Helios Grade includes Input Trim controls for exposure and contrast.
It also provides printer-light controls that can be used to make channel-specific adjustments.
These controls operate early in the plugin’s processing chain, allowing subsequent modules to respond to the adjusted image.
Film Grain
Film grain is another major component of Helios Grade.
The plugin provides frame-varying grain with different responses for shadows, midtones, and highlights. It includes Classic and Film grain models, with the Film model using stock-based grain sizing.
The grain can therefore be used as a finishing texture rather than simply adding a uniform noise layer.
Helios Grade Film Print Profiles
Film print profiles can be used toward the end of a color-grading workflow.
Instead of completely replacing an existing grade, the print profile can be blended with the image.
The official product page describes profiles based around various film-print and photographic references, including Kodak 2383, Fujifilm 3513, Eterna, Portra, CineStill, bleach bypass, faded release, cross-processing, and toned monochrome looks.
A practical workflow can be:
- Balance the footage.
- Establish exposure and contrast.
- Correct the colors.
- Add creative color separation.
- Apply a print profile.
- Adjust the blend.
- Add grain.
- Review the final image.
This approach allows the print character to become part of the overall grade rather than replacing it.
Helios Grade Halation and Light Effects
Helios Grade provides several modules designed to modify the behavior of light.
Halation
Halation can add controlled color and light behavior around highlights.
Glow
Glow concentrates on bright areas and can make practical lights appear more luminous.
Diffusion
Diffusion softens the image and can help reduce an overly digital appearance.
Mist
Mist can add atmospheric softness and help blend highlights with the surrounding image.
Glaze and Blanking
The current Helios Grade product information also lists Glaze and Blanking controls, providing additional options for shaping the image’s visual character.
Helios Grade Film Grain
Film grain can make digital footage feel less perfectly uniform.
Helios Grade’s grain system is designed to vary across the frame rather than behaving like simple static noise.
Users can adjust grain according to different tonal regions and choose between different grain models.
The Film model is designed around stock-based grain behavior and frame-relative sizing, which helps maintain a consistent appearance when working at different resolutions.
For example, footage may be graded on an HD timeline and later delivered in 4K. Frame-relative controls can help keep the visual character consistent across those resolutions.
Helios Grade Split Tone and Color Controls
Split toning is useful when an image needs more separation between tonal regions.
A common workflow might involve:
- Cooler shadows
- Slightly warm midtones
- Warm highlights
However, the effect does not need to be dramatic. Small adjustments can create a more nuanced color relationship.
Helios Grade’s skin-protection functionality can also help maintain natural-looking skin while stronger color changes are applied elsewhere in the frame.
Helios Grade Mask Views
Mask views are useful when you need to understand exactly where a module is affecting the image.
Helios Grade provides viewable masks for major modules.
A useful workflow is:
- Activate the desired module.
- Enable its mask view.
- Check which areas are being affected.
- Adjust the range or intensity.
- Disable the mask.
- Evaluate the image normally.
This can help prevent effects such as glow, halation, or sharpening from becoming too noticeable on unintended areas.
Helios Grade for DaVinci Resolve
Helios Grade is designed specifically for the Color page of DaVinci Resolve.
It is installed as an OpenFX plugin and can then be added to a Resolve node.
The plugin supports keyframeable creative controls, which means adjustments can be animated when a shot requires changing effects over time.
This makes Helios Grade suitable for workflows where the look needs to remain editable throughout the grading process.
Helios Grade Download
The official Colormetric Labs website provides Helios Grade as a downloadable OpenFX plugin.
Official Helios Grade Product Page
The current product page lists Windows and macOS downloads. The page also provides a free watermarked version that does not expire.
The free version is useful for testing the plugin with your own footage before purchasing a license.
The official website states that the free version is the complete plugin with a watermark over the image, while purchasing the perpetual license removes the watermark.
How to Download Helios Grade
Follow these steps to download the plugin:
- Open the official Colormetric Labs website.
- Navigate to the Helios Grade product page.
- Locate the free download option.
- Choose the appropriate Windows or macOS package.
- Download the ZIP file.
- Wait for the download to finish.
- Keep the ZIP file available for installation.
The official product page currently lists Helios Grade 1.9.0 for both Windows and macOS.
How to Install Helios Grade in DaVinci Resolve
The installation process involves copying the plugin bundle into Resolve’s OpenFX plugin directory.
Step 1: Download the Plugin
Download the appropriate Helios Grade ZIP package for your operating system.
Step 2: Quit DaVinci Resolve
Completely close DaVinci Resolve before installing or replacing the plugin.
The official support documentation notes that Resolve looks for plugins when it starts, so restarting Resolve after installation is necessary.
Step 3: Unzip the Download
Extract the downloaded ZIP archive.
The extracted package contains the Helios Grade plugin bundle.
Step 4: Copy the Plugin
Copy the complete HeliosGrade.ofx.bundle into the appropriate OpenFX Plugins folder.
For macOS, Colormetric Labs documents the following location:
The entire plugin bundle should be copied rather than only individual files inside the bundle.
Step 5: Restart Resolve
Launch DaVinci Resolve again.
Open the Color page and look for Helios Grade in the OpenFX library.
How to Activate Helios Grade
The free version does not require an account or payment details for evaluation.
If you purchase the plugin, activation is handled through the plugin’s License section.
According to the official support documentation:
- Open Helios Grade’s License section.
- Select Activate Helios Grade.
- Follow the browser activation process.
- Return to Resolve.
- Check activation.
- Approve the computer.
- Confirm the activation inside Resolve.
The current license allows activation on up to three computers.
How to Use Helios Grade
After installing the plugin, add it to a node on the Color page.
A simple workflow can look like this:
Step 1: Set the Input Color Space
Helios Grade needs to know what type of image it is receiving.
The plugin supports Rec.709/sRGB and DaVinci Wide Gamut/DaVinci Intermediate workflows.
Step 2: Balance the Footage
Correct exposure, white balance, and general contrast before applying heavy creative adjustments.
Step 3: Adjust Light Behavior
Experiment with diffusion, halation, glow, or mist.
Use the mask views to see where the effects are being applied.
Step 4: Shape the Color
Use split tone, color density, and other color controls to establish the desired mood.
Step 5: Add a Print Profile
Choose an appropriate print profile and adjust the blend instead of automatically using maximum strength.
Step 6: Add Film Grain
Apply grain as a finishing texture and check the result at the intended delivery resolution.
Helios Grade and DaVinci Wide Gamut
Helios Grade supports DaVinci Wide Gamut workflows.
The plugin’s Input Color Space control allows users to specify whether the plugin is receiving Rec.709/sRGB or DaVinci Wide Gamut/DaVinci Intermediate material.
This is important because incorrect color-space handling can produce unexpected results.
For a DaVinci Wide Gamut workflow, the plugin can operate directly within the wide-gamut environment rather than unnecessarily converting the image to a narrower display-referred space before processing.
For Rec.709 workflows, the plugin can continue to work with Rec.709/sRGB input.
Helios Grade Optical Blending
The plugin also provides Classic and Linear Light blending behavior for selected light-related modules.
According to Colormetric Labs, this affects modules such as mist, glow, halation, and sharpening without acting as a general color-management conversion.
This gives colorists another way to control how effects combine with the underlying image.
Helios Grade System Requirements
Helios Grade is designed as an OpenFX plugin for DaVinci Resolve.
The official product information lists:
| Requirement | Details |
|---|---|
| Plugin Type | OpenFX / OFX |
| Host | DaVinci Resolve 18 and later |
| Operating Systems | Windows and macOS |
| macOS Acceleration | Metal |
| Windows Acceleration | OpenCL |
| CPU | CPU fallback on supported platforms |
| Color Workflow | Rec.709/sRGB and DaVinci Wide Gamut |
| Interface | DaVinci Resolve Color page |
The exact performance will depend on the computer, GPU, Resolve project, footage resolution, and effects being used.
Helios Grade License and Free Version
One useful feature for new users is the availability of a free evaluation version.
The official website states that the free version:
- Is the complete plugin
- Does not expire
- Does not require an account for download
- Adds a watermark to the image
- Can be used to test the plugin before purchase
The paid license is perpetual, meaning it does not expire, and it can be activated on up to three computers.
This gives users an opportunity to test Helios Grade on their own footage before deciding whether they need the licensed version.
Pros and Cons of Helios Grade
Pros
- Designed specifically for DaVinci Resolve
- OpenFX workflow
- Film print profiles
- Halation and glow controls
- Diffusion and mist
- Film grain
- Split toning
- Color-density controls
- Mask views
- DaVinci Wide Gamut support
- Windows and macOS support
- Free watermarked evaluation
- Perpetual paid license
Cons
- Designed specifically for DaVinci Resolve
- The free version places a watermark over the image
- Advanced effects can require GPU resources
- New users may need time to understand color-space settings
- Some features are more useful for experienced colorists
Common Helios Grade Problems and Solutions
Helios Grade Does Not Appear in Resolve
First, make sure the plugin was copied into the correct OpenFX folder.
After installation, completely restart DaVinci Resolve because Resolve scans for plugins during startup.
The Plugin Was Installed Incorrectly
Make sure you copied the entire HeliosGrade.ofx.bundle rather than individual files from inside the bundle.
Helios Grade Looks Washed Out
Check the Input Color Space setting.
If your footage is being processed in a different color space from the one selected in Helios Grade, the result may not look correct.
Colormetric Labs specifically recommends matching the plugin’s Input Color Space to the workflow being used.
Performance Is Slow
Try reducing unnecessary effects, checking GPU configuration, and optimizing the Resolve project.
High-resolution footage combined with multiple processing-heavy effects can increase GPU and CPU requirements.
macOS Blocks the Plugin
If macOS displays a security warning, Colormetric Labs provides instructions through System Settings → Privacy & Security for allowing the plugin when appropriate.
Activation Does Not Work
Check that you have followed the activation process in the plugin’s License section and completed the browser approval step.
For account or activation problems that cannot be resolved through the documented process, Colormetric Labs provides support through its support page.
Is Colormetric Labs Helios Grade Safe to Use?
The safest approach is to download Helios Grade directly from the official Colormetric Labs website.
The developer also provides a SHA-256 verification method for downloaded ZIP files. This allows users to compare the downloaded file’s hash against the value supplied through their download page.
Users should avoid modified, repacked, or unofficial plugin downloads because they may be outdated or altered.
Who Should Use Helios Grade?
Colorists
Professional and enthusiast colorists can use the individual modules to build controlled film-inspired looks.
Filmmakers
Filmmakers can use halation, grain, print profiles, and color separation to develop a consistent visual style.
Video Editors
Editors who work inside DaVinci Resolve can use Helios Grade as part of their finishing workflow.
Cinematographers
The plugin can be useful for testing different film-inspired finishing approaches against camera footage.
Content Creators
Creators working with narrative videos, short films, music videos, or commercial content can experiment with the free watermarked version before purchasing.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Is Helios Grade?
Helios Grade is an OpenFX film-look and color-grading plugin for DaVinci Resolve.
Is Helios Grade Free?
Helios Grade has a free watermarked version with no time limit. The paid version removes the watermark and provides a perpetual license.
Does Helios Grade Work on Windows?
Yes. The plugin is available for Windows as well as macOS.
Does Helios Grade Work With DaVinci Resolve?
Yes. It is designed specifically for the Color page of DaVinci Resolve and is installed as an OpenFX plugin.
Does the Free Version Have a Watermark?
Yes. The free version renders with a watermark. Purchasing the license removes the watermark.
Does Helios Grade Support DaVinci Wide Gamut?
Yes. The plugin supports native DaVinci Wide Gamut workflows.
How Many Computers Can Be Activated?
The current perpetual license can be activated on up to three computers.
Where Should I Download Helios Grade?
The recommended source is the official Colormetric Labs website.
Download Helios Grade from Colormetric Labs
Conclusion
Colormetric Labs Helios Grade is a specialized film-look plugin for DaVinci Resolve that combines color, light, texture, and finishing controls in a single OpenFX workflow.
Its feature set includes film print profiles, halation, glow, diffusion, mist, grain, split toning, color density, sharpening, vignettes, mask views, and DaVinci Wide Gamut support. These controls allow users to build a film-inspired look without relying entirely on a baked LUT.
For anyone searching for Colormetric Labs Helios Grade Download, the official free version provides a practical way to test the plugin before purchasing. The evaluation version has no time limit but places a watermark on the output, while the licensed version is perpetual and supports activation on up to three computers.
For reliable installation and updates, download the plugin from Colormetric Labs and follow the official OpenFX installation instructions.