What It Does
ContrastUp applies local and global contrast adjustments to video footage directly inside Premiere Pro and After Effects. Rather than relying on broad contrast sliders that affect the whole image uniformly, it separates the image into three tonal regions so you can treat each one independently. The result tends to look more natural than a simple curves or levels adjustment, particularly on footage with tricky lighting.
A specific fix worth noting: early versions had a flickering artifact when scrubbing sliders in Premiere Pro. That was resolved in version 2.2.2, so playback and preview behavior is stable.
Key Features
Shadow, Midtone, and Highlight controls. Three separate sliders let you push contrast in the darkest, middle, and brightest parts of the frame without blowing out highlights or crushing shadows. Useful for footage shot in flat or log profiles that need contrast brought back in without looking overprocessed.
Local and global contrast modes. Global contrast works across the entire tonal range. Local contrast targets edge detail and texture, which can help recover depth in hazy or low-contrast footage.
GPU acceleration. Runs on the GPU in both Premiere Pro and After Effects, so you get real-time playback without dropped frames on most modern systems.
Before/after preview. A built-in toggle lets you compare the adjusted and original frames without toggling the effect on and off manually.
Who It’s For
ContrastUp suits editors working with flat or log footage who want a targeted contrast tool beyond what Lumetri Color offers out of the box. It also works for run-and-gun documentary or event footage where lighting is inconsistent and you need to recover punch in shadows or pull back blown highlights without a full color grade. The plugin covers Premiere Pro 2020 through 2025 and the equivalent After Effects versions.
Pricing
ContrastUp is a one-time purchase at $14.99, available through aescripts.com. A free trial is available for download before buying. Upgrade pricing may be available for previous buyers when logged in.