Node graph explained — serial vs parallel vs layer

Serial is for stacking corrections — each node sees the result of the previous one. Parallel is for when you want multiple corrections working on the original image independently, then blended together. Use it when you want to grade skin and sky separately without them affecting each other.

Layer nodes are like Photoshop layers. Great for compositing effects in the color page — vignettes, light leaks, overlays. The top layer sits on top of the bottom one. You can set blend modes too.

That makes way more sense now. So parallel = split the original into separate corrections, layer = stack results on top of each other. Going to try parallel nodes for my next skin tone isolation.