What is the term for modifying an image by changing its colors or contrast?

The term for modifying an image by changing its colors or contrast is color grading. This process involves adjusting the colors, tones, and contrast of an image to achieve a desired aesthetic quality. Color grading can enhance a photograph, create a specific mood, or ensure consistency across a series of images. It is commonly used in photography, videography, and graphic design to refine the overall look of the visual content, making it more compelling and appropriate for the intended audience or context.

Other terms listed do not relate specifically to the alteration of colors and contrast. Image cropping refers to removing unwanted areas from an image to improve composition. Texturizing involves adding texture to an image or design element but does not necessarily change colors or contrast. Layer masking is a technique used in editing to control the visibility of different layers in an image, but it is not directly about altering color or contrast. Thus, color grading is the most accurate term for the process described.