Variants
A variant is an editable version of your photo in Capture One that leaves the original file untouched. You can create several variants of the same shot to try different looks side by side. It works much like virtual copies in Lightroom.
Want a colour version and a black-and-white version of the same frame? Just make a second variant and edit it separately. Because variants only store instructions rather than copying the whole file, they take up almost no space. Handy when you're unsure: make two variants, view them side by side and decide afterwards. Tip: use the shortcut to clone a fresh variant before you start a drastic edit.
Related terms
Prefer a look in one click?
The presets on this site set these adjustments up for you as a starting point, which you then fine-tune to taste.