How to add color board to title only, not the full clip?

Oh - yeah... Many Titles have a "background" layer that essentially "clones" everything in the storyline beneath the Title. The compound clip method will isolate it from all the material underneath.

You could also apply a Color Mask (Effects Masks) to the Text only and the Color Board changes would only apply to the masked regions.

Effective masking however, takes some practice, so the CC is probably your best bet. Work on the masking when you have some time — it's worth it.

If you're trying to color correct a drop zone? Add the clip to the storyline and color correct it there. Add the color corrected clip to the drop zone. Once you have it set up in the drop zone, you can delete the clip from the storyline. The drop zone should stay intact. You can also, from the browser, select your clip then Open Clip in the timeline. Color correct it there, then it should maintain that state for whenever you need to add it to the storyline or a drop zone — basically "pre-edited".

Which title are you using? Some can behave differently. You might need to make the title a compound clip and apply the color correction to that.

As a test, have you tried to repeat this problem, but using the built in Titles as test sources?

No matter what I try, I can replicate your issue on my system when using the Apple included titles and color correcting them.

Perhaps the 3rd Party titles that you are using are causing the issue.

MtD

Click the triangle shape at the top of the inspector column:

Then add a Color Board from the "No corrections" popup:

You'll be able to re-access the color board from the Effects Inspector [filmstrip icon] if you need to get back to it.