If you want to give your videos a distinctive look, you might want to try using LUTs in your editing process. LUTs, or look-up tables, are files that map the colors of one image to another, creating a consistent and stylized effect. In this article, you will learn what LUTs are, how they work, and how you can use them to achieve a unique look in video editing.
LUTs are mathematical formulas that transform the color values of one image to another. They can be used for various purposes, such as correcting the exposure, white balance, or contrast of a video, or applying a creative color grade that mimics a certain film, mood, or genre. LUTs can be applied to individual clips, or to the whole project, depending on the desired result.
LUT means "Look Up Table" - a pre-calculated set of results from a calculation, to save running the same calculation over and over. LUTs are not limited to video production, but in this context a LUT is a way to move your footage from an input (recorded in camera) to an output (the final picture). 1D LUTs allow control over just the gamma, whereas 3D LUTs separate colour information into three separate variables, allowing greater control. Colour science is a huge topic, so here's the TL;DR: LUTs are not colour grading! They're a tool to help you move between colour spaces quickly. Typically they're used to move from LOG to rec-709, and colour grading is then performed on the rec-709 image.
A LUT is pre-defined color treatment for your video footage (especially when working in raw "Log" formats.) Using an agreed-upon LUT will allow all team members to see an identical color treatment for the project footage.
LUTs work by changing the hue, saturation, and luminance of each pixel in an image, according to a predefined table of values. For example, a LUT can make the blue pixels more cyan, the red pixels more magenta, and the green pixels more yellow, creating a cooler and more contrasty look. LUTs can be either one-dimensional (1D) or three-dimensional (3D), depending on how many color channels they affect. 1D LUTs only change the luminance of an image, while 3D LUTs change all three color channels.
Instead of making dozens of manual adjustments, LUTs allow you to apply a single adjustment layer to your footage to achieve a desired look. This adjustment layer is identical for all team members working on a project, allowing for consistency across all contributors.
To use LUTs in video editing, you need a software that supports them, such as Adobe Premiere Pro, Final Cut Pro X, DaVinci Resolve, or Filmora. Each software has its own way of importing and applying LUTs, but the general steps are similar. First, you need to find and download the LUTs you want to use, either from online sources or by creating your own. Then, you need to import them into your editing software, usually by copying them to a specific folder or using a dedicated menu. Next, you need to apply them to your video clips, either by dragging and dropping them onto the clips, or by using an adjustment layer or a color correction tool. Finally, you need to adjust the intensity and the opacity of the LUTs, as well as tweak other parameters, such as exposure, contrast, saturation, or white balance, to fine-tune the look.
A LUT is chosen by the colorist, editor, or cinematographer to achieve the intended look for the project. LUTs are then applied as an adjustment layer in a professional editing software such as Premiere Pro, Final Cut Pro X, DaVinci Resolve, or After Effects. LUTs are best applied as an adjustment layer, as this allows the editor to achieve the desired look with a single adjustment.
@budbennet gave some good info. The other thing I’ll add is adding a LUT doesn’t mean apply it and forget it. It should be used like seasoning to taste. You often have like a slider for intensity of the LUT I recommend you mess around with it to find the right balance.
Using LUTs in your video editing workflow can provide several advantages. It can save time and effort by automatically applying a professional color grade to your videos, as well as help you achieve a desired look that matches your vision. Additionally, LUTs can help create different emotional responses with different color schemes, as well as improve the quality and appeal of your videos. Ultimately, LUTs can make your videos more dynamic, vibrant, and eye-catching.
LUTs allow for color consistency across all contributors of a project. Instead of matching "by eye," all contributors use the same LUT file to achieve identical color results. LUTs save time in the post-production workflow by achieving complex results with a single effects layer.
Using LUTs can have some challenges and limitations that you need to be aware of. For instance, they may not work well with every video clip if the clips have different lighting, exposure, or color settings. Additionally, LUTs can introduce unwanted artifacts such as banding, clipping, or noise if they are applied too strongly or the original footage is of low quality. Furthermore, they can make your videos look unnatural, oversaturated, or unrealistic if not balanced with other color correction tools or techniques. Lastly, they can make your videos look too similar to other videos that use the same LUTs, reducing your originality and creativity.
The challenges about LUTs: If they aren’t not made by a colour scientist. I wouldn’t use them confidently. LUTs render an optimum image when working under the gamma and colour space they built for. On footage that has been exposed to preserve middle grey. One should consider-is it a creative function or a technical transform function? Or both! This will often dictate it’s placement within the colour management pipeline. Don’t think of them as a quick, simple fix-yet they can be a simple and powerful tool, when applied correctly… it’s a great start sourcing your LUTs from the camera manufacturers, especially technical transformation. My favourite LUT is a Film Print Emulation. Working in DR or Arri intermediate.
When selecting the right LUTs for your videos, a number of factors should be taken into account, such as your personal preference, video content, target audience, and desired outcome. To help you make the best choice, here are some tips: experiment with different LUTs to see which ones match your style and vision; pick LUTs that suit the tone and message of your videos; choose LUTs that evoke the desired emotions in viewers; compare and contrast different LUTs to create harmony or contrast; and customize or modify the LUTs to make them fit your videos better.