What are Color-Grading LUTs? A Beginner’s Guide
Photo by JC Gellidon on Unsplash
All you need to know about video LUTs for social media and professional films
In video and photo editing, color grading plays a key role, and here’s where video LUTs make their grand entrance. If you’re a beginner looking to dip your feet into the world of LUTs, this post will come in handy. We’ll share everything you need to know about LUTs, how to apply them and the best video LUTs for social media.
What is a LUT?
A LUT, short for Look-Up Table, is a mathematical formula that transforms the color values of an image or video. Simply put, LUTs adjust the colors of your footage to create specific looks or moods, just like applying a filter to an image.
What’s different about LUTs, compared to traditional filters, is that they allow you to fully adjust the color spectrum, drastically changing the overall feel of a video. Depending on what you’re looking for, a LUT can turn your footage from cool to warm, enhance vibrant colors, and more.
Are There Different Types of LUTs?
Yes, there are two main types of LUTs commonly used in color grading, which are technical and creative. Let’s take a close look at each one:
Technical LUTs
Technical LUTs are designed to correct the color space of footage and are often referred to as color correction. For example, if you shoot in a flat profile like LOG, technical LUTs can transform that footage into a standard color space, like Rec. 709.
Overall, technical LUTs help you “prepare your workspace”, before moving on to applying a creative LUT.
Creative LUTs
Creative LUTs, on the other hand, are used to give your footage a specific look. These are often pre-designed and help you quickly change the tone of your videos, such as giving them a cinematic or vintage feel. Filmmakers use creative LUTs all the time to keep a consistent look across their projects, plus it is an easy way to edit your videos and save a lot of time.
How Do LUTs Work?
Color grading LUTs work by taking the colors in your original footage and matching them to the transformed color that you want to see. In simple words, a video editing LUT changes specific settings. For example, it can change dark blues to deeper, moodier blues. The result is a polished, cohesive look that can be repeated across multiple clips for consistency.
Most editing software like Adobe Premiere Pro, Final Cut Pro, and DaVinci Resolve allow you to easily apply LUTs. These come in different formats with the most common being .cube and .3dl files. Some editing programs like Adobe Photoshop also support color grading LUTs.
Why Use LUTs?
LUTs have become a staple for many video editors and colorists thus they offer a blend of speed, efficiency, and creative flexibility that easily elevates any project. By using video LUTs, you can quickly establish a consistent style across your footage without spending hours editing each clip.
Let’s explore these key benefits of video LUTs more in detail:
Speed & Efficiency
With a simple click, you can apply a preset to your footage and adjust only what you consider necessary. Say goodbye to spending countless hours altering each detail individually!
Consistency
By applying the same LUT across different scenes or clips, you can ensure that your video maintains a consistent color style throughout. This is very useful in films, commercials, or any project where visual continuity is essential.
Creative Flexibility
LUTs provide a great base for your projects, which you can later modify until you reach a desired outcome. They save you a lot of time so you can just focus on what you consider important based on the specific needs of your footage.
How To Apply LUTs in Video Editing Software
Applying LUTs is not hard, and most editing programs use the same procedure. Take a look at the following step-by-step guide for applying LUTs in some of the most common video editing platforms:
Adobe Premiere Pro
- Import your footage into Premiere Pro.
- Navigate to the Color panel and open Lumetri Color.
- Under the Basic Correction tab, you’ll find an option to Input LUT. Here, you can load your LUT file.
- Adjust the intensity of the LUT and fine-tune the color grading as needed.
Final Cut Pro
- Open your footage and select the Effects Browser.
- Search for the Custom LUT effect and drag it onto your footage.
- In the Video Inspector, select the LUT you want to apply.
- Adjust the strength of the LUT for the desired effect.
DaVinci Resolve
- After importing your footage, open the Color workspace.
- Right-click on the Node Graph and select 3D LUT.
- Choose the LUT you want to apply from your collection.
- Make further adjustments using the various color wheels and tools available in DaVinci Resolve.
If you’re a beginner, we encourage you to experiment with LUTs as much as you can. Try different options and adjust the intensity to match the look and feel you’re going for. Remember that LUTs are just a starting point, and fine-tuning them will give you the best (and unique) results.
Best Video LUTs For Social Media
Now that you know what LUTs are and how to use them on your favorite video editing software, it is time to find trending video LUTs for your projects. Lucky for you, below you can find the best video LUTs for social media based on current trends:
- Gym Video LUTs: Our Pixmellow gym video LUTs are perfect for athletes and gym filmmakers looking to achieve that energetic and bold look.
- Automotive Video LUTs: This is one of our favorites, and if you’re an automotive fan you’ll love this too. In this pack of LUTs, you can find different color profiles ranging from vintage to modern styles.
- Concert Video LUTs: Ready to take your concert footage to the next level? Our concert video LUTs feature vibrant colors, and increased saturation to make the footage pop on screen.
Final Words
Color grading LUTs are an excellent tool to take your footage from ordinary to extraordinary in a matter of seconds. Check out our catalog for more trending video LUTs and begin experimenting with new looks!
