What’s The Difference Between Presets and LUTs?
Photo by Peter Stumpf on Unsplash
Key differences between presets and LUTs in photo and video editing
When it comes to editing photos or videos, you might have heard the terms ‘presets’ and ‘LUTs’ a lot. But what’s the difference between them? While they are quite similar, they serve different purposes and are used for various reasons.
In this post, we’ll break down the key differences between presets and LUTs and when you should use each one to perfect your editing skills. Further, we’ll share some of the best presets and LUTs you can start using today to enhance your projects with just a click.
What are Presets?
A preset is a set of adjustments that can be applied and change the overall look of a picture or video. They typically include tweaks to exposure, contrast, color balance, sharpness, and other elements.
Presets are very popular because they offer a fast way to achieve a specific look or style without having to manually recreate the same setting every time. Once you apply a preset, you can adjust individual settings until you reach the desired outcome.
What are LUTs?
LUTs (Look-Up Tables) are very similar to presets but focus more on technical aspects of your footage. They transform color data to achieve a specific look and are commonly used in professional video editing to color-correct footage shot in certain profiles, like LOG.
Key Differences Between Presets and LUTs
Many people tend to confuse presets and LUTs as they’re both used to edit footage, but there are key differences between them, such as:
1. What you can edit
Presets are easier to use and once applied you can still modify certain aspects like brightness, contrast, clarity, etc. LUTs, on the other hand, focus on color-correcting footage on a more technical level. Plus, once you apply a LUT you can’t really alter it, that’s why you use a preset later.
2. The type of footage you can use it on
Presets are typically used in photos, and in software like Adobe Photoshop and Lightroom, while LUTs are used in videos in software like DaVinci Resolve, and Premiere Pro.
3. The specific use in your projects
Presets are applied to provide a specific look and modify both the technical aspects (like exposure) and artistic aspects (like color). LUTs are generally used for a specific task (like color grading) which means they are often applied later in the editing process after other corrections have been made.
4. The file format they come in
Both presets and LUTs come in specific file formats such as .xmp and .lrtemplate (presets), and .cube and .3dl (LUTs).
When To Use Presets
Presets are an excellent tool for photographers or editors looking to save time. If you're a photographer working with hundreds of images, applying a preset can give you a cohesive look with minimal effort. Presets are particularly useful when:
- You're working with raw photos and need to quickly adjust exposure, contrast, and other settings.
- You want to establish a signature style or look across your portfolio.
- You’re working on photo editing tasks where adjustments beyond color (such as sharpening or noise reduction) are required.
In video editing, presets are often used for effects and transitions where you need to solve common problems like overexposure or underexposure.
When To Use LUTs?
LUTs are most useful for video color grading and color correction. They are perfect for when you want to achieve cinematic looks, match colors across different scenes, or transform footage shot in a flat profile into vibrant, balanced footage. Here’s when LUTs come in handy:
- You’re working with video footage and need to convert LOG profiles into standard color spaces.
- You want to create a specific color mood or atmosphere for your video.
- You’re color-correcting footage to match different cameras or lighting conditions.
Can You Use Presets and LUTs Together?
Absolutely! You can combine presets and LUTs to enjoy all of their benefits in your projects. For example, you can apply a preset to adjust contrast and exposure, then add a LUT to handle the color grading. This combination allows you to control various aspects of your image or video and ensure the final result aligns with your creative vision.
Where To Find The Best Presets & LUTs
There are many different presets and LUTs available, and lucky for you we have one of the best and most complete catalogs with exclusive ones that will help you elevate any project you’re working on. Here are some of our favorite presets and LUTs:
- Travel Lightroom Preset: All your favorite travel influencers use presets and this is one of the most popular ones. With just a click you can easily enhance your photos and go viral!
- Vintage Film Lightroom Preset: You’ve probably seen many Instagram photos that look like they were taken with a vintage camera, and this preset allows you to achieve that effect instantly.
- Summer Dream Lightroom Preset: This is another one of our favorite Lightroom presets for the summer. If your pictures feature a lot of whites and light colors, this preset is ideal for you.
- Beach Life Video LUTs: The perfect LUTs for all your vacation videos that will make your footage even more paradisiac.
- Basketball Video LUTs: If you’re a basketball or sports fan you’ll love these LUTs. Take your simple-looking video into a cinematic film within seconds.
- Kodak Video LUTs: For those looking for that classic film camera aesthetic for videos, with the iconic grain and blurry touch, this is the perfect LUTs for you.
Final Words
Presets and LUTs are great tools to enhance your photos and videos, with each offering unique advantages. Now that you know the difference between them and how to combine both, you’re ready to take your projects to the next level.
Check out all of our Lightroom presets and video LUTs to find the perfect combination for your vision. We have incredibly limited offers as well as $1 deals so make sure to not miss them!
