What is a LUT and how does it work?

LUTs are the perfect color-grading tools for video editing. Today, we’ll walk through the basics, and figure out if LUTs are right for your project. 

We’ll discuss:

• What is a LUT?
• How do LUTs work?
• What is a 1D LUT?
• What are 3D LUTs?
• What’s the difference between input LUTs and look LUTs?
• What are monitor LUTs?
• Are LUTs better than presets?
• Are LUTs necessary?
• Are LUTs copyrighted?

What is a LUT?

LUT stands for lookup table. Breaking it down to brass tacks, LUTs are color-based formulas which you can apply to your footage or photography. Filmmakers and video editors often use LUTs as shortcuts to a vibe or emotion. LUTs fast-track the color-grading process — done well, viewers may recognize them as stylistic traits or quirks of your work.

Let’s use Breaking Bad as a case in point. Whenever they left Albuquerque and headed to Mexico, everything became more…yellow. Mexico obviously doesn’t look like this — the creative team color-graded it this way to show which side of the border you were looking at. 

Movie LUTs saw this as an opportunity, creating their own LUT based on this distinct, well-known palette.

@movieluts Replying to @KordWave close. Or as they would call it - Mexico LUT. #breakingbad #mexico #breakingbadedit #colorgrading #videoediting #beforeandafter ♬ Breaking Bad Main Theme - Geek Music

How do LUTs work?

Think of LUTs a little like a preset. Applying a LUT to your footage requires similar things: your footage, a suitable video editing software, and the LUT in question. Popular programs like the Adobe suite, Final Cut Pro, DaVinci Resolve, Wondershare Filmora, and more support LUTs. 

Your software should have some LUTs available, or you might want to do your own LUT-hunting online. Either way, you can access said LUTs directly in your software. More often than not, they’ll be nestled in the “Effects” or “Layer” menus. For example, you can browse your Adobe Premiere Pro LUTs by opening the program, creating a new adjustment layer, then opening the Lumetri Color panel. 

It’s worth noting that, unlike presets, LUTs are created for specific purposes. Many LUTs are compatible with S-Log footage, which is a wider, dynamic shooting profile used to retain more shadows and highlights.

Filming in S-Log may result in your initial footage looking flat and boring — that’s the point, though. Once you run it through an S-Log-friendly LUT, the footage is essentially a blank canvas, ready to receive whatever dazzling color glow-ups you have in mind.

In a similar fashion, LUTs may not look how they’re supposed to if your initial color correction is out of whack. This includes settings like white balance, exposure, noise reduction, and more — nail this first, otherwise your LUT won’t create the impact you’re looking for. 

Once you have your LUTs lined up in your editing software, you’ll probably want to hunker down and lose yourself in the edit.

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What is a 1D LUT?

1D LUTs are the more basic LUT variety. They apply a general color grade to your footage, but their one-dimensional nature only lets you adjust one value setting: the gamma curve, which controls saturation. 

This means that, unless you just need it for a quick and dirty job, a 1D LUT won’t provide the level of control and customization that you may need for your project. Tweaking one color will affect another, as the 1D LUT’s limitations link them — the saturation will change across the whole image. 

If they’re not clearly labeled as such, these LUTs should be identifiable by their file format, which is the standard “.lut” extension. 

What are 3D LUTs?

3D LUTs are based on hue, saturation, and brightness (HSB) — these three values represent the building blocks of color grading. HSB control provides more freedom than a 1D LUT, allowing adjustment of independent colors. Most professional video editors work with 3D LUTs, as they can reproduce the colors presented in complex, vibrant mediums like film stock. 

You can identify 3D LUTs by their file format, which is usually the “.cube” extension. 

What’s the difference between input LUTs and look LUTs?

An input LUT, also called a camera LUT, is used before the color-grading process. These LUTs are applied to S-Log footage during color correction, preparing your footage for color grading. 

Look LUTs are what most people think of when you mention a LUT: they can be 1D or 3D, and are used to achieve a certain look or style during post-production.

What are monitor LUTs?

Monitor LUTs are used during production, and there are two core versions. One is the calibration LUT, which calibrates your monitor to display the most faithful representation of the scene you’re shooting. 

The other monitor LUT is a viewing LUT. These do a similar job to calibration LUTs, but go one step further — viewing LUTs mimic the style of your desired look LUT. This means that, even when you’re filming, you’ll have a solid idea of how your finished footage will turn out. 

Are LUTs better than presets?

LUTs sound similar to presets, but is one better than the other? Presets are more straightforward, and can be applied directly to pretty much anything you throw at them. LUTs are applied as a layer on top of your content, and may not work with all kinds of footage. 

If you’re just spitballing or know that a one-click preset will do the job, there’s no harm in slapping said preset over your footage, or even going for a 1D LUT. However, if you want to get into the weeds, experiment with your footage, and tease out different tones, it’s worth using a 3D LUT. 

Are LUTs necessary?

Hopefully, this article has sold you on the idea of LUTs. They’re not a full-on replacement for the color-grading process, but they’re perfect for creators who haven’t mastered that skill.

Moreover, professional creators and editors use LUTs as shortcuts, helping them achieve a consistent style in a short amount of time. They also apply LUTs to test footage and rough cuts, to show stakeholders how the finished product will look. 

Are LUTs copyrighted?

LUT copyright can be a little complicated. At face value, you’d assume that LUTs aren’t copyrighted — they’re basically settings which you’ll then adjust, right?

It’s not that simple, unfortunately. Some developers consider their LUTs to be copyrighted, as they can be viewed as original, creative works. Pre-installed and paid-for LUTs are usually OK, but always double-check the limitations before you publish any LUT-edited content. Otherwise, you could end up in hot water. 

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