What are LUTs and How do They Work?

Emilio Takas
4 min readJan 22, 2022

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A Look Up Table (LUT) is a file containing math instructions for mapping input values to output values. It is essentially a color grading preset that can be applied to video or images. LUTs are most often used to convert footage shot in Log (like DSLRs) to what’s called ‘Rec.709’ — the standard color space for HDTV. LUTs can also be used to create many other effects, like adding grain, creating black and white looks, or even changing the tint of an image. LUTs are especially powerful when combined with other tools like.

Image source Pexels.com

What is a LUT

To give a more in depth definition, a LUT is a a mathematical algorithm that tells your computer how to map one color onto another. Effectively, it transforms the color of an image into another. LUTs are used in color grading to quickly change the look and feel of a video or image without having to actually change the original footage. Using a well-made LUT, you can make creative adjustments to your video in post-production and achieve the same results as if you used expensive hardware like professional cameras, lenses, and lighting systems.

The Use of LUTs in Different Industries

LUTs are widely used in television production, videography and photography. The benefits of using LUTs include saving time on color correction and giving producers the option to select between different looks during post-production.

LUTs is a technology that allows for the efficient manipulation of digital images. They are especially effective in cinematography and photography, where they are used to quickly adjust the color balance of an image or video. LUTs can be applied to any type of media, from photos to videos, music, and even live broadcasts.

Image source Pexels.com

How to Use LUTS in Video Editing?

A LUT may be used in video editing to correct color cast and to apply creative looks. It is a file with a list of parameters (color curves) that will be applied in your video. The problem is that it is difficult to create a LUT by yourself, particularly because you need to know how the video color space works, like Rec 709 or P3. So for beginners, what’s the difference between a LUT and presets?

Difference between a LUT and presets

Have you ever wondered what the difference between a LUT and a preset is? You use both of them in your post-processing, but probably don’t know the difference. A Look Up Table (LUT) is a file that contains mathmatical equations to transform pixels. A LUT is applied to an image when it is processed, which means that it will be used every time you make a change to exposure, contrast, color temperature, etc. A preset is a set of adjustments made to an image. It does not change each time you edit the photo.

Where to find free LUTs online?

LUTs are extremely popular in the VFX community. Since they are designed to be used in post production, they don’t have any impact on quality. In addition to that, free luts can be found online on several websites.

What are the benefits of using LUTs?

There are several types of LUTs and they can accomplish dramatically different things. Some of them adjust the colors of an image to make it look warmer or cooler. Others may change the contrast and brightness, while others may start with a black and white photo and add some cinematic look into your footages. This is also where the cinematic luts come in place, to give you exactly the look of the movie you want to achieve to your videos.

Final Thoughts on Using LUTs

The use of LUTs is extremely popular in the video world, and with good reason. It’s an easy way to make your videos stand out from the crowd. When you’re looking for ways to make your videos pop, LUTs are an excellent way to do that. Whether you have a specific vision for the look and feel of your video, or if you just want to experiment, LUTs are a fun and inexpensive tool that will open up a whole new set of creative options for your work.

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