Understanding LUTS - A Quick Guide
LUTs, or Look-Up Tables, are a powerful tool used in post-production to achieve specific looks and colour corrections for images and videos. They are pre-designed mathematical equations that are used to map one colour space to another, allowing you to quickly and easily adjust the colour of your footage without having to manually adjust each colour channel. In this article, we'll explore what LUTs are, the different types of LUTs available, and how to use LUTs for specific looks.
What are LUTs?
A LUT is a mathematical formula that allows you to adjust the colours in an image or video by remapping the original colour values to new ones. It's essentially a table of numbers that maps one set of colours to another set of colours. When applied to an image or video, a LUT will change the way the colours look by adjusting the brightness, contrast, saturation, and hue of the pixels.
To understand how a LUT works, it's a must to understand how digital colour is represented. Digital images and videos are made up of pixels, which are tiny dots that each contain a combination of red, green, and blue (RGB) colour values. The RGB colour model is an additive colour model, meaning that colours are created by adding different amounts of red, green, and blue light together.
When you apply a LUT to an image or video, the LUT takes the original RGB colour values and applies a mathematical formula to remap them to new colour values. This remapping can be done based on a variety of criteria, such as adjusting the colour balance, contrast, or saturation. The result is a new image or video with a different look and feel.
There are many different types of LUTs available, each with its own unique mathematical formula and colour remapping capabilities. Some LUTs are designed to replicate the look of certain film stocks, while others are used to correct colour imbalances in footage shot under different lighting conditions. There are also LUTs designed for specific cameras or shooting scenarios, such as underwater footage or drone footage.
Overall, LUTs are an essential tool for colour grading and colour correction in post-production. By understanding how LUTs work and how to use them effectively, you can achieve a specific look. You can also match the colours of footage shot in different environments or on different cameras.
Types of LUTs
There are two main types of LUTs: 1D LUTs and 3D LUTs. Let's explore both of these in more detail below:
1D LUTs: A 1D LUT (or one-dimensional LUT) is a type of LUT that maps a single colour channel, such as red, green, or blue, to another value. 1D LUTs are typically used for simple colour adjustments, such as adjusting the brightness, contrast, or saturation of a specific colour channel. For example, a 1D LUT could be used to increase the saturation of the blue channel to make the sky appear bluer in an outdoor scene.
3D LUTs: A 3D LUT (or three-dimensional LUT) is a more complex type of LUT that maps all three colour channels (red, green, and blue) at the same time. 3D LUTs are used for more advanced colour grading and colour correction. This allows you to adjust multiple colour channels simultaneously to achieve a specific look or to match the colours of footage shot under different conditions. For example, a 3D LUT could be used to adjust the colour balance of an image to make it appear warmer or cooler. It could also be used to add a specific colour cast to achieve a particular mood or style.
In addition to 1D and 3D LUTs, there are also other types of LUTs that can be used for more specific applications. For example, a 2D LUT can be used to adjust the colour and brightness of an image based on its luminance values, while a cube LUT is a type of 3D LUT that is stored in a cube-shaped file and can be applied for more advanced colour grading.
Understanding the different types of LUTs and their applications can help you choose the right LUT for your specific needs and achieve the desired look or colour correction in your post-production workflow.
Using LUTs for specific looks
LUTs are often used in post-production to achieve a specific look or style for an image or video. For example, you might want to create a vintage look for a music video or a cinematic look for a short film. LUTs can help you achieve these looks quickly and easily, without having to manually adjust each colour channel.
To use LUTs for specific looks, follow these steps:
Choose a LUT: There are many LUTs available online that can help you achieve specific looks or styles. Some LUTs are designed to replicate the look of film stocks, while others are used to create specific colour effects or styles. Choose a LUT that matches the look you're trying to achieve.
Apply the LUT: Once you've chosen a LUT, add it to your image or video in your editing software. Most editing software, such as Adobe Premiere Pro or DaVinci Resolve, has built-in LUT support that allows you to quickly create LUTs to your footage. You can also apply LUTs manually by adjusting the colour settings of your footage.
Adjust the LUT: After you've applied the LUT, you may need to make additional adjustments to achieve the desired look. For example, you may have to adjust the brightness or contrast of your footage to match the LUT. Alternatively, you may need to change the saturation to achieve the desired effect. Experiment with different settings to get the look you're after.
Fine-tune the LUT: Once you've achieved the basic look you're after, you may need to fine-tune the LUT to achieve the most effective results. For example, you may need to adjust the shadows or highlights to bring out more detail. Alternatively, you may have to adjust the color temperature to match the lighting in your footage. Make these adjustments until you're satisfied with the final result.
Using LUTs for specific looks can save you time and effort in post-production, allowing you to achieve the desired look or style quickly and easily. However, it's worthwhile to remember that LUTs are not a one-size-fits-all solution, and may not work for every image or video. Experiment with different LUTs and settings to find the most suitable solution for your specific project.
LUTs are a versatile and powerful tool in post-production that can help you get specific looks and colour corrections quickly and easily. They can save you time and effort in colour grading, and allow you to achieve complex colour corrections that would be difficult or impossible to achieve manually.
What is a LUT - conclusion
By understanding what LUTs are, the different types of LUTs available, and how to use LUTs in your editing software, you can take your post-production skills to the next level and deliver professional-grade results. So why not give LUTs a try in your next project and see the difference they can make?