Introduction
A Short Blogpost on why Colorists should use their own Luts and should create them, themselves. In modern film and video production, Look-Up Tables (LUTs) play a crucial role in the workflows of cinematographers, editors, and especially colorists. LUTs enable consistent color transformations and help efficiently communicate creative looks. However, pre-made LUTs are often inadequate as they fail to meet the specific requirements of a project or reflect a colorist’s, DP’s or Director’s creative vision. Therefore, it is essential for every professional colorist to create their own LUTs to merge technical precision with artistic control. Almost every DP (Director of Photography) has their own LUT that they use on their Job. Even Roger Deakins, one of the best DPs, always uses the same LUT for his films on set. He might let the colorist alter contrast or saturation to fit the mood of the film.
1. The Function and Importance of LUTs
LUTs serve as predefined color transformations that convert an image into a desired color representation. Their primary functions include:
- Technical Color Transformation: Converting raw camera material (Log or RAW) into a displayable color spectrum, such as Rec. 709 for standard monitors.
- Creative Color Styling: Applying specific color moods or looks to achieve an aesthetic vision.
- Consistency in Workflow: Ensuring uniform representation of footage from production through final color grading.
Since each camera has its own color science and different projects have unique requirements, standard LUTs are often insufficient or introduce unwanted color shifts.
2. The Limitations of Standard LUTs
Many filmmakers and colorists rely on pre-existing LUTs, but these have significant drawbacks:
- Limited Adaptability: They are not optimized for specific lighting conditions, light sources, or individual camera settings.
- Lack of Individuality: Standard LUTs often create generic looks that do not reflect a film’s creative vision.
- Lack of Control Over Transformation: A LUT stores a predefined color transformation and cannot perform selective corrections or mask-based adjustments.
For these reasons, professional colorists must create their own LUTs to perfectly balance their creative signature and technical requirements.
3. Types of LUTs: Technical, Creative, and Hybrid
Before a colorist creates their own LUTs, it is important to understand the different types and their applications:
- Technical LUTs: These transform the color spectrum and gamma curve of a camera sensor into a standardized color profile (e.g., ARRI LogC to Rec. 709). They are based on pure color science without artistic modifications.
- Creative LUTs: These focus solely on aesthetic adjustments. They alter color tones, contrast, and saturation without performing a color space transformation.
- Hybrid LUTs: A combination of technical and creative LUTs that incorporates both a color transformation and a specific artistic look. These LUTs are commonly provided by camera manufacturers like ARRI or RED.
4. The Advantages of Custom LUTs for Colorists
Creating custom LUTs offers numerous benefits:
- Customization for Individual Projects: Every project requires a specific color mood. Custom LUTs allow colorists to tailor the colors precisely.
- Consistency Across Productions: A colorist can maintain their unique visual identity by using similar color palettes for different productions.
- Optimization for Specific Camera Systems: Different camera sensors have different color characteristics. A custom LUT ensures that footage is optimally interpreted.
- Increased Efficiency in Workflow: Well-designed LUTs provide a strong starting point for color grading, saving time in post-production.
5. Creating Custom LUTs in DaVinci Resolve
Modern color grading software like DaVinci Resolve or nuke provides powerful tools for creating custom LUTs. The process involves several steps:
- Setting Up a Proper Test Environment: Selecting reference footage that matches the final shooting material.
- Applying a Technical Color Transformation: Performing a neutral color correction to convert the footage from Log or RAW into a usable color spectrum.
- Applying Creative Adjustments: Modifying hue, contrast, and saturation to achieve the desired aesthetic.
- Exporting the LUT: Saving the color transformation as a .cube file for use in various projects.
- Testing & Refining: The LUT should be tested with different shots and lighting conditions and adjusted as needed.
6. Conclusion
A professional colorist should not rely solely on pre-made LUTs but should develop their own to ensure maximum creative control and technical precision. Custom LUTs allow for efficient implementation of desired aesthetics and optimize the workflow. Modern tools like DaVinci Resolve or Nuke offer powerful options for creating and refining LUTs, enabling every colorist to shape and preserve their unique color identity.
Frame.io. (2020). How and why you should build your own LUTs. https://blog.frame.io/2020/07/27/building-your-own-luts-how-and-why/
Kroll, N. (2018). How to apply color grading LUTs professionally: My workflow explained. https://noamkroll.com/how-to-apply-color-grading-luts-professionally-my-workflow-explained/
Deakins, R. (n.d.). LUTs. Roger Deakins Forums. Retrieved March 20, 2025, from https://www.rogerdeakins.com/forums/topic/luts/
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