How to install and use LUTs?

What are LUTs?

A LUT (or "Look Up Table") is a file that instructs your editing software to make specifics changes to the colors and contrast of your image. A LUT can be used to convert log footage to Rec709 or it can be used creatively, to apply a certain mood or style to your footage. You can think of it as a filter or preset to achieve a certain look. But where presets are often only compatible with one type of software, LUTs work with many types of software. Below you'll find instructions on how to install a LUT in your particular editing software.

Final Cut Pro

1. Open the effects browser and go to Color > Custom LUT (or search for 'LUT')
2. Drag the effect onto your clip on the timeline
3. In the inspector for your clip, click on the LUT dropdown and either choose a LUT from your Final Cut LUTs folder or choose Custom LUT from the dropdown to select a LUT from anywhere on your computer.

Davinci Resolve

Install a LUT

1. To install a LUT in Davinci Resolve, open or create a project, and click on the cog-icon () in the bottom-right corner.
2. Click on Color Management > Open LUT Folder. This will open Resolve's LUT folder in your Finder, so you can drag or copy your LUTs into it.
3. After you've copied your LUTs into the folder, click on Update Lists in Resolve to refresh the application

Apply a LUT

Right-click on a clip in your timeline or on a node and select LUT from the dropdown to access all of your installed LUTs

Adobe Premiere

1. Make sure the clip you want to apply the LUT to is selected on the timeline
2. In the Color-tab open Basic Correction
3. Click on the Input-LUT dropdown and select Browse... to choose a LUT from your hard drive

Alternative method:

1. In the effects-tab go to Video Effects > Color Correction > Lumetri Color
2. Drag the Lumetri Color effect onto your clip
3. Under Effects Control choose the LUT you want to apply
4. You can find Log to Rec709 LUTs under Basic Correction > Input LUT > Browse and creative LUTs under Creative > Look > Browse

Note: due to a long standing bug in Premiere, you can currently only select one LUT at a time

Adobe Photoshop

A lesser known fact is that you can also apply LUTs to photos! To apply a LUT in Adobe Photoshop go to:

Image > Adjustments > Color lookup

And then select the LUT from your hard drive.

Other apps

If you're using a different editing program, check out this article.