Motion & effects
LUT: definition and examples
What is LUT?
A LUT, or Look-Up Table, is a file that remaps the color and tone values of footage from one set of values to another, functioning as a reusable color grade that can be applied in a single step. Editors use LUTs to apply a consistent look across multiple clips or to convert camera-native color profiles into a finished visual style.
When you'd use it
- 1When you need to apply the same color grade consistently across a large batch of clips.
- 2When a colorist or director has defined a campaign look and it needs to be replicated by editors working in different software.
- 3When footage was shot in a flat or log profile and needs a technical conversion LUT before any creative grade.
- 4When you want to preview how footage will look with a specific grade before committing to detailed manual adjustments.
Example
A creator shoots all clips on a phone in a flat color profile to preserve dynamic range, then applies a single creative LUT across the 12 clips in the edit. The LUT brings all clips to a consistent warm, slightly desaturated look in one step, leaving only minor per-clip exposure tweaks.
Use cases
- 1Dropping a branded house-style LUT onto every clip in a campaign to ensure visual consistency across the series.
- 2Using a technical LUT to convert log-profile camera footage to a standard color space before editing.
- 3Previewing three different mood options on a hero product clip by swapping LUT files before committing to a grade.
FAQ
What's the difference between a LUT and a color grade?
A LUT is a file that carries a color transformation. A color grade is the full process of shaping a clip's look, which often uses LUTs as one tool within it. You can apply a LUT without grading anything manually, but a polished grade usually involves additional adjustments on top of or alongside the LUT.
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