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A 3D Look Up Table (LUT) transforms your flat log footage into vibrant Rec.709 images on your camera’s built in LCD, EVF, and of course, external Camera Monitors.
A LUT (Look Up Table) is a file that contains a color grading preset. It is often used to apply, or match, a specific look to your footage. You can also use it as an interesting effect in its own right, such as by using it to make your images black and white while still being able to see what they would have looked like had they been shot with the same filter settings.
A LUT takes the numerical values of pixels in an image and applies those values from one file onto another file (or more technically speaking, from one color space into another). If you want your footage to look like it was shot with tungsten lighting instead of daylight for example, then applying this type of operation would be done with a LUT.
The ability for people working on different projects at different facilities around the world—and even within one facility at times—to create consistent looks between shots has become increasingly important over recent years thanks largely due to advances in technology which allow us access high quality cameras & lenses without needing much experience or training first hand; but also because consumers now expect their favorite shows/movies etc., regardless whether aired live or recorded several months ago before airing date--to always look consistent no matter who shot them!
While log footage is great for color grading, it can be a bit of a pain when you're trying to edit. The images are flat and low contrast, which makes them hard to work with for certain types of footage.
A LUT (look up table) is essentially an invertible mathematical function that takes a set of input values and maps them to another set of output values. In this case, the input value is your log footage, while the output value is rec709 footage that looks much more vibrant and has much higher contrast levels than log footage does.
We use LUTs because they allow us to transform our flat looking log images into rich looking rec709 images while retaining enough information so that we can still grade them if needed later on.
Monitor LUTs are most useful when you’re shooting in log or a flat color space, such as Adobe RGB. These are situations where the image may look underexposed on your camera and underwhelming on your monitor, but look great once you get home and bring it into DaVinci Resolve or another color grading software.
If you're using an HD Camera Control Monitor, it's best to use a monitor LUT. In fact, many editors like to apply their monitor LUTs directly from the camera or from their editing software. This allows them to see how each look compares with the original footage before diving into post-production.
If you're using an Ultra HD monitor and have access to one, then by all means use a monitor LUT! But if your computer is not equipped with an Ultra HD display driver (or if you don't have access to one), I recommend using the standard color space of Rec 709 because this will make your edits as accurate as possible when switching between viewing on both types of monitors.
There are a number of pre-built LUTs available, but they're all designed to be applied to your monitor. This means that you have to have the same camera and you have to edit with the same footage that they were designed for.
That said, these LUTs do make it easier for you if you work in a particular style or if your clients tend towards certain looks. For example, there are pre-built LUTs available specifically for Arri Alexa footage (in 4K) as well as RED Epic footage (also in 4K).
To apply a LUT, you first need to open the menu by pressing MENU on your monitor. Then, select "LUTs" and press OK. From there, scroll down until you find your new LUT in the list of available options and select it by pressing right on your joystick. Then go back to the main menu by pressing MENU once more.
You're almost finished! Now all that's left is to choose which monitor you want to apply this LUT file too—just scroll through with up/down on your joystick until you find the one that matches up with what you have set as output display in Windows (you can check what that setting is by going into Settings -> Display).
Once selected, press OK once more; this will bring up another window which asks if you want to apply or cancel applying this particular LUT file onto the specific monitor chosen earlier—this is where we make our final choice about whether or not we want our image processed through its own custom color correction matrix (and yes! That's exactly what happens when we hit OK).
A lot of people ask the question, "What if I have multiple monitors on set?" You can apply the LUT to each monitor or you can apply the LUT to one monitor and use the same LUT on all of your other monitors. You can also apply a different LUT to each monitor for further control over color grading in post.
A 3D Look Up Table (LUT) transforms your flat log footage into vibrant Rec.709 images on your camera’s built in LCD, EVF, and of course, external monitors.
If you’re looking for a way to make your images more vibrant, but don’t want to spend time color grading, then a 3D LUT is the perfect solution.
