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LUTs are simply files, similar to plugins but far more focused and with no user interface, that specify image processing operations. These operations are accomplished in a variety of ways. The traditional approach is to use a 1D table or 3D “cube” of pre-calculated values to perform an image color transform. However, newer LUT formats including CLF and DCTL let you use mathematical scripts to process an image.
Whatever type of LUT you use, these files can be loaded into DaVinci Resolve and applied at different points of the image processing pipeline to apply image processing operations for different purposes. There are several well-known uses of LUTs, but the important thing you should take away is that LUTs are simply color transform operations that can be used for many things, and there’s no single use of a LUT that’s more or less important than any other.
Here are some frequent uses for LUTs:
— While optionally superseded by Resolve Color Management (RCM), lookup tables (LUTs) have been frequently used to create a starting point adjustment for media acquired with some logarithmic encoding. DPX log film scans, digital media using the ARRI ALEXA’s Log-C encoding, Sony’s
S-Log exposure setting, or RED R3D media that is debayered using the REDFilmLog setting are all examples of media using a logarithmic exposure curve, designed to protect as much detail in the highlights and shadows of a digitally encoded image as possible. While log-encoded media retains a lot of image data, the picture is initially flat and unsuitable for use without grading.
The exposure and color must be adjusted to “normalize” the media, making it look closer to the way it’s supposed to, in order to start grading. While you can do this manually, it’s usually faster to use a LUT that’s tailored to your type of media and the exposures you’re using. Alternately, you can also use Resolve Color Management to accomplish this.
— LUTs are commonly used in onset workflows where dailies for different scenes are managed with corresponding LUTs. These LUTs were used to monitor the media as it was being recorded to define a baseline reference for how each scene is meant to look, at least so far as field monitoring is concerned. In more advanced workflows, LUTs are used as a baseline look, defined prior to the shoot and used during the shoot, that then defines the creative starting point for different scenes once grading begins after the shoot.
— LUTs are frequently used as a stylistic component of a grade, or “look” that gives users a quick start when desiring some manner of creative adjustment. Over the years, companies and individuals have created an ecosystem of such looks that are disseminated and sold in various LUT formats supported by DaVinci Resolve.
In all of these instances, LUTs are simply image processing adjustments that are applied to affect the color and contrast of a clip, in much the same way as you’d make adjustments using any of the contrast or color controls in the Color page.