A LUT (Look-Up Table) is a mathematical table that maps input color values to output color values, used to quickly apply a specific color transformation or creative look to footage.
A LUT — short for Look-Up Table — is essentially a preset color transformation stored as a file. When applied to footage, it remaps every color in the image according to predefined rules. LUTs come in two main varieties: technical LUTs that convert between color spaces (for example, from LOG to Rec.709) and creative LUTs that apply a stylistic look (like a vintage film emulation or a specific cinematic grade).
Technical LUTs are essential in professional workflows. Cameras that shoot in LOG profiles capture flat, desaturated images that preserve maximum dynamic range. A conversion LUT transforms this flat footage into a standard viewing color space, restoring contrast and saturation as a starting point for further grading. Without this step, LOG footage looks washed out and unappealing.
Creative LUTs are popular for establishing a consistent look quickly. However, professionals treat them as starting points rather than finished grades. A LUT applied to different footage shot under different conditions will produce inconsistent results, so additional manual adjustment is always needed. When evaluating a color grade, the quality of manual refinement matters far more than which LUT was used as a foundation.
Color grading is the creative process of adjusting the colors, contrast, and overall visual tone of footage to establish a mood, style, or visual identity.
A color space is a defined range of colors that a device or format can capture, display, or reproduce, such as Rec.709 for HD video or DCI-P3 for digital cinema.
LOG footage is video recorded using a logarithmic encoding curve that captures a wider dynamic range by distributing more data to shadows and midtones, producing a flat, desaturated image designed for color grading.