Definition
What is a LUT in video editing?
A LUT, short for lookup table, is a preset mapping that transforms color and tonal values in an image. In video workflows, LUTs are commonly used to convert log footage to a standard display space or to apply a repeatable creative look.
Technical LUTs help translate footage from a camera-specific log or wide-gamut format into a working or delivery color space. Creative LUTs shift the image toward a desired palette or contrast style. Those purposes are different, so editors should know whether a LUT is performing a color-management transform, a look, or both.
A LUT applies the same mapping to every pixel and cannot judge the exposure or white balance of an individual shot. It is therefore a starting point rather than a finished grade. Check skin tones, clipped highlights, shadow detail, and shot matching after applying one, and adjust the grade for the actual material.
Example in the edit
An editor applies the camera manufacturer’s technical LUT so flat log footage displays normally, then makes individual exposure and color adjustments before adding a restrained creative look.
Why editors use it
LUTs make monitoring and repeatable transforms faster, especially across a team. Used with color management and shot-by-shot correction, they support a consistent final image without replacing color judgment.
Watch and learn
See the technique in context
Selected explanation by Aputure
Quick answers
Frequently asked questions about LUT
Is a LUT the same as color grading?
No. A LUT is a fixed color transform or preset. Color grading is the broader, shot-aware process of refining color and tone for the final image.
Can a LUT fix badly exposed footage?
Not reliably. A LUT cannot restore clipped highlights or replace basic correction. Correct exposure and white balance first, then judge whether the LUT still suits the shot.
Why does a LUT look different on different clips?
It assumes a particular input color space, exposure, and white balance. Footage that differs from those assumptions will receive the same transform but may produce a different-looking result.