01In plain English
A look-up table maps every color in a clip to a new one. Camera makers publish LUTs that convert flat log footage into normal colors, and colorists share creative LUTs that apply a film look in a click.
02How it works
A LUT is a small file that works like a color conversion chart. For every color that goes in, the file lists the color that should come out. You drop the LUT on a clip, and the editor looks up each pixel in the chart and swaps it, which changes the whole look in one step. There are two main kinds. Technical LUTs convert flat, gray-looking footage shot in a camera's log mode into normal colors. Creative LUTs add a style, such as a warm film look. Applying the same LUT to every clip makes a project look consistent. It is like holding a colored filter over a lens, saved as a file so you can reuse the exact same filter later.
03Why it matters when you are choosing
LUTs save time and keep a look consistent across a project. If you shoot log footage, you will need an editor that loads them.
04What to check
Check that the editor can import standard LUT files and apply them to one clip or the whole timeline.
05Where you will meet it
06Common questions
What is a LUT in video editing?
A LUT, short for look-up table, is a file that changes the colors of a clip according to a fixed recipe. It can convert flat camera footage into normal colors or give the whole video a style. You apply it in your editor like a filter.
Do I need LUTs if I do not shoot log footage?
Not necessarily. LUTs help most with flat log footage, which needs to be converted to look right. If your camera records normal colors, you can still use creative LUTs for style, but a few simple color adjustments often do the job.
Do LUTs work in every video editor?
Most serious editors can load standard LUT files, but the way you apply them differs. Some let you place a LUT on one clip, some on a whole timeline, and some only through a color tool. Check the editor supports the file format your LUT comes in.