User Manual

What is a LUT?
LUTs are simply files, similar to plug-ins 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 While optionally superseded by Resolve Color Management (RCM), lookup tables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.
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