How To Create Custom LUT In Adobe Premiere Pro

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Creating custom LUTs (Lookup Tables) in Adobe Premiere Pro is an excellent way to enhance your video editing workflow. LUTs allow you to achieve a specific visual style, whether it’s a dramatic cinematic effect or a soft pastel tone. By learning to design LUTs, you can create consistent aesthetics across your projects, making your work more professional and uniquely yours.

This guide will provide a step-by-step process for creating, exporting, and applying custom LUTs in Adobe Premiere Pro, ensuring your videos stand out.

What Are LUTs?

LUTs are essentially preset formulas that adjust the color values of your video. Think of them as a filter that transforms your footage’s colors and tones to achieve a desired look.

Types of LUTs

1. Technical LUTs: These are used to convert footage shot in log profiles (e.g., S-Log, V-Log, or Log-C) into standard color spaces like Rec. 709.

2. Creative LUTs: These are used for aesthetic purposes, giving your footage a distinct style or mood.

Why Create Custom LUTs?

1. Personalized Aesthetic: Tailor the color grading to your vision and style.

2. Consistency Across Projects: Apply the same look to multiple clips or projects for a cohesive appearance.

3. Time-Saving: Save your custom adjustments for quick application in future edits.

4. Compatibility: Use your LUTs across different editing platforms like DaVinci Resolve, Final Cut Pro, or Photoshop.

Before You Start: Preparation

1. Understand Your Footage

  • If your footage is shot in a flat or log profile, start by applying a technical LUT to convert it to Rec. 709. This provides a neutral base for further color grading.
  • For footage already in Rec. 709 or standard profiles, you can begin color grading directly.

2. Organize Your Workspace

  • Use the Color workspace in Adobe Premiere Pro.
  • Go to Window > Workspaces > Color or click the Color tab at the top of the interface.

Step-by-Step Guide to Creating Custom LUTs

Import and Organize Your Footage

1. Open Adobe Premiere Pro and create a new project.

2. Import your video clips via the Media Browser.

3. Drag the clips into the Timeline and arrange them for editing.

Apply Basic Color Correction

Color correction ensures your footage is balanced and natural before applying stylistic adjustments.

1. Select a clip in the timeline.

2. Open the Lumetri Color panel.

3. Go to the Basic Correction tab and adjust:

  • White Balance: Use the eyedropper tool to neutralize any color cast.
  • Exposure: Adjust brightness levels for proper visibility.
  • Contrast: Enhance differences between light and dark areas.
  • Highlights/Shadows: Fine-tune the bright and dark parts of your footage.
  • Saturation: Increase or decrease the overall intensity of colors.

Create a Stylized Look

After color correction, move on to creative adjustments that define your custom look.

Creative Adjustments

1. Open the Creative tab in the Lumetri Color panel.

2. Experiment with the following settings:

  • Faded Film: Adds a vintage touch by reducing contrast.
  • Vibrance: Enhances muted colors while preserving natural skin tones.
  • Saturation: Further adjusts color intensity.

Curves

1. Use the RGB Curves to fine-tune brightness and contrast:

Drag points on the curve to create an S-curve for a cinematic look.

2. Adjust individual color channels (Red, Green, Blue) to shift tones.

3. Explore Hue vs. Hue, Hue vs. Saturation, and Hue vs. Luma curves to isolate specific colors for targeted changes. For example:

  • Make greens more vibrant for nature shots.
  • Adjust skin tones for a natural appearance.

Color Wheels and Match

1. Use the Color Wheels to adjust the tones of shadows, midtones, and highlights:

  • Add cooler tones to shadows for a dramatic effect.
  • Warm up highlights to balance the overall image.

Vignette

1. Apply a vignette in the Vignette tab to subtly darken the edges of the frame.

2. Adjust the midpoint, feather, and roundness for a professional, focused look.

Test Your Adjustments on Multiple Clips

1. Apply the color grading settings to other clips in the timeline.

Copy and paste the Lumetri Color effect from one clip to another.

2. Check if the adjustments look consistent across different lighting and scenes.

3. Make minor tweaks to ensure uniformity.

Export Your Custom LUT

Once satisfied with your color grading, you can export the adjustments as a LUT.

1. In the Lumetri Color panel, click the three-dot menu (top-right corner).

2. Select Export .cube.

3. Save the LUT in a designated folder.

4. Name the LUT descriptively (e.g., “Warm Vintage Look”).

Applying Your Custom LUT

Custom LUTs can be easily applied to future projects.

Import the LUT

1. In the Lumetri Color panel, go to the Creative tab.

2. Under Look, click Browse.

3. Locate and select your LUT file (.cube).

Adjust the Intensity

1. Use the Intensity slider to control how strongly the LUT is applied.

2. Fine-tune other settings to complement the LUT if necessary.

Advanced Tips for LUT Creation

1. Test on Different Cameras

Ensure your LUT works on footage shot with various cameras and settings.

2. Keep Adjustments Subtle

Avoid extreme changes; subtle color grading often yields more professional results.

3. Use Log Footage for Flexibility

Log profiles offer a wider dynamic range, allowing for more detailed grading.

4. Save Multiple Variation

Create different versions of the LUT for versatility across different projects.

Common Pitfalls to Avoid

1. Skipping Color Correction

Always correct the footage before creating a LUT.

2. Over-Saturating Colors

Excessive saturation can make your footage look unnatural.

3. Not Testing Across Clips

Test your LUT on diverse scenes to ensure it performs consistently.

Using Custom LUTs in Other Software

Custom LUTs exported from Adobe Premiere Pro can be used in other platforms like Final Cut Pro, DaVinci Resolve, and Photoshop. Ensure your LUT is saved in the .cube format for compatibility.

Practical Applications of LUTs

1. Wedding Videos: Create a soft, romantic look.

2. Travel Vlogs: Design vibrant, eye-catching tones.

3. Corporate Projects: Develop clean, professional aesthetics.

4. Films: Apply cinematic grading for a polished appearance.

Conclusion

Creating custom LUTs in Adobe Premiere Pro is a transformative skill that elevates your video editing capabilities. By crafting unique LUTs, you can develop a consistent visual style, save time on future projects, and ensure your content stands out.

From correcting footage to adding creative flair, this process empowers you to control the visual narrative of your videos. With practice and experimentation, your custom LUT library will become an essential tool for achieving professional-quality results.

Categories: Education