Film looks and lookup tables

With lookup tables, you can apply specific color and contrast settings to raw camera material.

Lookup tables are provided by camera manufacturers. This means the camera material will be processed as the camera manufacturer had intended it. The image contains saturated colors and strong contrasts. Lookup tables also enable you to modify visual aesthetics. Certain film genres each have their own characteristic color properties: Crime thrillers often use strongly saturated, almost monochrome colors, whereas romantic comedies often have bright, saturated colors.

For many film productions, you can find their lookup tables online to download. You can also use such external lookup tables in Video Pro X to increase your stock of lookup tables. The lookup tables provided can be found in the Templates tab in the Media Pool. There is a preview for each lookup table. To load a lookup table, drag and drop the object into the Timeline.

Lookup tables (LUT)

Lookup tables (LUT) contain predefined values, which can be called up without having to be calculated first. They are implemented in various industries, including image editing, such as in color render improvement.

You can use lookup tables in creative areas to give your movies a certain look, for example "Matrix style".

But lookup tables can also be used to calibrate log/flat formats. Some cameras offer these formats to create low-contrast original material, for easier editing later. Often, manufacturers of such camera models offer corresponding lookup tables for conversion.

Currently, Video Pro X supports lookup tables in cube format.

Some lookup tables for specific film looks are already included and can be set. See if you can find the right look.

NOTE You can search online using terms such as "color grading lut" and "cube lut" for lookup tables and save these on your PC. You can then load and use them in Video Pro X.

Camera lookup tables

Lookup tables from different camera manufacturers will adjust the image to appear as they intended it. With these tables, you can achieve a saturated, neutral image with rich contrasts.

Effect lookup tables

This folder contains lookup tables which you can use to give your video image a certain atmosphere.

Object properties

In the dialog "Object Properties", the video material properties will be listed in more detail.

  • Right-click on the object to open the dialog in the context menu.

  • In the "Video" tab, you can see the color depth, color sampling and the color profile for your original material. Here, you can also access the camera lookup tables from the Media Pool.

  • You can access the save destination folder for the lookup tables using the folder symbol. Here, you can see the path information, add further lookup tables or create your own.

Create your own lookup tables

  • To create your own lookup tables, first load the film material.

  • Now, use the individual color and contrast effects until you are satisfied with the image.

  • Use the arrow button in the effect dialog to open the effects menu. Gradation curves from the contrast dialog and color properties can be saved as a lookup table. In the following dialog, all the active effects that can be saved as a lookup table will be listed.

  • Click on "Next" to open the save destination folder for the lookup tables.

  • Choose an appropriate name.

  • Your new lookup table can be accessed later by going to the lookup folder in the Media Pool.