Editing View LUTs

Use the View LUT panel to set the view LUT conversion method and settings. You can also store up to five view LUTs for quick access later.

The three conversion methods for view LUTs are Straight, Film Look, and Use Imported LUT. The last one simply uses the Gamma, Gain, and Offset settings from a previously exported LUT setup file.

When you use the Straight method, you control the Gamma, Gain, and Offset settings. The Film Look method includes Data Source and Print Film options, as well as control over the Exposure.

You can select a view LUT for each viewport. As you edit the view LUT, all viewports that use it are adjusted.

Note: The Schematic and Footage Library views are not affected by a view LUT, so the controls on the View LUT panel become unavailable.

Using the Film Look Method

When you have film footage, you can use the Film Look method to see an approximation of what the image would look like when projected.

The graph displays the LUT; you cannot edit it. The X-axis of the graph is the input, and the Y-axis is the output. Typically, you apply a view LUT when the bit depth of the operator in the viewport is higher than 8-bit. A histogram is superimposed on the curves. It represents the color content of the image currently in the viewport.

To use the Film Look method:

1. Select a viewport and apply a view LUT.

Note: You can also show the View LUT panel and enable Use LUT to edit and/or apply a view LUT.

2. From the Method list, select Film Look.

The controls for Film Look appear.


3. You can view the Red, Green, and Blue curves separately or together. By default, RGB is selected. The buttons also control which channels of the histogram appear.

Note: The buttons do not affect the result of the view LUT.

4. From the Data Source list, select Log, Linear, or Video.

For example, if the source is unconverted Cineon, select Log. Select Linear for converted Cineon and Video when the source is video.

5. From the Print Film list, select the 2383 or 2393 print film stock.

The Data Source and Print Film settings determine the curvature of the curves. You can modify the curves with the Exposure fields.

6. With Lock enabled, drag an Exposure field to adjust the exposure for all the curves. Disable Lock below the Exposure fields to adjust the curves independently.

The range of values is from -1 to 1.

The curves for the Film Look method cannot be edited directly in the graph (like the curves in the LUT Editor panel for the Bit Depth Converter and Footage operators).

Using the Straight Method

When you have linear footage, you can use the Straight method.

The graph displays the LUT; for the Straight method, you can edit the graph. The X-axis of the graph is the input, and the Y-axis is the output. Typically, you apply a view LUT when the bit depth of the operator in the viewport is higher than 8-bit. A histogram is superimposed on the curves. It represents the color content of the image currently in the viewport.

To use the Straight method:

1. Select a viewport and apply a view LUT.

Note: You can also show the View LUT panel and enable Use LUT to edit and/or apply a view LUT.

2. From the Method list, select Straight.

The controls for Straight appear.


3. You can view the Red, Green, and Blue curves separately or together. By default, RGB is selected. The buttons also control which channels of the histogram appear.

Note: The buttons do not affect the result of the view LUT.

4. With Lock enabled, drag a Gamma field to adjust the gamma for all the curves. Disable Lock below the Gamma fields to adjust the curves independently.

The range of values is from 0 to 3.

5. With Lock enabled, drag a Gain field to adjust the gain for all the curves. Disable Lock below the Gain fields to adjust the curves independently.

The range of values is from -3 to 3.

6. With Lock enabled, drag an Offset field to adjust the offset for all the curves. Disable Lock below the Offset fields to adjust the curves independently.

The range of values is restricted to the maximum number of color values.

Editing the Curves Directly

Use the Gamma, Gain, and Offset fields for basic color adjustment of the view. Usually, you do not need the full LUT Editor (with Highlight, Shadow, Reference Black, and Reference White) to adjust the viewport color compensation, so these fields can be used for quick adjustments.

However, the curves for the Straight method can be edited directly in the graph in a similar way as the curves in the LUT Editor panel for the Bit Depth Converter and Footage operators. For Gamma, it works the same, but for the other fields, there are two major differences:

• The Gain affects both the Reference White (right vertical dashed line) and the Highlight (top horizontal dashed line).
• The Offset affects all four, including the Reference Black (left vertical dashed line) and the Shadow (bottom horizontal dashed line).

Importing and Exporting View LUT Setups

The first time you select Use Imported LUT to import a LUT file for the view LUT, the Import LUT Setup dialog appears. Afterwards, you need to click the Import button.

You can click Export to export the view LUT. You cannot edit an imported view LUT.