Jan
Denver Riddle, the founder of the Color Grading Central website, has developed a plugin that allows the application of 3D LUTs in Final Cut Pro X and Motion 5.
Until now, the only software that allowed something similar was ColorSync. With it, you could automatically convert a logarithmic image from ARRI Alexa to Rec. 709. However, this method was not efficient due to (among other things) the impossibility of making subsequent adjustments.
With LUT Utility these types of limitations are completely left behind, being able to apply different types of 3D LUTs that modify gamma curves or emulate printing styles and film development processes.
LUTs (Look Up Table) transform color spaces or gamma curves by converting some RGB values into others. For some time they have been associated with logarithmic profiles, due to the increase of this type of curves after the arrival of digital cameras such as RED One, ARRI Alexa or Blackmagic.
There are different types of LUTs that can be applied at different stages of a production. For example, display LUTs, which usually convert color spaces such as Rec. 709 (video) to P3 (digital cinema projection). There are also LUTs that allow us to go from a logarithmic gamma curve such as Log-C, to Rec. 709. And finally, the creative LUTs, which have aesthetic purposes.
All of them can now be applied in Final Cut Pro, simply by dragging and dropping the LUT Utility effect over the clip we want to affect. As it works in the same way as any other filter, we can apply one on top of another and adjust all its parameters. For example, if we have footage shot with a Canon 5D, using CineStyle, we could apply the CanonStyle S Curve to have a starting point and then add a film emulation LUT.
Possibly one of its best qualities is that it is not limited to the included LUTs. When we install LUT Utility a panel appears in the system preferences that allows us to add LUTs from other manufacturers or created by ourselves in systems such as DaVinci Resolve.
LUT Utility is more than reasonably priced. For only $29 you can access the full version and for $89 you will also get the OSIRIS collection, with nine LUTs that mimic the look of various types of film. Both can be purchased from this link, as well as downloading the free trial version.
Mac OS X 10.7 and Final Cut Pro version 10.0.7 are required.
We remind you that very soon we will have the Final Cut Pro X Course and the HD Color Correction Course, where you will be able to learn much more about these topics.
