Creating Custom LUTs from Color Charts Shot on Film

[Robino_J]

What software / tools are used to create custom LUTs from color charts shot on film? Any tips or tutorials anywhere?

 

[Bill Sepaniak]

You now can create custom LUTS in Photoshop. See: https://mixinglight.com/portfolio/creating-luts-from-photoshop/

And, I am pretty sure that you can also create a custom LUT in Scratch 8.0 and export it out. Here is a tutorial:

http://www.liftgammagain.com/forum/...assimilate-scratch-8-lookup-tables-luts.4677/

 

[Robino_J]

You now can create custom LUTS in Photoshop. See: https://mixinglight.com/portfolio/creating-luts-from-photoshop/

And, I am pretty sure that you can also create a custom LUT in Scratch 8.0 and export it out. Here is a tutorial:

http://www.liftgammagain.com/forum/...assimilate-scratch-8-lookup-tables-luts.4677/

Thanks Bill - Cool about photoshop didn't know about that one.

I know how to create and export LUTs using Resolve and other software packages but I'm looking for information on how to create custom LUTs based on color charts. Let's say I shot a color chart on PORTRA 35mm film, is there a software that can match the individual colors and save as a LUT?

 

[Bill Sepaniak]

If you shot it on 35mm film, wouldn't you have to scan the film in order to create a digital file, (most likely a dpx), of the image of the color chart that would then be loaded into whatever software you were using to create the LUT .... Photoshop, Resolve, Scratch or whatever? If there is some other sort of specific or readily available software for LUT creation, I am not aware of it. You might want to contact Steve Shaw at Light Illusion.

 

[Phil Holland]

There's a few dozen ways to make LUTs these days. 3DLUT Creator/Iris Paintbox, Photoshop, Resolve, and way more than that even. Some methods provide advantages in terms of depth, accuracy, and workflow depending on what's important to meeting your visual goals.

Just depends on how and where you want to work.

 

[Robino_J]

If you shot it on 35mm film, wouldn't you have to scan the film in order to create a digital file, (most likely a dpx), of the image of the color chart that would then be loaded into whatever software you were using to create the LUT .... Photoshop, Resolve, Scratch or whatever? If there is some other sort of specific or readily available software for LUT creation, I am not aware of it. You might want to contact Steve Shaw at Light Illusion.

yes I'm thinking scan the film (let's say it is daylight), then import a daylight Redlogfilm clip and match the colors (chips) and contrast to the film still. The issue is when you match 1 chip 3 other ones go out of whack...

I guess it comes down to hard work Maybe there's a better software than resolve for that. I will research more, thanks very much Bill and Phill for the information.

 

[Marc Wielage]

The problem with trying to match the color of a scan is that the image is affected by the log settings of the scanner itself and the specific film emulsion and exposure. This is not going to give you an image that looks like this negative.

 

[Hrvoje Simic]

yes I'm thinking scan the film (let's say it is daylight), then import a daylight Redlogfilm clip and match the colors (chips) and contrast to the film still. The issue is when you match 1 chip 3 other ones go out of whack...

The issue happens because film and digital react differently and one LUT alone based only on chips is very limited.
Unless the intent is shooting only color chips and in same light conditions and exposure settings.

 

[Marc Wielage]

The issue happens because film and digital react differently and one LUT alone based only on chips is very limited. Unless the intent is shooting only color chips and in same light conditions and exposure settings.

Exactly. The differences between film and digital are non-trivial and often non-linear, very difficult to calculate.

I say, just make a great picture and go for it. You're never going to make it actually look like it was shot on film, but it can certainly be lit​ like it was shot on film.

 

[Steve Shaw]

The way real film emulation LUTs are made is outlined in the pages here:

http://www.lightillusion.com/film.html

Many, not most, of the 'Film LUTs' you see advertised by various companies have been made using this process, supplied by Light Illusion.

Steve