Phase 4: Professional Polish
Week 43 of 52 · Day 295–301
Color Grading — LUTs and Customization
Learning Objective
Learn to use LUTs as a starting point for your grades.
This Week
A LUT (Look-Up Table) is a mathematical formula that transforms the colors in your footage to create a specific look. LUTs are widely used in professional color grading as a starting point — a quick way to establish a general look that you then customize to fit the specific material. This week, you will learn how to apply LUTs and how to customize them to fit your footage.
Daily Practice
Apply a variety of LUTs to a short sequence and observe how each one changes the look and feel of the footage. Then practice customizing each LUT to fit the material. (45–60 min)
Weekly Challenge
Apply a LUT to a sequence and then customize it to fit the specific emotional tone of the material. The final grade should feel intentional and specific, not generic.