a lightweight tool for viewing
& exporting Look Up Tables (LUTs)
Part of the PhotoTools.app collection
LUT Lab runs on iOS/macOS/iPadOS
and is entirely free to use.
It is a lightweight tool, with
a clean interface focused on
helping you get things done.
For more, you can try the app
watch the video tour,
or read the documentation below!
and is entirely free to use.
It is a lightweight tool, with
a clean interface focused on
helping you get things done.
For more, you can try the app
watch the video tour,
or read the documentation below!
What is a LUT?
A LUT (Look Up Table) is a simple file that lets you change the colors, tone, and contrast of photos/videos - like a universal color preset, compatible between different apps.
LUT Lab provides you with viewing tools to analyze LUTs, and conversion capabilities to create your own.
Currently, LUT Lab supports the .CUBE format, and the HALD LUT format.
(please let us know if you'd like to see more formats!)
LUT Lab provides you with viewing tools to analyze LUTs, and conversion capabilities to create your own.
Currently, LUT Lab supports the .CUBE format, and the HALD LUT format.
(please let us know if you'd like to see more formats!)
Interface Overview
The MODE bar at the top lets you switch between the different viewers, detailed below.The ACTIVE LUT pane at the bottom gives you details on the currently loaded LUT.
The bottom two buttons let you load LUT files from:
- your Photo Library (.PNG/.TIFF HALD LUTs only)
- your file system (HALD LUTs & .CUBE files)
-
On macOS/iPadOS, you can load any LUT file by dropping it onto the window.
When you first launch the app, a theme picker is available in the top left corner. This lets you choose an interface color that matches your workspace.
Note that this feature requires a one-time tip to be unlocked.
This is the only paid feature of LUT Lab; it supports development, and lets us keep making high-quality, ad-free, non privacy invading software.
Note that this feature requires a one-time tip to be unlocked.
This is the only paid feature of LUT Lab; it supports development, and lets us keep making high-quality, ad-free, non privacy invading software.
CUBE viewer
The first tab (keyboard shortcut: ⌘+1 on macOS/iPadOS) is the CUBE viewer, which displays a visualization of the loaded LUT in 3 dimensions.On macOS, click & drag to rotate the cube, and pinch on a trackpad/scroll on a mouse to zoom.
On iOS, touch to rotate the cube, and pinch to zoom.
There are various controls at the top left of the CUBE viewer.
The first button, MODE, lets you toggle between the two visualization modes detailed below.
The POINT SIZE slider and AXIS toggle below it let you refine the appearance of the visualization.
The EXPORT button lets you save the .cube file. If you loaded the active LUT from a .cube file, the output file will be identical. If you loaded the LUT from a HALD LUT, it will be a conversion of that information (up to a maximum size of 65x65x65).
The first button, MODE, lets you toggle between the two visualization modes detailed below.
The POINT SIZE slider and AXIS toggle below it let you refine the appearance of the visualization.
The EXPORT button lets you save the .cube file. If you loaded the active LUT from a .cube file, the output file will be identical. If you loaded the LUT from a HALD LUT, it will be a conversion of that information (up to a maximum size of 65x65x65).
SHAPE MODE
This mode lets you visualize the space occupied by all the target colors in the loaded LUT.
Use the progress slider at the bottom to morph between the colors in their target position in the LUT, back to their original position in the identity color cube.
This mode lets you visualize the space occupied by all the target colors in the loaded LUT.
Use the progress slider at the bottom to morph between the colors in their target position in the LUT, back to their original position in the identity color cube.
MAP MODE
This mode lets you visualize the space occupied by all the target colors in the loaded LUT.
Use the progress slider at the bottom to morph between the colors the LUT outputs for each original color point, back to its original color in the identity color cube.
This mode lets you visualize the space occupied by all the target colors in the loaded LUT.
Use the progress slider at the bottom to morph between the colors the LUT outputs for each original color point, back to its original color in the identity color cube.
PHOTO viewer
The second tab (keyboard shortcut: ⌘+2 on macOS/iPadOS) is the PHOTO viewer, which lets you view the loaded LUT applied to a picture.You can load a photo of your own using the "Load Photo" button. The "Make Default" button will save this photo and use it.
You can also load a photo by dropping it into the viewer.
The "Save Render" button will let you export the loaded photo, processed with the loaded LUT.
The slider below the photo lets you visualize the original unprocessed photo, and its version with the LUT applied, in a side by side fashion.
HALD viewer
The third tab (keyboard shortcut: ⌘+3 on macOS/iPadOS) is the HALD viewer, which displays an alternative representation of LUTs, known as a HALD LUT.
The "Export Reference" button will let you save a rank 16 (4096×4096, 256 values per component) HALD LUT to your device.
(you can also just save this image)
You can import this HALD into any editing/processing software, apply modifications to it, and re-export it to easily generate a LUT of your own.
If you need a .CUBE file, you can then import this processed LUT into LUT Lab, and use the export function of the CUBE viewer.
(you can also just save this image)
You can import this HALD into any editing/processing software, apply modifications to it, and re-export it to easily generate a LUT of your own.
If you need a .CUBE file, you can then import this processed LUT into LUT Lab, and use the export function of the CUBE viewer.
Final Notes
Where to find LUTS?Many photographers share LUTs online.
But making your own is easy, and gives you so much more freedom - give it a try!
What apps to use LUTs with?
For a great photography camera that supports .CUBE LUTs, check out !Boring Camera.
For video, Kino supports .CUBE LUTs and is highly recommended.
Limitations of LUTS:
LUTs can only map single input color points to single output color points.
This means that effects like grain, halation, etc. cannot be created using LUTs.
If you want a fantastic black & white film emulator, check out AgBr.app!
That's all folks!
If you have any questions, feature suggestions, or need support for LUT Lab, do not hesitate to reach out:contact@heliographe.net
Or if you make cool LUTs, please share them with us! You can also find links to our socials below.