3D LUT Creator Pro: The Ultimate Software for Professional Color Grading
3D LUT Creator Pro 101: A Comprehensive Guide for Color Grading Enthusiasts
If you are passionate about color grading, you probably know how important it is to have a powerful and versatile software that can help you create stunning looks for your images and videos. Whether you are a photographer, videographer, or colorist, you need a tool that can handle any color correction challenge and give you full control over your creative vision.
3d lut creator pro 101
That's where 3D LUT Creator Pro comes in. This software is the latest program with unique tools for professional color grading of digital images and video. It allows you to create 3D lookup tables (LUTs) that can be imported into many programs such as Adobe Photoshop, DaVinci Resolve, Adobe Premiere Pro, FinalCut Pro, Adobe After Effects, and more.
In this article, we will give you a comprehensive guide on how to use 3D LUT Creator Pro, what features and benefits it offers, and some tips and tricks to get the most out of it. By the end of this article, you will be able to create amazing color grading looks with ease and confidence.
What is 3D LUT Creator Pro?
3D LUT Creator Pro is a software application designed by Oleg Sharonov, a Russian photographer and colorist. It was launched in 2015 and has since gained popularity among professionals and enthusiasts alike. It is currently available for Windows, Mac, and Linux platforms.
As the name suggests, 3D LUT Creator Pro allows you to create 3D lookup tables (LUTs), which are files that contain information on how to map one set of colors to another. LUTs are widely used in color grading, as they can quickly and easily change the mood, tone, and style of an image or video.
However, unlike other software that only allows you to apply existing LUTs or create simple ones from basic adjustments, 3D LUT Creator Pro gives you the ability to create complex and customized LUTs from scratch. It does so by using a unique interface that lets you manipulate colors in three-dimensional space.
The main feature of 3D LUT Creator Pro is the A/B grid, which allows you to change the hue and saturation of any color in your image or video by dragging it on a grid that represents the color plane. You can also use the C/L grid to change the contrast and luminance of any color depending on its brightness. These grids are tied to different color spaces and color models, giving you more flexibility and accuracy in your color corrections.
In addition to these grids, 3D LUT Creator Pro also offers other tools such as volume, curves, masks, channels, groups, layers, blending modes, filters, presets, plugins, AI-based retouching, and more. These tools allow you to fine-tune your color grading looks, apply selective corrections, create LUTs from color pa lettes or gradient maps, integrate with other software, and more. How to use 3D LUT Creator Pro
Now that you have a general idea of what 3D LUT Creator Pro is and what it can do, let's dive into the details of how to use it. In this section, we will walk you through the basic steps of creating a 3D LUT from scratch using 3D LUT Creator Pro.
Download and install 3D LUT Creator Pro
The first step is to download and install 3D LUT Creator Pro on your computer. You can get the software from the official website: https://3dlutcreator.com/. You can choose between the Pro version, which costs $249 and offers all the features and tools, or the Grading version, which costs $99 and offers a limited set of tools. You can also download a free trial version that lasts for 31 days and allows you to test the software before buying it.
Once you have downloaded the software, you can install it by following the instructions on the screen. You will need to enter your license key or activate the trial version to start using the software.
Create a new project and import an image or video
The next step is to create a new project and import an image or video that you want to color grade. To do this, you can either click on the File menu and select New Project, or press Ctrl+N on your keyboard. A dialog box will appear where you can name your project and choose a location to save it.
Then, you can import an image or video by clicking on the File menu and selecting Open Image or Open Video, or by dragging and dropping the file into the main window. You can also import multiple images or videos at once by holding down the Ctrl key while selecting them. The software supports various formats such as JPEG, PNG, TIFF, BMP, PSD, RAW, MOV, MP4, AVI, and more.
Once you have imported your image or video, you will see it displayed in the preview window on the right side of the screen. You can zoom in or out by using the mouse wheel or the slider at the bottom of the window. You can also rotate or flip the image or video by clicking on the buttons at the top of the window.
Choose a color space and a color model
The next step is to choose a color space and a color model for your project. A color space is a system that defines how colors are represented in digital form. A color model is a mathematical way of describing colors using one or more parameters. Choosing the right color space and color model is important for achieving accurate and consistent color grading results.
To choose a color space and a color model, you can click on the Settings menu and select Color Space Settings. A dialog box will appear where you can select from various options such as sRGB, Adobe RGB, Rec.709, Rec.2020, ACEScg, ACEScct, HSL, HSV, HSI, LAB, LCHab, LCHuv, CMYK, YCbCr, YUV, XYZ, RGBWcmyk, RGBWcmyk2x2x2x2x2x2x2x2x2x2x2x2x2x2x2x2x2x2x2x2x2x2x2x2x Continuing the article:
Use the A/B grid to adjust hue and saturation
The next step is to use the A/B grid to adjust the hue and saturation of any color in your image or video. The A/B grid is the main tool of 3D LUT Creator Pro, and it allows you to manipulate colors in a two-dimensional plane that represents the color wheel. You can access the A/B grid by clicking on the A/B tab at the top of the screen.
The A/B grid shows you a scatter plot of all the colors in your image or video, with each dot representing a pixel. You can zoom in or out by using the mouse wheel or the slider at the bottom of the grid. You can also change the size and shape of the dots by clicking on the buttons at the top of the grid.
To adjust the hue and saturation of any color, you can simply click and drag any dot on the grid to a new position. You will see that the color of the corresponding pixel in your image or video will change accordingly. You can also select multiple dots by holding down the Shift key or drawing a selection box with your mouse, and then move them together.
By using the A/B grid, you can perform various color correction tasks such as changing the overall color temperature, creating color contrast, matching colors from different sources, removing color casts, enhancing or reducing specific colors, and more. You can also use the tools at the bottom of the grid to rotate, scale, skew, or warp the entire grid for more advanced adjustments.
Use the C/L grid to adjust contrast and luminance
The next step is to use the C/L grid to adjust the contrast and luminance of any color depending on its brightness. The C/L grid is another tool of 3D LUT Creator Pro, and it allows you to manipulate colors in a two-dimensional plane that represents the tonal range. You can access the C/L grid by clicking on the C/L tab at the top of the screen.
The C/L grid shows you a scatter plot of all the colors in your image or video, with each dot representing a pixel. The horizontal axis represents the brightness of each pixel, from black on the left to white on the right. The vertical axis represents the contrast of each pixel, from low on the bottom to high on the top.
To adjust the contrast and luminance of any color, you can simply click and drag any dot on the grid to a new position. You will see that the contrast and luminance of the corresponding pixel in your image or video will change accordingly. You can also select multiple dots by holding down the Shift key or drawing a selection box with your mouse, and then move them together.
By using the C/L grid, you can perform various color correction tasks such as adjusting the overall exposure, creating tonal contrast, matching brightness from different sources, removing or adding shadows and highlights, enhancing or reducing specific tones, and more. You can also use the tools at the bottom of the grid to rotate, scale, skew, or warp the entire grid for more advanced adjustments.
Use the volume tool to create 3D LUTs from color palettes or gradient maps
The next step is to use the volume tool to create 3D LUTs from color palettes or gradient maps. The volume tool is a unique feature of 3D LUT Creator Pro, and it allows you to create 3D LUTs from any image that contains a color scheme that you like. You can access the volume tool by clicking on the Volume tab at the top of the screen.
The volume tool shows you a three-dimensional representation of your color space, with each axis representing a color channel (red, green, and blue). You can rotate, zoom, or pan the volume by using your mouse or the buttons at the top of the tool. You can also change the opacity of the volume by using the slider at the bottom of the tool.
To create a 3D LUT from a color palette or a gradient map, you need to import an image that contains the colors that you want to use. You can do this by clicking on the File menu and selecting Open Volume Image, or by dragging and dropping the image into the volume tool. The software supports various formats such as JPEG, PNG, TIFF, BMP, PSD, and more.
Once you have imported your image, you will see it displayed on a plane that cuts through the volume. You can move this plane along any axis by using the sliders at the bottom of the tool. You can also rotate or flip the image by clicking on the buttons at the top of the tool.
By moving and rotating the image on the plane, you can map its colors to different parts of your color space. You will see that your image or video in the preview window will change accordingly. You can also use the tools at the bottom of the tool to rotate, scale, skew, or warp the entire volume for more advanced adjustments.
By using the volume tool, you can create 3D LUTs from any color palette or gradient map that you like. You can also use the presets library to choose from various color schemes that are already available in the software. You can also import your own color palettes or gradient maps from other sources such as Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Color, Coolors, and more.
Use the curves tool to fine-tune the tonal range and color balance
The next step is to use the curves tool to fine-tune the tonal range and color balance of your image or video. The curves tool is a common feature in many color grading software, and it allows you to adjust the brightness and contrast of each color channel (red, green, and blue) by using a curve that represents the input and output values. You can access the curves tool by clicking on the Curves tab at the top of the screen.
The curves tool shows you a graph of each color channel, with the horizontal axis representing the input values (from 0 to 255) and the vertical axis representing the output values (from 0 to 255). You can zoom in or out by using the mouse wheel or the slider at the bottom of the tool. You can also change the grid size by clicking on the buttons at the top of the tool.
To adjust the tonal range and color balance of your image or video, you can simply click and drag any point on the curve to a new position. You will see that the brightness and contrast of the corresponding color channel in your image or video will change accordingly. You can also add or delete points on the curve by double-clicking or right-clicking on them.
By using the curves tool, you can perform various color correction tasks such as adjusting the overall exposure, creating tonal contrast, matching brightness from different sources, removing or adding shadows and highlights, enhancing or reducing specific tones, and more. You can also use the tools at the bottom of the tool to invert, reset, or load the curves for more advanced adjustments.
Use the masks tool to apply selective color corrections
The next step is to use the masks tool to apply selective color corrections to specific areas of your image or video. The masks tool is a powerful feature of 3D LUT Creator Pro, and it allows you to create and edit masks that can isolate certain colors, tones, or regions of your image or video. You can access the masks tool by clicking on the Masks tab at the top of the screen.
The masks tool shows you a list of all the masks that you have created for your project, with each mask having a name, a color, and a visibility icon. You can add a new mask by clicking on the Add Mask button at the bottom of the tool. You can also rename, duplicate, delete, or reorder the masks by right-clicking on them.
To create a mask, you need to select a source for the mask, which can be either a color channel, a luminance channel, or an image. You can do this by clicking on the Source menu and choosing an option. You can also adjust the threshold and tolerance of the mask by using the sliders at the bottom of the tool.
Once you have created a mask, you can edit it by using the tools at the top of the tool. You can use the brush tool to paint or erase parts of the mask manually. You can use the gradient tool to create a smooth transition between masked and unmasked areas. You can use the blur tool to soften the edges of the mask. You can use the feather tool to expand or contract the mask. You can use the invert tool to reverse the mask.
By using the masks tool, you can apply selective color corrections to specific areas of your image or video. You can do this by selecting a mask and then using any of the other tools such as A/B grid, C/L grid, volume, curves, etc. You will see that only the masked area will be affected by your adjustments.
Preview and export your 3D LUTs
The final step is to preview and export your 3D LUTs that you have created using 3D LUT Creator Pro. To preview your 3D LUTs, you can click on the Preview menu and select an option. You can choose to preview your 3D LUTs on a still image, a video, or a color chart. You can also compare your 3D LUTs with the original image or video, or with other 3D LUTs that you have created or imported. You can also adjust the opacity of your 3D LUTs by using the slider at the bottom of the preview window.
To export your 3D LUTs, you can click on the File menu and select Export LUT. A dialog box will appear where you can name your 3D LUT and choose a location to save it. You can also choose a format for your 3D LUT, such as CUBE, 3DL, CSP, ICC, PNG, or JPG. You can also adjust the size and quality of your 3D LUT by using the sliders at the bottom of the dialog box.
Once you have exported your 3D LUT, you can use it in any software that supports 3D LUTs, such as Adobe Photoshop, DaVinci Resolve, Adobe Premiere Pro, FinalCut Pro, Adobe After Effects, and more. You can also share your 3D LUTs with other users or download more 3D LUTs from the official website or other sources.
Tips and tricks for using 3D LUT Creator Pro
In this section, we will give you some tips and tricks for using 3D LUT Creator Pro more effectively and efficiently. These tips and tricks will help you improve your color grading skills and save time and effort.
Use the presets library to get inspired by professional color grading looks
One of the best features of 3D LUT Creator Pro is the presets library, which contains hundreds of ready-made 3D LUTs that you can apply to your images or videos with one click. These 3D LUTs are created by professional colorists and photographers, and they cover various genres and styles such as cinematic, vintage, black and white, HDR, portrait, landscape, and more.
To use the presets library, you can click on the Presets menu and select an option. You can choose from various categories such as Film Emulation, Creative Looks, Color Correction, Technical LUTs, and more. You can also search for a specific preset by using the search box at the top of the menu.
Once you have selected a preset, you will see it applied to your image or video in the preview window. You can also adjust the opacity of the preset by using the slider at the bottom of the window. You can also compare the preset with the original image or video, or with other presets by clicking on the buttons at the top of the window.
By using the presets library, you can get inspired by professional color grading looks and apply them to your own images or videos. You can also use them as a starting point for your own customizations, or as a reference for learning how to create your own 3D LUTs.
Use the color wheel to create harmonious color schemes
Another useful feature of 3D LUT Creator Pro is the color wheel, which allows you to create harmonious color schemes for your images or videos. The color wheel is a tool that shows you the relationship between different colors on the color circle, and helps you choose colors that work well together.
To use the color wheel, you can click on the Color Wheel menu and select an option. You can choose from various modes such as Monochromatic, Analogous, Complementary, Split Complementary, Triadic, Tetradic, and Custom. You can also adjust the hue, saturation, and brightness of each color by using the sliders at the bottom of the menu.
Once you have selected a mode and adjusted the colors, you will see them displayed on the color wheel and on a bar at the bottom of the menu. You can also see how they affect your image or video in the preview window. You can also compare the color scheme with the original image or video, or with other color schemes by clicking on the buttons at the top of the window.
By using the color wheel, you can create harmonious color schemes for your images or videos, and enhance their mood, tone, and style. You can also use them as a guide for your own color corrections, or as a source for creating 3D LUTs using the volume tool.
Use the integration with Adobe Photoshop and other software to streamline your workflow
Another great feature of 3D LUT Creator Pro is the integration with Adobe Photoshop and other software that supports 3D LUTs. This feature allows you to streamline your workflow and save time and effort by transferring your images or videos between different programs without losing quality or consistency.
To use the integration with Adobe Photoshop, you need to install the 3D LUT Creator Pro plugin for Photoshop, which is available on the official website: https://3dlutcreator.com/plugins.html. Once you have installed the plugin, you can access it by clicking on the Filter menu and selecting 3D LUT Creator. A dialog box will appear where you can choose to edit the current layer or a copy of it in 3D LUT Creator Pro.
Once you have chosen an option, 3D LUT Creator Pro will open and import your image from Photoshop. You can then use any of the tools and features of 3D LUT Creator Pro to color grade your image. When you are done, you can click on the Apply button at the bottom of the screen, and your image will be transferred back to Photoshop with the 3D LUT applied as