Color Grading with LUTs

"Color LUT" stands for Color Lookup Table. Color LUTs are lists that instruct ACDSee or related programs to map specific RGB values to other specific color values. You can import LUTs and use them as filters in ACDSee. You can apply a LUT in the same way you would use any other Edit mode filter. You can also create your own LUTs from adjustment layers. Color LUT supported file types are .3DL and .CUBE.

You can also apply a Color LUT as an adjustment layer.

To Apply a Color LUT to Your Image:

  1. In Edit mode, in the Color group, select Color LUTs.
  2. On the Color LUTs panel, do one of the following:
    • Select a LUT from the list. The LUT is immediately applied.
    • Press the Import LUTs button. In the Open dialog, browse to the location of your LUT files, and press Open. The LUT is immediately applied.
  3. Do one of the following:
    • Click Done to accept your changes and close the panel.
    • Click Cancel to discard your changes and close the panel.

If an imported LUT file's location has changed, you will have to reload it in the Color LUTs panel.

You can use the Edit Brush to paint this effect onto specific areas of your image.

You can use the Radial Gradient tool to apply effects around, or directly to, a center point.

You can use the Gradient tool to transition this effect across specific areas of your image.

To Refresh Your List of Color LUTs:

You can refresh your list of available LUTs to reveal moved or deleted files. Unavailable LUTs will be indicated in a darker font color.

On the Color LUTs panel, press the Refresh List button.

To Remove Color LUTs:

  1. On the Color LUTs panel, press the Remove LUTs button.
  2. In the Remove LUTs dialog, toggle the checkboxes next to the LUTs you want to delete.
  3. Press Remove LUTs.

Creating Color LUTs

To Create a Color LUT:

You can create your own LUTs by using adjustment layers. Find out how in the Adjustment Layers topic. You can add multiple adjustment layers and configure them to achieve your desired LUT. You can create a LUT using the following adjustment layers: Exposure, Levels, Curves, Light EQ, White Balance, Vibrance, Color EQ, RGB, Split Tone, Add Color, Black and White, Negative, Photo Effect, Gradient Map, Posterize, Threshold, and Color LUT.

You cannot create a LUT from a regular layer.

Created LUTs will not take masks into consideration.

  1. With an image open in Edit mode, add one or more adjustment layers and configure their settings as desired.
  2. Choose Tools | Create LUT.
  3. In the Create LUT dialog, configure the settings as described in the table below.
  4. Press the Save button.
  5. Enter a name for your LUT and press Save. Your LUT will immediately be added to the list in the Color LUTs filter in the Color group, the Color LUTs adjustment layer drop-down list, and the Color LUTs group on the Tune tab in Develop mode.

Create LUTs Options

Description

(Optional) Enter a description for your LUT. This is most useful if you are intending to share your LUT with others.

Copyright

(Optional) Enter the copyright for your LUT. This is most useful if you are intending to share your LUT with others.

Format

Select 3DL or CUBE for your LUT file format.

Quality

Select your LUT quality. A higher quality setting will create a larger file size.