The Everyday LUT

Solving My #1 Problem

Matching colors and tone across various scenes and lighting scenarios is no easy task - not to mention the enormous amount of time it takes to make sure your brand is carrying a cohesive, professional look across video projects.

The Everyday LUT is my solution to spending hours color grading videos and trying to achieve a uniform, professional, and natural look across projects.

It’s what allows me to get crisp mid-tone contrast, warm, soft highlights, and accurate skin tones, and now you can get the same look as me.

This is the LUT I use across all of my videos. I’ve been refining this specific look for nearly two years and I’ve finally gotten it to a place of consistency and high versatility across scenes.

How It Was Developed

The Everyday LUT was developed around 10-bit 422 as well as 8-bit footage, and is designed to be non-destructive to your colors / luma values.

I've tested this LUT on log (after rec 709 conversion), hlg (after rec 709 conversion), and standard profile footage from various Sony, DJI, Canon, Lumix, Nikon, Fuji, and even iPhone cameras.

My primary uses for this LUT has been content creation, real estate, and weddings and as a result, it is remarkably versatile across indoor, outdoor, daylight, and lowlight footage.

Which Version is Right for You?

Creative LUT Only

• Just 'the look'. This is a creative LUT and is meant to apply a stylistic grade to your footage after proper color correction and log transformation.
• If you don't shoot in a log profile, this is a great option.
• For log video, this LUT requires a separate log to Rec.709 transform / conversion LUT before use.

Creative + Conversions LUT Pack

• The Everyday LUT with built-in log to Rec.709 conversions for the most popular picture profiles.
• For those wanting to streamline their log workflow.
• Removes the need for a separate log to Rec.709 transform / conversion LUT for supported picture profiles.

When to Apply

• (if necessary) Apply this LUT after your conversion LUT (log to rec 709) for the best results. Each example image shown has The Everyday LUT applied after a factory log to rec 709 conversion LUT (example: footage shot in Sony SLOG 3 -> SLOG 3 to rec 709 conversion LUT -> The Everyday LUT).
• Follow color grading best practices when using this LUT (Base corrections -> Conversion LUT -> The Everyday LUT -> Finishing grade / style adjustments).
• Tip: I like to adjust my overall black levels last (as part of my ‘Finishing grade’).
• In many scenarios, this LUT is a 'one-and-done'. In others, this LUT will act as an excellent base look for you to make stylistic adjustments on top of.
• Be sure to read the included PDF "How To Use The Everyday LUT" for further information on how to use and adjust this LUT - including answers to popular questions!

What's included?

Creative LUT Only

• The Everyday 'creative' LUT .cube file (one 65-point & one 33-point)
• 'How to Use' instruction guide (.pdf file)

Creative + Conversion LUT Pack

• The Everyday 'creative' LUT .cube file (one 65-point & one 33-point)
• 'How to Use' instruction guide (.pdf file)
• 18 additional .cube LUTs (The Everyday 'creative' LUT + built-in log to rec.709 conversions)
  • 9 65-point versions, for color grading
  • 9 33-point versions, for in-camera monitoring

Currently, this pack comes with conversions for S-Log2, S-Log3, C-Log2, C-Log3, D-Log M, D-Log, V-Log, N-Log, Apple Log.

How to Install

(CapCut Desktop)

1. In CapCut (desktop version), navigate to the 'Adjustments' tab.
2. Choose 'LUT' and then 'Import'.
3. Navigate to the save location of 'The Everyday LUT.cube' file and select it.
4. Once imported, you can drag and drop the LUT above your clips within your timeline.
5. NOTE: If shooting in log, first add a log to REC 709 conversion LUT above your clip - THEN drag and drop The Everyday LUT on top of that.

(FCPX)

1. In Final Cut Pro, navigate to your video effects window and search for 'Custom LUT'.
2. Drag and drop the 'Custom LUT' directly onto your timeline clip, or onto your adjustment layer.
3. In the 'Video Inspector' window, navigate to the 'Custom LUT' effect you applied, and select 'Choose Custom LUT' in the dropdown menu.
4. Select the 'The Everyday LUT.cube' file. Now, the LUT is saved as a useable look for all future videos.

(DaVinci Resolve)

1. Open up 'Project Settings' and select 'Color Management' on the left hand side.
2. Select 'Open LUT Folder'. This opens the DaVinci LUT library into which you place your LUT or LUT packs.
3. Drag and drop the 'The Everyday LUT.cube' file into your DaVinci LUT library and choose 'Update Lists'.
4. Tip: Change '3D lookup table interpolation' to 'tetrahedral' for best results and choose 'Save'.
5. Head over to the 'LUTs' panel and drag and drop 'The Everyday LUT' onto your video node.

(Premier Pro)

1. Select the 'Color' tab and choose 'Color Workspace'.
2. Choose the clip you'd like to work with, open the 'Basic Correction' tab in the 'Lumetri' panel.
3. Select the 'Input LUT' dropdown menu and choose 'Browse'.
4. Navigate to the 'The Everyday LUT.cube' file and select it for use.

(Filmora, Desktop)

1. In Filmora (desktop version), navigate to the 'Color' tab.
2. Under the ‘Basic’ sub-tab → LUT → choose ‘Add'.
3. Navigate to the save location of 'The Everyday LUT.cube' file and select it.

Alternative Method:

1. In Fimora (desktop version), navigate to the 'Filters' tab.
2. Search for “Custom LUT” and select the option depicting a lighthouse.
3. Drag “Custom LUT” above the clips in your timeline (becomes an
4. adjustment layer)
5. Select the adjustment layer → “Load LUT”
6. Navigate to the save location of 'The Everyday LUT.cube' file and select it.

* With this option, you can stack adjustment layers / LUT - much more

flexibility!

Common Qs & As:

“What if it makes my image too dark?”

If you notice your image becomes too dark for your liking after the application of The Everyday LUT, your best approach is to increase your video’s luminance value upstream of your conversion LUT. That is, increase the exposure (or brightness) value of your image before your LOG to rec 709 conversion and therefore before The Everyday LUT (as part of your ‘base correction’).

“The Look is Not Strong Enough.”

If the LUT is not as strong as you’d like, even at 100% intensity, you can simply stack it with a second LUT. When stacking The Everyday LUT(s), make sure they are in consecutive order (applied one right after the other) in your editing /effects panel.

“The Look is Too Strong.”

If the LUT is throwing too strong a grade onto your image, simply dial back the intensity. If this is not an option in your editing software, you can change the opacity of the LUT or the adjustment layer it has been applied to. If those are still not valid options for you, you can try duplicating your video clip and stacking it on top of the original. Now, apply The Everyday LUT to only the clip on top and then adjust the opacity of the entire ‘top’ clip. This will give you ‘artificial’ control of the LUT intensity.