Introduction to Car LUTs for Stunning Automotive Media

Introduction to Car LUTs

In the world of automotive photography and videography, LUTs (Lookup Tables) have become an essential tool for creating stunning images and footage. LUTs allow you to quickly apply color grades and get the look you want for your car content. With the rise of social media and platforms like Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok, there is huge demand for eye-catching car media that grabs attention.

In this article, we'll break down what exactly LUTs are, why they are useful for car imaging, where to find quality LUTs, and how to apply them to your footage and photos. Whether you're just getting started with automotive imaging or are a seasoned pro, LUTs can take your content to the next level.

What Are LUTs?

LUTs are essentially preset color grading profiles that alter the color and contrast of footage and images. They work by remapping the color and luminance values of pixels to create a specific “look”. For example, a summer car LUT could warm up the tones, boost vibrancy, and increase contrast to give your car content a bright and lively aesthetic.

LUTs come as digital filter files and are compatible with most major photo and video editing programs. Once applied to your footage, the color transformations encoded into the LUT will be apparent. This saves editors a huge amount of time as they don't have to manually adjust colors to achieve a particular style.

Benefits of Using LUTs for Cars

There are several key benefits that make LUTs a must-have tool for car media creators:

• Speed up workflow - As mentioned, LUTs eliminate the need for tedious manual color corrections. Just apply your chosen LUT and your footage instantly matches the intended style.
• Consistency - LUTs baked in specific looks ensure all your footage has a consistent feel. This is great for maintaining cohesion across car reviews, social posts, or compilation videos.
• Creativity - There are endless LUT options available for purchase. This makes it easy to get creative and test out different color grades to find ones that best suit your brand or style.
• Fix issues - LUTs are great for solving problems like flat-looking footage or correcting color casts from shooting conditions.
• Stand out - Vibrant, contrasty footage achieved through LUTs is guaranteed to make your car content stand out on media feeds.

Where to Get Professional Car LUTs

There are many resources online for finding both free and paid LUTs. However, for professional automotive imaging, it's best to use high-quality LUTs designed specifically for cars and driving footage. Here are some top sources to checkout:

Velv Auto LUT Pack

One of the premier car LUT collections comes from Velv Auto. Their LUT mega pack contains 60 high-end LUTs crafted just for automotive color grading. The Velv Auto LUTs come in .cube and .look formats for broad compatibility. They have vivid LUTs perfect for sports cars, moody options for luxury vehicles, and more. It's an extensive toolkit for car imaging at an affordable price point.

RocketStock Auto LUTs

Another excellent car LUT source is RocketStock. Their Auto LUTs bundle contains 15 LUTs tailored for automotive footage in the .cube format. RocketStock's Auto collection features both vibrant, punchy LUTs as well as more subtle, cinematic options. You'll find great choices here for color grading car commercials, social content, and reviews.

Castor Design Vehicle LUTs

Castor Design creates top-tier customizable LUTs and their vehicle collection is geared towards car media. Included are unique LUTs like Neon Night which adds cyberpunk tones. They also have Soft Contrast and Faded Film LUTs perfect for a grungy, worn vintage vibe. Castor Design offers excellent car LUTs for one-off purchase.

Custom LUT Services

For a truly tailored solution, consider hiring a professional colorist to create customized car LUTs for your brand or personal style. While pricier, custom LUTs ensure you get signature looks dialed in just for your automotive media goals.

How to Apply LUTs to Your Car Content

Applying LUTs is a straightforward process thanks to editing software support. Here is a quick rundown for using LUTs with photos and video:

Applying LUTs to Photos

For still images, you'll first want to select the photograph you wish to color grade. In applications like Adobe Photoshop and Lightroom, simply go the Lumetri Color panel and browse your LUT files to load the desired one. With just a click, the LUT will instantly adjust colors and contrast.

You can then further tweak the LUT effect and other image parameters like white balance, saturation, curves, etc. Finally, save a copy of the photo to retain the LUT adjustments.

Applying LUTs to Video

LUT application works similarly for video footage such as those from reviews, commercials, or vehicle showcase clips. In your editor, import the video files you want to color grade along with the LUT. Locate the Lumetri Color workspace and load your chosen LUT onto an adjustment layer above the footage. The LUT's color mappings will then be applied across all the video below it.

For advanced adjustments, you can tweak the LUT effect with secondary corrections and grading on lower layers. Once finalized, export the LUT color graded footage to share online or with clients.

Achieving Stunning Car Imaging With LUTs

The right LUTs can take your automotive content to exciting new visual heights. With the flip of a switch, they allow you to set energizing, cinematic moods that bring out the most stunning qualities of any car. Thanks to specialized LUT collections, it's easy to establish cohesive color grades across all your car media.

So give your car footage and photos the look they deserve! With just a bit of LUT know-how, you'll be pumping out eye-catching automotive images that viewers won't be able to scroll past.

FAQs

What file formats do LUTs come in?

LUTs are typically available in .cube and .look file formats. These work with most major editing programs like Adobe Premiere Pro, Final Cut Pro, and DaVinci Resolve.

Can I create my own custom LUTs?

Yes, many editing applications allow you to generate your own LUTs to save custom color grades. This does require a deeper knowledge of color correction though.

How many LUTs do I need?

It's good to build a diverse LUT library with options for different styles and car types. 10-20 premium car LUTs should cover most projects and needs.

Do LUTs work with RAW photos?

Yes, LUTs can be applied to RAW automobile photos though this is usually done after the RAW processing stage.

Can I adjust a LUT's effect after applying it?

You can still make adjustments like tweaking colors, exposure, and contrast after applying a LUT to refine the look it creates.