How do I quickly access the input LUT dropdown in Premiere Pro?

You can quickly access the input LUT dropdown in Premiere Pro by navigating to the Lumetri Color panel. Within this panel, under the "Basic Correction" section, you’ll find the "Input LUT" option, which reveals a dropdown menu for selecting your desired Look-Up Table.

Accessing the Input LUT Dropdown in Premiere Pro

Premiere Pro offers powerful color grading tools, and the Lumetri Color panel is central to these capabilities. Understanding how to efficiently access its features, like the input LUT dropdown, can significantly speed up your workflow. This guide will walk you through the process step-by-step, ensuring you can apply your chosen Look-Up Tables with ease.

Locating the Lumetri Color Panel

The Lumetri Color panel is your primary hub for all color adjustments in Premiere Pro. If you don’t see it immediately, you can easily open it.

1. Open the Lumetri Color Panel: Go to the Window menu at the top of your Premiere Pro interface.
2. Select Lumetri Color: Click on Lumetri Color from the dropdown list. This will open the panel, typically docked with other editing panels.

Once the Lumetri Color panel is open, you’ll see various sections dedicated to different color correction and grading tasks.

Finding the Input LUT Option

Within the Lumetri Color panel, the Input LUT is located in the very first section, called "Basic Correction." This is where you’ll find the dropdown menu to select your LUTs.

• Basic Correction Section: This section contains fundamental adjustments like exposure, contrast, highlights, shadows, whites, and blacks.
• Input LUT Field: Directly below these basic sliders, you will see the "Input LUT" field.
• Dropdown Arrow: To the right of the "Input LUT" label, there’s a dropdown arrow. Clicking this arrow reveals a list of available LUTs.

This placement ensures that you can quickly apply a foundational LUT before making more granular adjustments to your footage.

Applying a LUT from the Dropdown

Selecting and applying a LUT is straightforward once you’ve accessed the dropdown.

1. Click the Dropdown Arrow: As mentioned, click the arrow next to "Input LUT."
2. Browse and Select: A list of pre-installed and custom LUTs will appear. You can hover over some LUT names to see a preview on your footage.
3. Choose Your LUT: Click on the desired LUT to apply it to your selected clip.

If you have custom LUTs you frequently use, you can add them to Premiere Pro’s LUT folder to make them appear in this dropdown list. This significantly streamlines the process of applying your favorite color looks.

Understanding Input LUTs in Premiere Pro

An Input LUT is a Look-Up Table that modifies the color information of your footage before any other Lumetri Color adjustments are applied. This is crucial for several reasons, especially when working with footage from specific cameras or when aiming for a particular cinematic look.

Why Use an Input LUT?

Input LUTs serve several important purposes in video editing:

• Camera Log Conversion: Many professional cameras record footage in a "log" format (like S-Log, V-Log, C-Log) to preserve maximum dynamic range. These files appear flat and desaturated. An Input LUT is essential to convert this log footage back to a standard color space (like Rec.709) so you can see and grade it properly.
• Creative Looks: You can use an Input LUT to apply a specific cinematic style or creative "look" to your footage from the outset. This can save time by providing a strong starting point for your color grade.
• Consistency: Applying the same Input LUT to all clips shot under similar conditions ensures color consistency across your project.

When to Apply Your Input LUT

The timing of applying your Input LUT is critical. Because it affects the footage before other Lumetri adjustments, it should generally be the first step in your color grading process within the Lumetri Color panel.

• Before Basic Correction: Apply your Input LUT before adjusting exposure, contrast, or white balance.
• Before Creative Looks: If you’re using an Input LUT for a specific camera conversion, apply it before applying any creative LUTs in the "Creative" section of the Lumetri panel.

This order ensures that your subsequent adjustments are made on footage that has already been brought into a viewable or intended color space.

Tips for Efficient LUT Management

Managing your LUTs effectively can further enhance your workflow in Premiere Pro.

Organizing Your LUTs

Keep your LUTs organized in a dedicated folder on your computer. Premiere Pro will look for LUTs in specific locations, making it easy to add custom ones.

• Premiere Pro LUT Folder:
  • Windows: C:\Program Files\Adobe\Common\AdobeColor\LUTs\Creative
  • macOS: /Library/Application Support/Adobe/Common/AdobeColor/LUTs/Creative

Placing your custom LUTs in the Creative subfolder will make them appear in the "Creative" section of the Lumetri panel. For Input LUTs, you might want to create a separate "Input" subfolder within the main LUTs directory and manually browse to them using the "Input LUT" dropdown’s "Browse" option.

Previewing LUTs

As you hover over different LUTs in the dropdown, Premiere Pro offers a helpful preview. Take advantage of this to quickly see how a LUT affects your footage without committing to it. This is a great way to experiment and find the best starting point for your grade.

People Also Ask

### How do I add custom LUTs to Premiere Pro?

To add custom LUTs, place your .cube or .look files into the designated Adobe Color LUTs folder. For input LUTs, you can also use the "Browse" option within the Lumetri Color panel’s "Input LUT" section to navigate to any folder on your computer.

### What is the difference between Input LUT and Creative LUT in Premiere Pro?

An Input LUT is applied first to convert footage from a log format or establish a base look. A Creative LUT, found in the "Creative" section of Lumetri, is applied later in the grading process to add stylistic color grading and artistic looks to your footage.

### Can I use a LUT as a starting point for my color grade?

Absolutely! Using an Input LUT is an excellent way to establish a consistent starting point. Whether it’s for log conversion or a specific aesthetic, it provides a solid foundation before you make further adjustments in the Lumetri Color panel.

### How do I remove a LUT in Premiere Pro?

To remove an applied LUT, simply go back to the Lumetri Color panel, locate the "Input LUT" field, and select "None" from the dropdown menu. This will revert your footage to its original state before the LUT was applied.