Apple Color 1.0 - Manual (Page 118)

118 Chapter 6 Monitoring
When Do You Need a LUT?
The following examples illustrate situations where you should consider using LUTs:
 If you’re matching multiple displays in a facility: LUTs can be useful for calibrating
multiple displays to match a common visual standard, ensuring that a program
doesn’t look different when you move it to another room.
 If you’re displaying SD or HD video on a nonbroadcast monitor: You can use a LUT to
emulate the Rec. 601 (SD) or 709 (HD) color space and gamma setting that’s
appropriate to the standard of video you’re viewing.
 If you’re displaying video or film images using a video projector: You can use a LUT to
calibrate your device to match, as closely as is possible, the gamut of the broadcast
or film standard you’re working to.
 If you’re grading images destined to be printed to film: You can use a LUT to profile
the characteristics of the film printing device and film stock you’ll be outputting
the final prints with, in order to approximate the look of the final projected image
while you work.
Important: LUTs are no substitute for a high-quality display. In particular, they’ll do
nothing to improve muddy blacks, an inherently low contrast range, or a too-narrow
gamut.
When Don’t You Need a LUT?
If you’re color correcting video and monitoring using a properly calibrated broadcast
display that’s compatible with the standard of video that you’re displaying, it’s not
generally necessary to use a LUT.
Generating LUTs
There are several ways you can generate a LUT.
Create One Yourself Using Third-Party Software
There are third-party applications that work in conjunction with hardware monitor
probes to analyze the characteristics of individual displays and then generate a LUT in
order to provide the most accurate color fidelity possible. Because monitor settings and
characteristics drift over time, it’s standard practice to periodically recalibrate displays
every 1 to 2 weeks.
If you’re creating a LUT to bring another type of display into line with broadcast
standards (such as a digital projector), you’ll then use additional software to modify the
calibration LUT to match the target display characteristics you require.
Have One Created for You
At the high end of digital intermediate for film workflows, you can work with the lab
that will be doing the film print and the company that makes your monitor calibration
software to create custom LUTs based on profiles of the specific film recorders and film
stocks that you’re using for your project.