How StillsLab's Look LUT Feature Works

Updated

StillsLab's Look LUT feature turns a film frame into a downloadable 3D LUT: you pick a still, the tool generates a .cube file, and you apply that file in DaVinci Resolve, Premiere, or on an on-set monitor to push your footage toward the look of that frame. It covers 17 camera log profiles, and three looks are included free, so you can test the output before deciding whether it fits your workflow. It is aimed at filmmakers who want a reference look they can actually load into their color pipeline rather than eyeball from a screenshot.

What the feature actually does

The core idea is simple: a frame carries color information, and a LUT is a lookup table that maps input colors to output colors. Look LUT sits between those two points — you supply the frame, it produces the mapping as a .cube file.

According to the site, the output is built for:

  • DaVinci Resolve — import the .cube as a LUT in your color page
  • Premiere Pro — apply it via Lumetri's creative LUT slot
  • On-set monitors — load it into monitors that accept LUT files for live viewing

The 17 camera log profiles matter because a LUT only behaves predictably when it knows what it's starting from. Log footage from different cameras has different color science, so a LUT built for one log curve applied to another will shift the result. Matching the profile to your camera is the step that keeps the look close to the reference.

How to use it

  1. Find a reference frame. Browse StillsLab's library — the site lists thousands of stills across movies, series, music videos, and commercials, including titles like Ida, Memories of Murder, Portrait of a Lady on Fire, Ex Machina, Sin City, and the Lord of the Rings trilogy.
  2. Generate the LUT. Use the Look LUT tool on the frame to produce a .cube file. The site notes three free looks are included, so you can run this a few times before committing.
  3. Pick your camera log profile. Select the profile matching your footage from the 17 supported options. This is the input side of the mapping.
  4. Apply it in your tool. In Resolve, add the .cube in the color page; in Premiere, load it through Lumetri. On set, load it into a compatible monitor.
  5. Check the result. Compare your graded footage against the source frame. Expect a direction, not an exact match — sensor, lighting, and exposure still differ.

Where it fits and where it doesn't

Use case Fits well Watch out
Building a mood board or shot list reference Yes — the still library and LUT output support pre-production planning The LUT is a starting point, not a final grade
Matching a look across a shoot Yes, if your camera log profile is among the 17 Wrong profile selection skews the result
On-set monitoring Yes — LUTs can load into compatible monitors Monitor LUT support varies by device
Final color grade Partial — useful as a base layer Expect to refine; a LUT can't fix exposure or white balance

Practical notes

  • Start with the free looks. Three are included, which is enough to judge whether the generated LUTs suit your camera and taste before going further.
  • Profile first, look second. The most common failure mode is applying a LUT built for a different log curve. Confirm your camera's profile before generating.
  • Treat it as a reference translation. The frame was shot on someone else's camera, lens, and lighting. The LUT transfers color behavior, not the conditions that produced the image.

StillsLab also notes that rights holders can submit their work at no cost, and the library includes frames supplied by rights holders at full source quality — relevant if you want reference material you can trust for accuracy. Pricing and subscription details are listed on the site's pricing and subscription terms pages.