Create and Apply Color Effects Using Lookup Tables in Photoshop

In this tutorial, you’ll learn how to Create Color Lookup Tables from scratch using Adjustment Layers.

Applying Color Lookup Tables

Color Lookup Tables are a great way of adding a color grade effect to an image with very little work.

To apply a Color Lookup Table, go to Adjustment Layer > Color Lookup Table.

From the Properties panel, Open the Load 3D LUT dropdown. Select any 3D LUT you like. This is the result of the Teal Orange Plus Contrast.

And the result from Night From Day.CUBE.

As you can see, they’re very easy to apply, and you can create them easily as well.

How To Create a 3D Lookup Table (3D LUT)

To create a 3D LUT, you first must apply a creative effect to your images using Adjustment Layers and Blending Modes.

For this example, we will create an effect using three adjustment layers that we will later turn into a 3D LUT.

Start by creating Curves Adjustment Layer and creating an S curve to add contrast.

Create a second Curves Adjustment Layer, and from the Green channel, increase the great light in the highlights.

Then create a Solid Color Fill Layer, and apply it with the Multiply Blending Mode.

Reduce the Opacity of the solid green layer to tone down the effect.

Now that we have a basic color adjustment, let’s turn this effect into a 3D LUT to apply it to any other image.

Creating a Color Lookup Table From Adjustment Layers

1. Start by placing the Adjustment Layers and Solid Color Fill into a group.
   • Select the all by holding Shift, and you click on the topmost layer and the layer about the photo.
   • Then press Ctrl G (Windows) Command G (macOS)

2. Convert the photo layer into a Background Layer.
   • Go to Layer > New > Layer from Background. To create a Color Lookup Table, you must have a Background Layer.

To create the  Color Lookup Table, go to File > Export > Color Lookup Tables.

You can name the file from the Export Color Lookup Tables dialogue box and apply other settings. Check the Format ICC Profile box so that the Color Lookup is not dependent on any color profile.

Then Press OK and save your new 3D LUT on your computer.

Loading the new Color Lookup Table into Photoshop

Click on the New Adjustment Layer icon and choose Color Lookup.

Then click on Device Link and load your 3D LUT. You will have to find it on your computer.

Once you load your new Lookup Table, you will see it in the Layers Panel with the effect you created

Final Thoughts

With the useful Creating and Applying Color Lookup Tables, you can use this to Premiere Pro or After Effects.

Final Image

Drag The Slider To See Before & After