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Is Video Lut Pack 1 by Goodlight Presets Worth It? (a colorist’s honest take)

What is inside Video Lut Pack 1 by Goodlight Presets
What's inside Video Lut Pack 1 by Goodlight Presets

You’re looking at Video Lut Pack 1 by Goodlight Presets, a collection of six LUTs designed to give your video footage softer tones, lower saturation, and gentle contrast. It’s built for videographers and filmmakers who appreciate subtle, refined aesthetics, particularly useful for wedding videography or narrative pieces. The main thing you need to know upfront is that if you use Adobe Premiere Pro, you might run into stability issues or crashes on some systems.

What’s in this LUT pack?

The pack contains six unique LUTs. That’s it, six specific looks. From what the creator publishes, these aren’t just your standard LUTs; they’re designed to interact with color and tonality in an advanced way. They aim to bring out the beauty and color you’d associate with film, all while keeping the detail and benefits of digital footage.

As for the format, the product facts only state “LUTs,” which is the standard file type you’d expect. Goodlight Presets does include a video guide for installation, which is helpful if you’re new to using LUTs or want to make sure you’re setting them up correctly.

Where these LUTs fit into your grading workflow

When it comes to software, Video Lut Pack 1 by Goodlight Presets is compatible with Final Cut Pro and DaVinci Resolve. This means if those are your primary grading applications, you should be good to go. The creator emphasizes intuitive application, so it seems they’re designed for straightforward use.

However, the significant caveat here is for Adobe Premiere Pro users. The facts state you “may experience stability issues or crashes with Adobe Premiere Pro on some systems.” That’s a pretty big red flag if Premiere Pro is your daily driver. As a colorist, I wouldn’t risk client work on a tool known to cause crashes.

Regarding where they fit in your workflow (before or after color correction), the creator doesn’t explicitly say. Most creative LUTs, especially ones promising “advanced interaction with color and tonality,” are usually applied after your primary color correction. This means you’d get your exposure and white balance spot-on first, then apply the LUT to achieve the desired look. Given the focus on “softer tones” and “gentle contrast,” these sound like creative LUTs meant to be the final aesthetic touch, not a technical transform for log footage (which isn’t mentioned).

What kind of footage and mood these LUTs suit

If you’re into a specific aesthetic, this pack seems pretty clear about its target. These LUTs deliver softer tones, lower saturation, and gentle contrast. If your goal is a punchy, vibrant, high-contrast look, you can stop reading now; this isn’t it. This pack is for a more subdued, elegant visual style.

The creator, Goodlight Presets, is known for their acclaimed color science developed for still photography. They’ve applied that same color science to these video LUTs. So, if you like the look of their still photography presets, you’ll likely appreciate this video pack. It’s designed for artists who value subtlety and refined beauty, making it suitable for wedding videography, where a gentle, timeless look is often desired, or for crafting sophisticated narrative pieces that benefit from a soft, nuanced palette.

Which cameras and log profiles these LUTs are built for

This is where things get a bit less specific. The creator doesn’t publish any details about which specific cameras or log profiles (like S-Log3, V-Log, Canon Log, etc.) these LUTs are built for. This is a crucial piece of information for any serious videographer or colorist.

Many advanced LUTs are designed to work optimally with specific camera gammas and color spaces to ensure accurate and pleasing results. When a creator doesn’t specify this, it means you’ll need to do your own thorough testing. If you shoot a variety of camera types or use log profiles, you can’t assume these LUTs will react in the same way across all your footage. You might find you need to do more primary correction to get the LUT to sit right on your specific log footage, or you might need a separate log-to-Rec.709 conversion LUT beforehand.

Without this information, I can only judge what’s published: these are creative LUTs that apply a specific look. How well that look translates directly from your camera’s native log or standard profile will be something you’ll have to figure out through experimentation.

Limits and who should skip it

The most significant limitation, as I mentioned, is the potential for stability issues or crashes if you’re working in Adobe Premiere Pro. If Premiere is your main editing and grading platform, you should seriously consider if the risk is worth it. It’s not worth jeopardizing your project or your workflow for a set of LUTs, no matter how good the look is.

You should also skip Video Lut Pack 1 if the aesthetic isn’t what you’re after. If you need vibrant colors, strong contrast, or a very punchy image, these LUTs aren’t for you. They’re explicitly crafted for softer tones, lower saturation, and gentle contrast. Don’t buy them expecting to push them into a different look, because that’s not their design.

Finally, if you require LUTs specifically designed for a particular camera’s log profile or need precise technical transforms, you should look elsewhere, as the creator doesn’t provide that level of detail for this pack.

So, is Video Lut Pack 1 by Goodlight Presets for you?

If you’re a videographer or filmmaker using Final Cut Pro or DaVinci Resolve, and you’re specifically aiming for a soft, desaturated, gentle contrast look reminiscent of film, this pack is worth considering. Its acclaimed color science from Goodlight Presets’ still photography background suggests a refined aesthetic. However, if you’re an Adobe Premiere Pro user, or if your projects demand a more vibrant and impactful visual style, you’ll want to pass on this one.

Questions people ask

What kind of aesthetic does Video Lut Pack 1 offer?

Video Lut Pack 1 provides softer tones with lower saturation and gentle contrast, aiming for a subtle and refined beauty.

Which software programs are compatible with these LUTs?

These LUTs are compatible with Final Cut Pro and DaVinci Resolve. The creator notes potential stability issues or crashes with Adobe Premiere Pro on some systems.

How many LUTs are included in this pack?

The pack includes 6 unique LUTs.

Is an installation guide provided?

Yes, a video guide for installation is included with the pack.