The new Aurora HDR 2019 offers you many new features one of which is the ability to use LUTs in processing your photographs. In this article, I’m going to take a look at the new feature and I will be using this image with Aurora HDR 2019 initial processing on it, but I will not make any other changes. Then I will apply 9 different look up tables or LUTs to it so you can see how much variety LUTs can provide you with. Of course, once the LUT is applied, you make other changes, add layers and fine tune to your heart’s content.
For more detail about LUTs check out my article What the heck are LUTs?
Once you’ve loaded single or multiple images into Aurora HDR 2019, it does its processing and this produces an image that we use as our starting place for editing. Here’s that original image.
To apply a LUT to this image you will use the LUT filter in Aurora HDR 2019. You’ll find the LUT Filter here on the right side in the Filters list.
The results
And this is what the photograph looks like with the LUT applied. I have included the original that for comparison. In the images that follow, I have purposely placed the LUT version above the original so you can see how much or little effect the LUT has on the original photograph. Also, remember that the amount or intensity can be increased or reduced based upon the Amount slider and that can change the look of the LUT a lot.
Adding a custom look up table (LUT)
Choosing custom LUTs
Now select the LUT you want to use with your photograph. I am going to use the 3Strip LUT from ColorGradingCentral and reduce the amount to 74. This is what the photograph looks like with the LUT applied, and below that, is the original without the LUT.
LUT examples
Vision X – LOG from Colorgrading Central
Thoughts
I find that using LUTs in Aurora HDR 2019 is a powerful and often quick way to give me creative ideas about how to process the photograph. Most important though is to explore and have fun with it!
You’ll find LUTs here:
- LUTs from Skylum. They offer free and paid LUTs.
- Lutify.me – They offer a free sample before you purchase.
- ColorgradingCentral.com – They offer a free sample before you purchase.