Importing LUT .cube files into Vegas or Catalyst

John Schuermann wrote on 2/18/2015, 3:33 PM
Hello all!

My DP created LUT .cube files in Sony Catalyst Browse for footage he shot with the new Sony FS7. I am trying to import these LUTs into my Vegas edit so I can honor the look he wants for the film. However, I don't see any way to do that in either Vegas OR Catalyst.

So, my question is - any update on LUT import utilities for Vegas, or can someone tell me how to import the .cube file into Catalyst? It doesn't see the .cube files...

Thanks!

Thanks in advance!

Comments

videoITguy wrote on 2/18/2015, 3:58 PM
The LUT files of catalyst are yet a newer different standard which simply write out to a text file. try it. The promise of this tech is that it could make it easier to do LUT transports and translations - at least that was the standards body intent for this design. Problem is, that it has not been heavily adopted to date. Would seem to hold natural promise for an NLE like VegasPro but I would not bet my last buck that this will ever happen.
John Schuermann wrote on 2/18/2015, 4:21 PM
Interesting, thanks! Did a bit more research and came up with the following:

Catalyst will import his settings if he saves them as a .ccolor preset rather than a .cube file. That keeps track of ALL settings including color temp, exposure, etc. These will import properly into Catalyst. My hope was that I could import these directly into Vegas without re-rendering the footage from Catalyst first.

I would think Sony would have a "plug-in" to grade Sony camera derived footage much like RED has a plugin to manipulate RED derived footage in Vegas. No such luck? Or is something coming soon?

Happy to hear from anyone in the know...
farss wrote on 2/18/2015, 4:31 PM
Chapter 22 of the Vegas 13 manual might be of some help.
Vegas 13 supports the ACES pipeline. Never tested this myself so good luck and let us know how you go.

Bob.
monoparadox wrote on 2/18/2015, 4:32 PM
I didn't know anything about LUT files until yesterday when I downloaded the upgrade to HitFilm. Included was a LUT plugin for Vegas for which I downloaded a few files of Kodak and Fuji grading. I'm not sure this is taking you in the right direction for your needs, but I was impressed with what seemed to be the possibilities.

Regards,
tom
Mark_e wrote on 2/19/2015, 2:27 AM
Yeh latest hit film now includes ofx lut plugin that works with vegas, happy days :) also gives some nice options with film convert pluging as well now a you can export luts from that (just the pluging effects not the whole effect stack) and use the ofx plugin to import, I was going to do some tests on if that was less processor intensive or not.
altarvic wrote on 2/19/2015, 2:52 AM
From the Help: Catalyst Browse supports LUT export only when the Source color space is set to an S-Log or RAW format..
John Schuermann wrote on 2/19/2015, 1:46 PM
Thanks Bob - read that through. I understand the basic idea of the workflow they advocate, but I'm getting a little stuck in the weeds. If I could just import a LUT I created in Catalyst I think I would be set :)
John Schuermann wrote on 2/19/2015, 1:47 PM
The weird thing is that Catalyst will let you export the LUT as a .cube file (when using LOG footage, as you mentioned) but won't let you re-import it if you want to make additional tweaks or import a .cube file someone else created! Does not compute...
John Schuermann wrote on 2/19/2015, 1:50 PM
I did find the HitFilm and MagicBullet Looks plugins and yes, they will import LUTS, but unfortunately you have to pay for all the other features that drives the price up to $300 for each product. I do appreciate the suggestions everyone!
John Schuermann wrote on 2/24/2015, 3:29 PM
For anyone following - here is a way to import .cube files into Catalyst. I verified it does work, just copy the files into the proper color space folder. Thanks to Sony tech support :)

Hi John,

Thank you for contacting Sony Creative Software. There is not a way to import .cube files into Vegas, however, Catalyst Browse and Catalyst Prepare can easily accept those .cube files. Just go to this directory, locate the color space folder the .cube file belongs to, and drag it into that folder:

Catalyst Browse: C:\Program Files\Sony\Catalyst Browse 1.1\Resources\ColorManagement\Looks

Catalyst Prepare: C:\Program Files\Sony\Catalyst Prepare 1.0\Resources\ColorManagement\Looks
Sirio wrote on 2/9/2017, 7:24 AM

Now there's a solution to import LUT (.cube) in Vegas. A free plugin:
http://www.sonyvegas.co.uk/free-way-use-luts-vegas/
Original website
http://www.vision-color.com/lutplugin/