Note: This is a Windows only stand alone .exe program that uses Microsoft's .NET Framework 2.0.

NEW Multi-Format Version
The all new Digital Praxis 3D LUT Cube Builder can generate 3D LUTS for systems including:

• Quantel - iQ, eQ and Pablo
• Autodesk - Flame, Lustre, Smoke
• Thomson - Luther (Panavision)
• Pandora - Pogle (FCP Color, etc.)
• Assimilate - Scratch
• da Vinci - Resolve

Purchase Cost: £400 UKP + VAT, if applicable; (Approx: €590 Euro; $800 USD)
Please either use the following Credit Card payment option, or send an email to steve@digitalpraxis.net for alternative payment options, including a postal address for cheques, or bank details for a BACs transfer.

3D Cube Builder

After making payment, details on how to download the 3D LUT Builder will be sent via e-mail, so be sure to supply your e-mail address! This is done automatically during the payment procedure, but it would be helpful if you also send an e-mail to steve@digitalpraxis.net as soon as payment has been made.

The download consists of a stand alone .exe program for Windows, for which you will need to have downloaded Microsoft's .NET Compact Framework 2.0.

3D LUT Builder
There are a number of creative software packages that use Look-Up-Tables (LUTs) to modify their final displayed image without altering the underlying image data.

This is especially useful when working with LOG data as it maintains the full latitude of the underlying low-contrast, high dynamic range image data, while displaying a more appealing, high-contrast version, usually based on print film characteristics.

For many applications the Digital Praxis ViewLUT Builder provides satisfactory viewing calibration, but for true 3D LUT Cubes a different approach is required.

To deal with the need for a simple approach to building true 3D LUTs Digital Praxis, in partnership with Walter Volpatto (a past member of Digital Praxis and now working at FotoKem in LA), has developed a 3D LUT Cube Builder with full user calibration capability via a simple 'grading' approach.

The 3D LUTs (cubes) can be generated in a selection of common formats, including:

• Quantel - iQ, eQ and Pablo
• Autodesk - Flame, Lustre, Smoke
• Thomson - Luther
• Pandora - Pogle (FCP Color, etc.)
• Assimilate - Scratch
• da Vinci - Resolve

If other formats are required they can potentially be supplied for a small additional fee.

The Cube Builder works by generating a reference image that can be colour corrected as required to match an accurate film print image. The software then uses this modified reference image to build a 3D Cube containing the changes made.

Easy!

1D vs. 3D
The following Marcy image shows the difference between a 1D LUT and a 3D Cube.

The initial image is a 1D LUT and when you hover your mouse over it the image will show the result of a 3D Cube.

As can be seen the major differences are in the levels of saturation as a 1D LUT cannot alter saturation seperately to brightness.

Digital Praxis 3D LUT Builder Basic Instructions
The Digital Praxis & Walter Voilpatto 3D LUT Builder is a stand alone .exe application that use Microsoft's .NET Framework.

(You will need to be running Microsoft's .NET Compact Framework 2.0 to run this software).

When installed the application first generates a Test Image and neutral 3D LUT Cube.

The application can then read any changes made to the Test Image and from the difference between the original frame and the changed frame generate a 3D Cube that represents those changes.

This means the Test Image can be graded by any means required to produce the necessary changes from which a 3D Cube can be generated.

The best approach is to use a selection of reference images, such as Kodak's Marcie LAD, Macbeth, a grey scale ramp, etc and have them printed to AIM to generate a selection of accurate film print images. (Digital Praxis can supply a selection of test images - contact steve@digitalpraxis.net for download information.)

Using these images as calibrated references the original DPX files can be graded to match, without the use of any other LUT or 3D Cube as this will obviously skew the calibration procedure.

This generates a set of grading values within the colour correction system that can then be applied to the Test Image ready for the Digital Praxis 3D Cube Builder application to automatically read and in turn generate a calibrated 3D Cube.

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Generate the Test Image and neutral 3D LUT via the 'Generate Test Image' button.
2. Using the approach outlined above generate a set of colour correction settings to match the desired monitor/projector output to a set of film print images printed accurately to AIM.
3. Apply the pre-defined colour correction settings to the Test Image.
4. Save the colour corrected Test Image with a user defined name.
5. If required use XnView (or similar program) to convert the graded image back into a .bmp file (a .bmp file is required for the 3D Cube Builder to be able to read the changes).
6. Select the required 3D LUT format from the drop-down menu.
7. Run the 3D LUT Builder application via the 'Build Selected LUT' button, which will generate a 3D Cube from the colour corrected Test Image.
8. Load the generated 3D LUT into the grading system for accurate colour calibration.

DEMO PROGRAM
A demo version of the 3D LUT Builder, which generates 3D LUTs with a random watermark, can be downloaded here.