How to Preview Color Gradients/LUTs Using Photoshop Gradient Maps in 3 Easy Steps

We know that Look Up Textures (LUTs) can be a pain to work with in some editors when creating real-time VFX. Luckily, Ad

By Beyond-FX on Jun 27, 2023

Jun 27, 2023

We know that Look Up Textures (LUTs) can be a pain to work with in some editors when creating real-time VFX. Luckily, Adobe Photoshop offers an easy way to preview them: the Gradient Map layer effect!

How to Preview Color Gradients/LUTs Using Photoshop Gradient Maps in 3 Easy Steps

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🧠 Here's a Photoshop #QuickTip!

🔎 We often use Look Up Textures (LUTs) to help control rich colors and variations throughout our effects, but they can be difficult to work with in some editors. Fortunately, #Photoshop has a way to preview them!#VFX #LearnPhotoshop pic.twitter.com/gnnQyh8KNF
— Beyond-FX (@Beyond_FX) August 31, 2022

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Start by opening Adobe Photoshop and loading or creating a grayscale texture.
Apply the Gradient Map layer effect
Create your Gradient (LUT) to achieve the desired effect.

Now you can preview your LUTs quickly in Adobe Photoshop!

There’s great documentation over on Epic Games’ Unreal Engine database where you can learn more about using Lookup Tables for Color Grading.

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