What is a .LOOK file?
A .LOOK file is a type of data file used specifically for storing color correction settings. It is created by Adobe SpeedGrade, a software program that was designed for enhancing the colors in video production. Although Adobe discontinued SpeedGrade in 2017, the .LOOK files it generates can still be used in other Adobe applications such as Adobe Premiere Pro, Adobe After Effects, and Adobe Photoshop, all versions 2023.
The content of a .LOOK file includes a 3D lookup table (LUT) formatted in XML. This table captures all the color adjustments you have made to a video. These adjustments might include changes to color balance, intensity, and contrast to convey different moods or themes in the video, like using blue tones to evoke sadness or red for excitement.
Using .LOOK files is beneficial because they allow you to apply these color settings non-destructively. This means you can adjust the colors in your video project without permanently altering the original video files. You can apply a .LOOK file to a video in any of the compatible Adobe programs by importing it into your project.
To create a .LOOK file in SpeedGrade, you would adjust your video’s colors to your liking, then save these settings by clicking the "Save Look" icon, which is typically found in the Look tab within the Layers panel. Once saved, the .LOOK file can be accessed from a specific directory on your computer. For Windows, this is usually located at [user]\Application Data\Adobe\SpeedGrade\settings\looks\ and for macOS, it is found at [user]/Library/Application Support/Adobe/SpeedGrade/settings/looks/.
In summary, .LOOK files are useful for video editors and colorists who want to maintain consistency in color grading across different projects or share their color settings with others, all while preserving the original video files unaltered.
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