Grading Blind: How to Build a Look with Unknown Log Footage

In this episode, we tackle a real-world challenge: color grading Canon footage when the original profile is unknown. Using footage submitted by a user, we walk through the process of analyzing the log characteristics, experimenting with BaseLUTs, and manually adjusting exposure, white balance, and color to craft a beautiful, balanced look.

Tools Used:
DaVinci Resolve
Gamut BaseLUTs (Canon Log, Canon Log 3, EK Pack)
Gamut Boost
Hue vs Hue & Luma curves

📌 What You'll Learn:
How to identify Canon Log footage from scopes alone
When to use old vs. current LUTs (and why Canon Log 3 is superior)
Manual color grading workflow: exposure, WB, primary, and creative look
Fixing mixed lighting and problem highlights
Using Gamut Boost and creative LUTs for polish

📦 LUTs & Tools Mentioned:
https://gamut.io

00:00 – Identifying Log Footage
01:46 – First Conversion Attempts
03:33 – Manual Grading Workflow Begins
05:23 – White Balance & Skin Tone Correction
07:30 – Targeted Hue Adjustments
09:34 – Adding a Creative Look
10:53 – Using Gamut Boost
12:07 – Full Node Stack Review
13:18 – Adapting Grade to Other Shots
17:20 – Cleaning Highlights
22:07 – Creative Variations
23:33 – Fixing a Challenging Scene
26:51 – Final Thoughts

MORE BASELUTS™ FOR MATCHING CAMERAS:
► Blackmagic BRAW Gen 5 Film – https://geni.us/bmpcc-luts
   • Our Favorite Blackmagic Conversion LUTs fo...  

► Sony S-Log3 / S-Log2 – https://geni.us/gamutS-Log
   • Our Go-To Sony Conversion LUTs for S-LOG3 ...  

► Canon C-Log 2 and C-Log 3 – https://geni.us/gamutC-Log2
   • Get Amazing Results with this C-Log 2 Cano...  

► Panasonic V-Log – https://geni.us/gamutV-Log
   • Why Your Panasonic Footage Doesn’t Look Ri...  

► DJI DLog and D-Log M – https://geni.us/gamutD-Log
   • The Most Color Accurate LUTs for D-Log M o...