Phantom Luts - Sony

Draft Report: Sony Phantom LUTs

Introduction

Sony's Phantom LUTs (Look Up Tables) are a series of pre-defined color grading tools designed to help filmmakers and videographers achieve a specific aesthetic or mood in their footage. These LUTs are compatible with various Sony cameras and can be applied to footage in post-production to enhance the overall look and feel of a project. This report provides an overview of Sony Phantom LUTs, their features, and their applications.

What are LUTs?

LUTs, or Look Up Tables, are mathematical tables that map input color values to output color values. They are used to apply a specific color grade or look to footage in a non-destructive way, allowing for flexible and reversible color grading. LUTs can be used to achieve a variety of creative goals, such as matching the color palette of a specific film stock, creating a stylized look, or simply to enhance the overall color and contrast of footage. sony phantom luts

Sony Phantom LUTs

Sony's Phantom LUTs are a set of 16 custom LUTs designed to provide a range of creative color grading options for filmmakers and videographers. These LUTs are specifically designed to work with Sony's Phantom series of cameras, but can also be used with other Sony cameras and in post-production workflows.

The Phantom LUTs are divided into four categories:

Phantom LUTs: Cine4 - These LUTs are designed to mimic the look of traditional film stocks, with a focus on cinematic color grades.
Phantom LUTs: Creative - These LUTs offer a range of stylized and creative color grades, from subtle enhancements to bold and dramatic looks.
Phantom LUTs: Neutral - These LUTs provide a neutral color grade, ideal for applications where a natural, ungraded look is desired.
Phantom LUTs: ITU - These LUTs are designed to meet the ITU (International Telecommunication Union) standards for broadcast and television productions.

Key Features

Wide color gamut support - The Phantom LUTs support Sony's wide color gamut (S-Log2 and S-Log3) and can be used with a range of Sony cameras, including the Phantom, FS7, and A7S.
High-precision color grading - The LUTs offer high-precision color grading, with 16-bit and 32-bit floating-point precision.
Flexible application - The LUTs can be applied in-camera, in post-production, or using third-party software.

Applications

The Sony Phantom LUTs have a range of applications across various industries, including:

Film and television production - The LUTs can be used to achieve a specific look or mood in film and television productions.
Commercial and advertising - The LUTs can be used to create stylized and attention-grabbing color grades for commercial and advertising productions.
Music and music video production - The LUTs can be used to create bold and creative color grades for music and music video productions.

Conclusion

The Sony Phantom LUTs offer a range of creative color grading options for filmmakers and videographers. With their wide color gamut support, high-precision color grading, and flexible application, these LUTs can be used to enhance the overall look and feel of a project. Whether you're looking to achieve a specific aesthetic or simply want to enhance the color and contrast of your footage, the Sony Phantom LUTs are a valuable tool to consider. Draft Report: Sony Phantom LUTs Introduction Sony's Phantom

Recommendations

Experiment with different LUTs - Try out different LUTs to find the one that best suits your project's needs.
Use LUTs in combination with other color grading tools - Use the Phantom LUTs in combination with other color grading tools, such as color wheels and curves, to achieve a precise look.
Take advantage of Sony's resources - Sony provides a range of resources, including tutorials and guides, to help you get the most out of the Phantom LUTs.

Where to Get Official Sony Phantom Luts

Because this keyword is popular, many "free" versions are floating around on Reddit or Facebook groups. Do not use these. The official LUTs are updated frequently to support the FX6's low base ISO and the A7S III's dual-native ISO quirks.

Official Website: phantomluts.com (Sold by Joel Famularo)
Price: Typically $50–$100 for the full suite.
Compatibility: .cube files (17x17x17 and 33x33x33). Works in Premiere, Resolve, FCPX (with Color Finale), and Photoshop.

Workflow — practical step-by-step for using Sony Phantom LUTs (assumes S-Log3/S-Gamut3.Cine source)

Ingest and organize clips; ensure exposure is good (use zebras, false color at capture).
Apply a technical input LUT (S-Log3→Rec.709) or set project color space (ACES or color-managed timeline). This preserves predictable color math.
Apply the Phantom creative LUT on top of the converted image as a node or layer (or use the LUT as a starting point in a single step if the LUT includes the input transform).
Adjust primary exposure/contrast if needed (lift/gamma/gain or shadows/mids/highs).
Tweak skin tones (hue vs hue, hue vs sat), and use selective saturation to keep natural flesh.
Add local corrections (power windows, tracking) for eyes, highlights, or logos.
Sharpen/noise reduction/film grain as final touches.
Apply an output LUT if delivering to a specific target or export directly from the graded timeline.

Top 3 Sony Phantom LUTs on the Market (2024/2025 Update)

The keyword "Sony Phantom LUTs" often leads to specific vendors. Here are the industry standards currently used by Netflix documentaries and wedding cinematographers.

Example parameter targets (starting points)

Contrast: -5 to +10 (depends on source exposure)
Lift/Gamma/Gain: lift +3 to +7, gamma -2 to -6, gain -3 to -8 (fine-tune per clip)
Saturation: -5 to -15 for moody Phantom look (increase selectively for skin)
Grain: 5–12% overlay to emulate film texture

Licensing, sourcing, and attribution

Use LUTs from reputable creators or make your own.
Check license for commercial use; many LUT packs require attribution or have commercial licenses.

Licensing and quality checks

Verify license allows commercial use and distribution if using for client work.
Test LUTs on diverse skin tones and lighting to ensure consistent behavior.
Prefer creators who provide ACES or IDT/ODT alternatives for color-managed pipelines.

Step 3: Post-Production (DaVinci Resolve / Premiere Pro)

Import your S-Log3 footage.
Apply a Technical LUT first (S-Log3 to Rec.709) OR apply the Phantom LUT directly if it includes the color space transform (CST).
Correction: Always place the LUT at the end of your node tree. Do color correction before the LUT (exposure, white balance) and creative grading after the LUT.