Updated : 2021
Learn how to create a color LUT / color lookup table in Photoshop tutorial. Color LUTS are a useful color manipulation tool in Photoshop (and other apps).
Photoshop includes a number of color LUTs for use with the color lookup adjustment in the image menu. The color LUT or color lookup tables for Adobe Photoshop include many color LUTs such as Fuji, Kodak Color LUTS as well as surreal color LUTs and color specific color LUTs such as turning an image green and red. Color LUTS or color lookup tables can be created in Photoshop and exported in a number of formats by using adjustment layers.
The color LUTs/ color lookup tables can then be loaded in the adjustment color lookup and used to manipulate all kinds of images. This tutorial is a guide to how to create a color LUT / color lookup table and how to use it to create an unique color to all your images.
Open image
Layer menu in Photoshop
New adjustment layer
Vibrance and set properties and OK
New adjustment layer
Curves and set properties and OK
File menu
Export and Color lookup tables (for your color LUT in Photoshop)
Set quality and formats etc
OK
Save
You can add two or three of the same adjustment layers (and why not) and you can also mix in opacity via the layers panel and also different blending modes (such as hard mix or hard light or difference) as well as other modifications to the layer (it is a layer in exactly the same way as a normal layer and can have all kinds of extra twists such as gradient overlays and satin to change the adjustment).
And all those changes will be reflected in the actual color lookup generated (not perhaps the best way to generate gradient overlays for use in other apps without the need for layer styles but it does seem to work in a garish way). Right, a gradient was added to a layer and then that was exported as a CSP etc file via the export command color lookup
New layer
Fill with white
Layer menu and layer style and gradient overlay
Apply linear gradient
File
Export
Color Lookup Tables
You can then apply it to an image
Open image
Image menu
Adjustments
Color Lookup
3DLut
Load 3D LUT
Browse
OK
Weirdly, the export also can use other layers and not just adjustments so if you create a new layer and then fill that with a gradient or pattern or brush strokes, that also can be used as a color lookup - so much for the warning message about adjustment layers.
The image right uses a pattern layer made up of black and white scratches and lines (again, slightly blurred to reduce the file size) but the end result is more like the chrome filter found in the filter gallery.
Or using a combinations of gradients to a layer (and that is the key thing) though the actual result can definitely depend on the underlying image and how everything maps out.
To create the pattern based LUT
Layer menu
New fill layer
Pattern
OK
Select the pattern
Set the scale
OK
File menu in Photoshop
Export
Color Lookup tables
Set formats etc
OK
Browse and save
You can also use effects as well as just an image as a LUT export
Open an image
Layer menu
Duplicate
File menu
Export
Color lookup tables
You can now use them via the image menu and adjustments. You can apply the LUT multiple times to create interesting color effects