“Rec709” is printed on almost every LUT pack, but few people explain what it actually means. This guide covers what Rec709 is, how to tell if your footage is Rec709 (most footage is), and how to get great results using LUTs on standard, non-log footage from phones, drones and everyday camera settings.
What is Rec709?
Rec709 (short for ITU-R Recommendation BT.709) is the international standard for HD video. It defines how colours, brightness and contrast should look on a normal screen. When you watch YouTube, Netflix in HD, broadcast TV or a video on your phone, you are almost always watching Rec709.
In everyday terms, Rec709 footage is footage that already looks “normal”: proper contrast, natural colours and a finished picture, straight out of the camera.
Rec709 vs log footage
| Rec709 (standard) | Log | |
|---|---|---|
| How it looks straight from the camera | Normal contrast and colour | Flat, grey and washed out |
| Who uses it | Phones, most drones, action cams, standard camera profiles | Sony S-Log3, Panasonic V-Log, Canon C-Log3 and similar |
| Ready to post? | Yes | No – it needs converting or grading first |
| LUT version to use | Rec709 | The matching log version |
For the full comparison, read Log vs Rec709 LUTs: which version should you use?
Is my footage Rec709?
Probably, if any of these are true:
- You filmed on an iPhone or Android phone in the normal camera app (not a log or “ProRes Log” setting).
- You filmed on a drone or GoPro in its normal or colour profile (not D-Log, D-Log M or a flat profile).
- Your camera was set to a Standard, Neutral, Vivid, Portrait or similar picture profile.
- The footage looks normal and contrasty before you edit it.
If your footage looks very flat and grey, it is probably log, and you will want a log version instead.
HLG and HDR footage: some phones and cameras record HDR (HLG or Dolby Vision). These are not Rec709. For best results with our LUTs, switch to standard (SDR) recording, or convert the clip to Rec709 in your editor before adding the LUT.
What do Rec709 LUTs do?
A Rec709 LUT is a creative look designed for footage that already looks normal. It doesn’t need to convert anything – it simply restyles the picture: warmer skin, teal shadows, a film fade, rich food colour, cleaner whites, moody blues and so on.
Because standard footage has less room to move than log, Rec709 LUTs are built to be gentler, so they don’t break up skies, skin or shadows.
How to get the best results on standard footage
- Expose properly. Standard footage has less detail in highlights and shadows than log, so blown-out skies or crushed blacks can’t be recovered by a LUT. Expose for skin and avoid clipping.
- Turn down in-camera sharpening and saturation if you can. A Neutral or Flat-ish profile (not log) gives a LUT more room. Very vivid settings plus a strong LUT can look overcooked.
- Fix white balance first. Correct any blue or orange cast before applying the LUT – a LUT exaggerates whatever is already there.
- Apply the Rec709 version of the look.
- Set the strength. On standard footage, many looks sit best at 60–90% intensity.
- Fine-tune after the LUT. A small contrast, saturation or exposure tweak makes the look fit each clip.
Where to apply a Rec709 LUT
- DaVinci Resolve: on its own node after your correction node. See how to use LUTs in Resolve.
- Premiere Pro: Lumetri Color > Creative > Look.
- Final Cut Pro: the Custom LUT effect.
- CapCut: Adjustment > LUT > Import.
Full steps are in our Premiere Pro, Final Cut Pro and CapCut guide.
Using Rec709 LUTs on log footage that’s been converted
Rec709 LUTs also work on log footage once it has been converted to Rec709 – for example with your camera maker’s conversion LUT, Resolve Color Management, Premiere Pro’s automatic log conversion or Final Cut Pro’s camera LUT. Convert first, then add the Rec709 look on top.
Frequently asked questions
Is Rec709 worse than log?
Not worse – just finished. Log keeps more information for heavy grading; Rec709 is ready to use. For most social, wedding highlight, travel and phone content, Rec709 footage with a good LUT looks great.
Can I use Rec709 LUTs on photos?
Yes, in Photoshop (Adjustments > Color Lookup > Load 3D LUT). For Lightroom, use presets instead – see how to install Lightroom presets.
Do Rec709 LUTs work on iPhone footage?
Yes – normal (SDR) iPhone video is Rec709. If you filmed in HDR or Apple Log, convert to Rec709 first or switch HDR off for clips you plan to grade.
Looks made for standard footage
Every LUT Land pack includes a Rec709 version of each look, made for phones, drones and standard camera profiles – plus S-Log3, V-Log and C-Log3 versions for when you shoot log. Browse the LUT packs or get every look with the All 6 LUT Packs bundle. New to LUTs? Start with What is a LUT?