Apple Log LUT in DaVinci Resolve: Rec.709 Workflow
A beginner-friendly workflow for turning flat Apple Log footage into a clean Rec.709 image before adding a creative color grade.
The short answer
Apple Log footage looks flat and desaturated because it is designed to preserve highlight and shadow information for grading. In DaVinci Resolve, first normalize it with a Color Space Transform (CST) or Apple's technical LUT. Then correct exposure and white balance before adding a creative grade.
The technical transform makes the footage display correctly; the creative grade decides how it should feel.
What Color Space Transform does
Color Space Transform tells Resolve what color space and gamma the clip uses, then converts it to the space needed for your delivery. For a standard SDR project, the source is Apple Wide Gamut with Apple Log gamma, and the destination is Rec.709 with Gamma 2.4.
That restores normal contrast and color without creating a film look. The settings remain visible whenever you return to the node.
Apple Log to Rec.709 in six steps
1. Import the original clip
Import the original file and put it on an SDR timeline. Confirm that it was recorded in Apple Log; a Rec.709 clip will look harsh if transformed again.
2. Open the Color page and add a node
Open the Color page. Use separate nodes for basic corrections, the technical transform, and the creative look so mistakes are easy to find.
3. Add Color Space Transform
Drag Color Space Transform from Effects onto the transform node. Do not also apply an Apple conversion LUT; stacking them creates a double transform.
4. Enter the Apple Log settings
Set Input Color Space to Apple Wide Gamut and Input Gamma to Apple Log. Set Output Color Space to Rec.709 and Output Gamma to Gamma 2.4.
If bright clouds or practical lights feel abruptly clipped, check the CST tone-mapping controls rather than crushing the highlights with contrast.
5. Correct the image before styling it
On a node before the transform, balance exposure and white balance. Watch highlights and shadows on the waveform, and use skin as a reality check. Aim for a neutral baseline, not a finished mood.
6. Add the creative look and export
Place the creative grade after normalization. Adjust contrast and saturation gently, then review at full speed. Check skin, skies, and practical lights before exporting with your platform's Rec.709 settings.
CST or Apple's technical LUT?
Both create a Rec.709 starting point. CST is easier to inspect and adjust; Apple's technical LUT is useful when you need a fixed transform or established pipeline.
Prefer a fixed transform? You can download the free Apple Log and Apple Log 2 to Rec.709 LUTs, then choose the profile that matches how your footage was recorded.
Choose one method. If the image suddenly becomes too dark, too contrasty, or intensely saturated, check whether Resolve color management, a CST, and a technical LUT are all transforming the same clip.
Add a creative look after normalization
A creative LUT assumes the image is already in its expected color space. If that is Rec.709 or sRGB, place it after normalization and reduce its strength when needed.
Luma Dune Color Match works with still images and exports sRGB-to-sRGB creative LUTs. You can make a LUT from a reference image, test it on suitable normalized material, and refine it in Resolve. Use the LUT Converter only to convert or resize an existing LUT file; it does not normalize Apple Log.
Common Apple Log problems
- The image is too contrasty: look for a double transform or a Rec.709 clip incorrectly tagged as Apple Log.
- Highlights feel hard: recover exposure before the creative grade and inspect the CST tone mapping.
- Color is excessively saturated: confirm the input profile and lower the creative LUT strength.
- Skin looks strange: correct white balance before styling, then compare with a neutral reference.
- Clips do not match: verify that every clip uses the same Apple Log version and normalization method.
A note about Apple Log 2
Apple Log and Apple Log 2 are different recording profiles. Before choosing a CST input or technical LUT, check the camera setting and clip metadata. Use a transform that explicitly matches Apple Log 2 when that is how the footage was recorded; do not assume the original Apple Log setting is interchangeable.
Frequently asked questions
Does Apple Log always need a LUT?
It needs a color-space transform for normal SDR viewing, but that transform can be a CST, color-managed workflow, or technical LUT.
Is CST better than a LUT?
Neither is automatically better. CST is transparent and adjustable; a technical LUT is fixed and convenient. For a beginner working in Resolve, CST is easier to diagnose.
Why does my Apple Log footage look too contrasty after conversion?
The clip is probably being transformed twice, or the selected input profile does not match the recording. Disable transforms one at a time and check the source metadata.
Can a Luma Dune LUT replace the Apple Log transform?
No. Luma Dune exports creative sRGB-to-sRGB LUTs from still-image color matching. Normalize Apple Log first, then use a compatible creative LUT as part of the grade.