LuttieThe Ilford HP5 Plus look
Ilford HP5 Plus is one of the most popular black-and-white films there is, and its look is classic and forgiving: rich mid greys, soft contrast and highlights that hold. Luttie's Mono 400 is shaped after it, mixed from colour the way a panchromatic film sees.
Where it comes from
HP5 has been Ilford's 400-speed black-and-white film since the 1930s in one form or another, and HP5 Plus is still made in England. It's loved for its latitude: shoot it a stop or two either side and it still looks good, and it pushes well for low light. That makes it the film a lot of people learn black and white on.
How to grade it
In order. Every control below exists in the Luttie editor, free to use in your browser.
Film panel → Mono 400
Pick Mono 400. Black-and-white film is scanned here, so the print choice doesn't apply.
Exposure
0 to +0.7 EV. HP5 likes a little extra exposure for open shadows.
Film Effects → Grain
Amount 25 to 35, Size 50 for HP5's visible but fine grain.
Scan balance
Red -2, Blue +2 for a warm tone like a fibre print; the other way for cool.
Export
Export a .cube (Luttie Pro) for Resolve, Premiere or Final Cut, or a graded image straight from the editor.
When it works
Portraits with soft, flattering tones
Street and documentary work
Low light and grey days
Anything where colour distracts
When to avoid it
Graphic, high-contrast black and white: HP5 is gentle. Grit 400 (shaped after Tri-X) is punchier.
Frequently asked
HP5 is softer and more forgiving, with gentler contrast; Tri-X is punchier, with harder blacks and a grittier feel. In Luttie, Mono 400 and Grit 400 can be compared on the same photo.
You can put the HP5 look on your own photos and footage free in Luttie's browser editor, and download the graded image. Exporting it as a .cube LUT is part of Luttie Pro.
No. Mono 400 follows the general shape of Ilford's published HP5 Plus curves, with its tone and spectral mix chosen by eye. It hasn't been measured against real film, and Luttie isn't affiliated with Ilford.
Build it on your own footage
Drop in a photo or pull a frame from a video, grade it in the browser, and export a .cube LUT for DaVinci Resolve, Premiere Pro, Final Cut Pro or CapCut.
Related looks
Ilford and HP5 are trademarks of Harman Technology Limited. Luttie isn't affiliated with Ilford or Harman; its film stocks are inspired by published data about real films, not copies of them.