LuttieThe Kodak Tri-X 400 look
Kodak Tri-X 400 is the classic documentary black-and-white film, and its look is punchy and gritty: deep blacks, bright highlights, and contrast with an edge. Luttie's Grit 400 is shaped after it, mixed from colour the way a panchromatic film sees.
Where it comes from
Since 1954 Tri-X has been the film of photojournalism and street photography, shot by generations of photographers covering wars, music and city life. Its contrast and grain became the look of serious black and white, which is why so many black-and-white presets are, underneath, trying to be Tri-X.
How to grade it
In order. Every control below exists in the Luttie editor, free to use in your browser.
Film panel → Grit 400
Pick Grit 400. Black-and-white film is scanned here, so the print choice doesn't apply.
Exposure
0 EV, or -0.5 for darker, moodier street work.
Push / pull
+1 for the pushed, extra-contrasty look of Tri-X shot at 1600.
Film Effects → Grain
Amount 35 to 50 for Tri-X's gritty grain.
Export
Export a .cube (Luttie Pro) for Resolve, Premiere or Final Cut, or a graded image straight from the editor.
When it works
Street and documentary photography
Gritty portraits with character
Music, gigs and nightlife
High-contrast, graphic black and white
When to avoid it
Soft, gentle portraits: Tri-X is contrasty and unforgiving of flat light. Mono 400 (shaped after HP5) is softer.
Frequently asked
Tri-X is punchier, with deeper blacks and a grittier feel; HP5 is softer and more forgiving. In Luttie, compare Grit 400 and Mono 400 on the same photo.
You can put the Tri-X 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. Grit 400 follows the general shape of Kodak's published Tri-X curves, with its contrast and spectral mix chosen by eye. It hasn't been measured against real film, and Luttie isn't affiliated with Kodak.
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
Kodak and Tri-X are trademarks of Eastman Kodak Company. Luttie isn't affiliated with Kodak; its film stocks are inspired by published data about real films, not copies of them.