LuttieHLG to Rec.709 LUTs
HLG is the HDR format behind an iPhone's HDR video and the HLG modes on Sony, DJI, Panasonic and Canon cameras. On a normal screen or timeline it can look flat and grey. The Luttie editor converts it to Rec.709 for free (film engine Source: HLG), and its Camera panel has HLG LUTs with Pro.
iPhone (HDR video) · Sony (HLG1-3) · DJI (HLG) · Panasonic LUMIX (HLG) · Canon (HLG)
Convert HLG before you grade it
HLG holds more range than Rec.709, so it has to be brought down before a normal look goes on. Luttie uses the scene-light conversion ITU-R BT.2408 describes: HLG's 38% grey becomes 18% grey, its 75% diffuse white becomes white, and the extra highlight range is rolled off rather than clipped.
The workflow
Check whether it needs converting
If the clip already looks normal in your editor or browser, it was tone-mapped on the way in. Converting it again makes it too contrasty.
Convert to Rec.709
In the Luttie editor, set the film engine's Source to HLG (HDR video), or pick HDR, then HLG in the Camera panel.
Grade on top
Every panel works on the converted image.
Export
Export the clip as an SDR MP4, or a .cube that expects HLG footage, for Resolve, Premiere or Final Cut (Pro).
No HLG pack yet
There is no paid HLG pack. The free LUT library downloads without an account, and the editor runs in the browser with no install, so you can convert and grade HLG footage without buying anything.
Questions
Yes. iPhones record HDR video as Dolby Vision Profile 8.4, which is HLG underneath, in Rec.2020. Turn HDR video off in Camera settings if you want SDR straight from the phone.
An SDR screen or timeline is showing the HLG signal without converting it. Converting HLG to Rec.709 brings the contrast and colour back.
No. HLG is an HDR delivery format meant to look reasonable on an HDR screen as it is; log is a flat capture format meant to be graded. Both need converting before a Rec.709 look goes on.
Yes, in the browser: open the clip in the Luttie editor and set the Source to HLG. Exporting a full clip without a watermark, or the conversion as a .cube, needs Pro.
Longer walkthrough: grading HLG footage step by step. Not sure which profile you shot? Find the LUT for your camera.